Should Have Beens..

[marcuz]

Marc Dragicevic suffered the same fate as his old man(played reserves football for geelong) by suffering a couple of serious knee injuries. Smart footballer with a good motor, decent pace and seriously dual footed.

 

[CharlieG]

Jamie Lawson, Wade Chapman and Ryan Fitzgerald were all robbed of 200-game careers due to injury. The latter two would have played in the 2005 flag if fit. Lawson would have been bloody handy in '96. Heath James was fancied as an AA full-back when he was picked up. Rowan Warfe and Brad Seymour never reached their potential... both suffered from regular soft tissue injuries. Ben Fixter couldn't get fit at the Swans after showing a lot in 2002, but has a chance at Brisbane.

As for players that plain didn't make it when they should have... Ricky Mott comes to mind. Started well, but he didn't have the dedication required to succeed. Also Justin Crawford and Brett O'Farrell - both looked good at the Swans (Crawford was a 1996 GF emergency) but went to Hawthorn and disappeared (we got a good price for O'Farrell though ). Scott Stevens looked very promising in 2002, but never went on with it. Is somehow holding on to his career at Adelaide at the moment.

Then there's the players that were servicable, but could have done more than they did/have so far. Nic Fosdike is one - it's not too late for him, and he played a great Grand Final. But he was a #3 draft pick, and we expected more. Jason Saddington was also a high pick, and never reached the top 50 status that he looked capable of when he was 22. To put into perspective his market value in 2001... the Saints were interested in him as a swap for Barry Hall, but the Swans said no. Four years later, we offloaded him for a 4th round pick. Daniel McPherson was very good in 1996, and gave good service at times, especially in 2001. But his days were numbered under Roos.

Then there's the player that deserves a category of his own... Dale Lewis. Lewie was good enough to be an AA player and club best and fairest. He just never bothered to go above second gear.

 

[G.O.B]

Andrew Williams would be the most recent of a long list at Collingwood.
Never thought he'd be a star, but was quite happy with his output in his first 6-8 games for the club. Really thought we had pulled WC's pants down by offloading Adkins for him.
History shows that less than 12 months later many Collingwood supporters (myself included) were threatening to burn down Lexus Centre if he remained on our list.
Absolute dud.

 

[sabre_ac]

Waterhouse physical ability alone stands alone.

I can think of maybe a handful of players that may be able to match what he had ability wise.

The guy was a 100 meter sprint champion, so pace to burn.

Marking wise he could hold down CHF forward and exceptional mark and leap.

Strength wise he was the strongest at the club for some time.

Kicking wise Waterhouse could roost it 50 meters plus no problems.

A young 17/18 yo Waterhouse running around today would go top 5. Without a doubt.

Injuries and Poor coaching never let him really hit his straps.
Such a waste

Dion Woods deserves a mention as well..the guy could play ANY position on the ground.

 

[Crow-mo]

Leigh Walker.

Destroyed by injury.

you mean Lee Walker surely

 

[Crow-mo]

Randall Bone

 

[James23]

^ he was never anything

 

[Crow-mo]

^ he was never anything

1. disagree, randall was one of the most talented players I ever saw. amazing skills for a guy built like the hulk.
2. dumb as all hell.
3. seeing as you were 6 or 7 when he was with us, maybe you're not best placed to comment?
4. the topic of this thread is...

 

[Warwick]

One from left field - Alastair Lynch.

Was an absolute champion player when he retired (probably a year too early), but imagine how good he could have been if he didn't suffer from CFS.

 

[la roux]

Even Carey said Jacko beat him more times.



But then Carey said this..."It's easier to punch the ball than mark it"

Yeah thanks for watching my back there F/D

Carey also said this "oh. is this a premiership cup I'm holding? Oh here's another one" top 5 easy

Sure Carey was being humble, can we get Mastermind onto this?

Re: punching v marking. he might even have a point

 

[Bring-Back-Powell]

Willie D ick from Essendon.

Circa early 90's

 

[davey_magik]

Neale Daniher.

Didn't Sheedy say he could have been the best of the brothers?

 

[Longy413]

Didn't Sheedy say he could have been the best of the brothers?

Sheedy says a lot of things, but this is one point of view most people seem to agree with.
TD was a work horse and a champion, ND had the ability to turn games and was certainly the most skillful of the four.

 

[SAYNTS.A1]

Both from the early 90's

Robert Harvey's younger brother - Anthony
and
Ben Stewart - Son of Ian Stewart (3 x Brownlow)

I thought there was a lot of expectation about them but they didn't seem to have it.

 

[VANDA]

Wayne Beddison

 

[VANDA]

Both from the early 90's

Robert Harvey's younger brother - Anthony
and
Ben Stewart - Son of Ian Stewart (3 x Brownlow)

I thought there was a lot of expectation about them but they didn't seem to have it.

add Larry Watson to that list.

 

[rangermcdee]

Being serious here. Justin Crawford.

Everyone who saw the boys play and develop in juniors in Country NSW said Justin had the better skills and footy brain. Shane has often considered himself a poor version of Justin.

Apparently the country bad boy in the big city kinda ruined him footy wise. From memory Shane had to be reigned in at the start of his career otherwise would of gone off the rails as well.

 

[Bring-Back-Powell]

Aaron Henneman

 

[crazy_big_al]

Bowen Lockwood

 

[Zeke]

Bowen Lockwood

Met his old man the other day.

 

[UpForGrabs]

So basically what you are saying is that you know absolutely nothing about football?

That's a bit rich coming from a bloke with a Dale Thomas fetish

 

[UpForGrabs]

To suggest that Lyon(regardless of what he
could of been) was even worthy of polishing the Kings boots let alone be better astounds me.
And to reason this just because Jako had the wood on him
That made one of another 14 or 15 defenders that didnt routinely get their ass handed to them by Carey during the 90's.
Carey was easily one of players of that decade,and most for that matter.But hey thats just my opinion.

Shoot me for saying that I'd rather see Garry Lyon play than Wayne 'Please polish my knob just that little bit more' Carey.

How can I rate someone the best when I saw him get his ass kicked every time I saw him play in front of me? Do I just discount the regular ass-whoopin's that Jako gave him and say that those 10 times were just an abherration?

Carey was good - Carey was great even, but he never was against West Coast. And since that's the team I follow, what else do I judge it against?

The best players are at their best when they play against and beat the best. Jakovich was easily the best CHB of the last 15 years, yet Carey could never control him like he did other teams. Lockett, no matter who you put him up against, would kick a bag nontheless. Same for Dunstall, same for Ablett. Same for Robert Harvey when up against the best taggers.

So maybe I was over-reaching when I said Lyon was my top five, but there was not many better sights than him at full flight - and for someone to suggest he was a 'should have been' is overlooking the fact that he 'already is'.

 

[Mancey]

Anyone who plays 200+ games is "not" a should have been. Period.

Read Garry Lyon, Ashley McIntosh.

 

[Melbourne Lion]

Shoot me for saying that I'd rather see Garry Lyon play than Wayne 'Please polish my knob just that little bit more' Carey.

How can I rate someone the best when I saw him get his ass kicked every time I saw him play in front of me? Do I just discount the regular ass-whoopin's that Jako gave him and say that those 10 times were just an abherration?

Carey was good - Carey was great even, but he never was against West Coast. And since that's the team I follow, what else do I judge it against?

The best players are at their best when they play against and beat the best. Jakovich was easily the best CHB of the last 15 years, yet Carey could never control him like he did other teams. Lockett, no matter who you put him up against, would kick a bag nontheless. Same for Dunstall, same for Ablett. Same for Robert Harvey when up against the best taggers.

So maybe I was over-reaching when I said Lyon was my top five, but there was not many better sights than him at full flight - and for someone to suggest he was a 'should have been' is overlooking the fact that he 'already is'.

You are of course entilted to an opinion,just questioning your logic that a player is only of any value if he plays well againts the team you support.
Players have good days and bad days,however i tend to measure a players worth over the entire season,or whole career,you on the other hand feel that you can only judge how good a player is depending on how well he plays against the mighty wet toast,and feel that you are unable to comment when players are playing against other teams Or are you saying that over that entire decade you watched only eagles games?
Again I say,as much as I dont like Carey,as much as people like his morals have been brought into question-In my opinion this guy was clearly up with the best with the era(top 5),and although I respect your opinion to think otherwise,I dont agree with the logic that brings you to that opinion.
But quite happy to agree to disagree.

 

[skilts]

Sheedy says a lot of things, but this is one point of view most people seem to agree with.
TD was a work horse and a champion, ND had the ability to turn games and was certainly the most skillful of the four.

Yep, a much better footballer than Terry, and Terry was a gilt-edged champion.

Agree about Greening and Brad Boyd. Boyd only played one really great game for Brisbane, against Richmond I think it was, at the MCG. He had about 34 touches and every one of them was pure class. Such a pity that the experiences he had with injury seemed to embitter him so much.

It still saddens me that Barry Robran never played in the VFL. I would have killed to watch more of his brilliance. The saddest of the lot though was surely Brian Gleeson. Won a Brownlow and never played another game. He was an extraordinary footballer. Never any doubt he was going to win the Brownlow in the year he did. He just dominated every game in which he played.

Also, somebody mentioned Ashley McIntosh. We never got to see the best of his father John, who was an absolute gun, until cut down by injury.

Coleman is probably worthy of a mention as well. These days, he'd have had an arthroscope and been back on the training track in a few months.