The 4 most influential players in AFC history

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Mike Smyth

Mike Smyth

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Both on and off the field.

1) Tony Modra - One of the main reasons in the early days that this club was so popular both here and interstate.

2) Roo - Who will ever forget the ultimate "Captains game" against Carlton at Princess Park. Great leader.

3) Andrew McLeod - On of the most admired people in football. Love him.

4) Eddie Betts - Electrified the club at a time when we we were suffering player exodus and the post Tippett saga. Really important player who lifted the supporters spirits at the most difficult time in the clubs history. You just have to go to an Auskick training session to see how much the kids love him.
 

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Cap said:
I think that's hugely unfair on the two teams of the day.

Jarman was able to finish the good work, but his goals were hardly all acts of single handed brillance
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He was unstoppable in those games, pulled some plays out of his arse and destroyed the opposition. He turned them inside out and took away their hope.
No Jarman, no flags.
 
Mike Smyth said:
Both on and off the field.

1) Tony Modra - One of the main reasons in the early days that this club was so popular both here and interstate.

2) Roo - Who will ever forget the ultimate "Captains game" against Carlton at Princess Park. Great leader.

3) Andrew McLeod - On of the most admired people in football. Love him.

4) Eddie Betts - Electrified the club at a time when we we were suffering player exodus and the post Tippett saga. Really important player who lifted the supporters spirits at the most difficult time in the clubs history. You just have to go to an Auskick training session to see how much the kids love him.
Click to expand...
I like this list and pretty much agree with it.

The Betts factor can't be downplayed, has been a big factor in making going to the footy fun again.

I think Roos impact off the field (whilst potentially overstated) had changed the view of the administration, his position has given the club far more authenticity than the clinical feel of the Trigg administration
 
Neil Kerley

Set the tone early with his commitment to SA football and his no compromise attitude.

Malcolm Blight

Made 3 tough calls which now go down as brilliant calls

Bill Sanders
Like a Masterchef he brought all the elements together
 
Regarding DJ above, funnily enough watched the 97/98 GF last night with 5aa commentary (available on youtube, KG crying and losing it in the box).
We played great attacking footy, reminded me of this season tbh.

But yeah top 4 would be as per the op.

Interesting stat, across his whole career, Ben Hart only polled 12 brownlow votes. Ian Perrie received more.
 
Cleric said:
He was unstoppable in those games, pulled some plays out of his arse and destroyed the opposition. He turned them inside out and took away their hope.
No Jarman, no flags.
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Yet did not win best on ground either of those games. I say no McLeod and no GF. No Kane Jonson and no GF. No Shane Ellen and maybe only 1 GF. No Caven and maybe only 1 GF. Pretty sure it was a massive team effort with some pretty special moments. I am not making small Darren's brilliance in those games because you are right, no DJ and no flags.....but he alone did not win the games.
 
Cap said:
I like this list and pretty much agree with it.

The Betts factor can't be downplayed, has been a big factor in making going to the footy fun again.

I think Roos impact off the field (whilst potentially overstated) had changed the view of the administration, his position has given the club far more authenticity than the clinical feel of the Trigg administration
Click to expand...
If only Betts came home a few years earlier.....I may agree. A guy that has been with us 3 or 4 years is not one of the most influential guys in AFC history. He is one of the most sensational electrifying guys in AFC history, but you can't compare him to The Roo, Blight, Bunji, Goody, Sanders, Kerley etc. imo.
 

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Bovo said:
If only Betts came home a few years earlier.....I may agree. A guy that has been with us 3 or 4 years is not one of the most influential guys in AFC history. He is one of the most sensational electrifying guys in AFC history, but you can't compare him to The Roo, Blight, Bunji, Goody, Sanders, Kerley etc. imo.
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Normally I would agree with you. However, when Betts arrived at the club it was on its knees and the supporterbase shell shocked.

At the risk of sounding melodramatic, he almost single handedly provided hope.
 
Last edited:
Bovo said:
If only Betts came home a few years earlier.....I may agree. A guy that has been with us 3 or 4 years is not one of the most influential guys in AFC history. He is one of the most sensational electrifying guys in AFC history, but you can't compare him to The Roo, Blight, Bunji, Goody, Sanders, Kerley etc. imo.
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phil Walsh had more of an impact in what 6 months that some people have in a lifetime at the club. I firmly believe his vision of what a club should look like has fundamentally changed the AFC will be looked back on as a turning point.

I still thinks Betts is the right person at the right tim and has provided in his 2 and a bit years a huge uplift and would be one of the most recongnisale people in the State at this point of time - how that looks over the history of the Crows I'm not sure but it has been enjoyable!
 
Cleric said:
If it was just on field then Darren Jarman won two flags off his own boot.
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Geez... I don't know if I'd say "off his own boot". I mean, Jarman was outstanding, but Andrew McLeod also had a bit to say about the result of both of those games, too.
 
I think putting Eddie in the top 4 is jumping the gun somewhat. I know he's been great and has definitely given the club and supporters a real boost, but we have achieved nothing with him yet. Maybe in 5 years time when we have some runs oin the board, he will be top 4 but ATM he isn't in my top 5.

McLeod
Roo
Mods
D.Jars
Rehn

I'd have Hart, Smart, Bickley & Edwards ahead of Eddie too. These guys brought us 2 flags. Eddie has his highlight real, but no big stage performances yet.

Looking forward to watching him kick 5 in a GF though. Hope like hell it happens.
 

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The 4 most influential players in AFC history

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