This is a very subjective list ( by design), and some great players will just miss out. The nature of a subjective list means it will be fluid and players will move around based on further reflection and the suggestions and experiences of others who might persuade me. An overly objective list bound by data and set criteria’s will necessarily become too rigid and the defining criteria is almost impossible to agree upon anyway. Having said that, objective data is important to utilise as well. An aesthetically pleasing player must also have a justifiable substance to their careers.
The list is based on what I can vividly remember which makes it hard to know where to place players such as Peter Knights who I have vague memories of being a sensational player but who was winding down and injured a lot when the 80s came around. (As of the end of 2017 I have had to remove Knights from the list).
For those whose careers I only saw a part of I am assessing them on the qualitative aspects of their career in that period. Thus, the quality i saw from Blight was so bloody good he deserves a high ranking whilst Knights only gave glimpses of what he must've once been. And Blight rates above a full Brereton career because Brereton rarely produced the extraordinary footy I saw from Blight in the early 80s.
And how does a largely undecorated career on the wing such as Flower and Dougie Hawkins rate against a big-game performer with 4 premierships and a Norm Smith such as Isaac Smith? I’m still debating this a bit in my own head but the memories of those players in the 80s and their gifted, expressive talent still leaves a big imprint on my love for the game.
So here goes;
100/ Robert Dipierdomenico (Haw) - Tough, straight ahead, intimidating, incisive, and a bit of a numbskull. Was a beast in finals.
99/ Garry Wilson (Fitz) - Possibly the perfect rover and I was lucky enough to see a bit of him over the last 5 years of his career in which he remained prolific and kicked a respectable number of goals as well. Fitzroy people speak glowingly of him.
98/ Zach Merrett (Ess) - One of the most consistent performers the game has seen. Now has 5 B&F awards to his name and has become an inspiring leader. Will need some more big game performances and finals success to really move up the list.
97/ Isaac Heeney (Syd)- Has it all but just needed to put it together consistently. He is also taking the spectacular side of his game to new levels which lifts his standing in the game.
96/ Brent Harvey (Nth) - For the first 2/3 of his career I considered Boomer to be an unexceptional player. Talented, no doubt, but below the very best. But his last 150 or so games earned my respect.
95/ Guy McKenna (WC) - A pure HBF who was beautifully balanced and a model of composure.
94/ Dean Kemp (WC) - Underrated but a very highly skilled and pivotal component of a dominant WC era.
93/ Cyril Rioli (Haw) - In light of his 2015 GF as well as several years of game-turning performances, he earned a spot in the top 100, thus surpassing his uncle Maurice who would be just outside the list.
92/ Gary Buckenara (Haw) - Very gifted and versatile player who had a freakish sense for goals and sure hands when marking.
91/ Brendon Goddard (StK/Ess) - Consistently prolific and a player who adjusted his game from inside to outside to suit the situation. His kicking to advantage was his great strength and his 2010 GF performance is in the best handful I’ve seen in my time watching.
90/ Mark Mercuri (Ess) - Just about the smoothest moving footballer I've seen. He produced big-game performances throughout the 90s but faded later in his career largely due to injuries and personal tragedy.
89/ Nigel Lappin (Bris) - Unfairly in the shadows of elite Lions, he was classy and courageous. A real fave of mine.
88/ Jobe Watson (Ess) - An immense effort to excel to be the rounded player he became. He was too fat and became chiselled, couldn't kick and became precise, and was too slow so became quick of hand and mind. Brownlow Medallist…
87/ Christian Petracca (Melb) - He is putting in consistent seasons now to go with his big game performances and big moment bursts. He's the type of big-bodied mid/forward that every team desires.
86/ Jack Riewoldt (Rich) - Became a better, more rounded player once his role changed to take focus off him as a target forward. Since then he has probably been second only to Dusty in generational impact at the Tiges.
85/ Glen Archer (Nth) - The shinboner spirit was epitomised in this bloke’s game. He was as important to their defence as Carey was to the forward line. Carey was just a wee bit more gifted though.
84/ Tom Stewart (Gee) - He's just about the perfect defensive weapon and considering the unconventional pathway he took to make it to the elite level, he is a bit of a marvel.
83/ Sean Burgoyne (Port/Haw) - Eased his way into this list on the back of consistently being able to provide vital contributions at critical stages in big games like a boss. Iceman.
82/ Corey Enright (Gee) - Dependable and the orchestrator of many Cats attacking plays.
81/ JP Kennedy (Syd) - Became a revelation playing as a big bodied mid at Sydney after an uninspiring period at Hawthorn. He was very difficult to counter and knew how to kick goals at crucial moments. Finals credibility has helped to raise his ranking.
80/ Lenny Hayes (StK) - He was a warrior and I thoroughly respect him. Plus he had a shimmy to die for.
79/ Paul Chapman (Gee) - Everyone wants one in their team. Hard-arsed match-winner forward or mid and in big games too.
78/ Lachie Neale (Bris/Freo) - His Brownlow Medals don't get him a spot here but they look good on the resume. I don't consider him in the league of Ablett Jr, Judd, Robert Harvey, Goodes, or Fyfe who have the same accolades to their name but he now also has a dominant grand final performance to help his cause.
77/ Michael Tuck (Haw) - Consummate professional. Just did everything within his capabilities to perfection.
76/ Nicky Winmar (StK) - Few I've seen with better all-round skills. A pleasure to watch with raking accurate kicks and aerial prowess.
75/ Michael Long (Ess)- Hard to separate from Winmar for the pleasure in watching indigenous artistry but his finals performances win out. Made time stand still.
74/ Anthony Koutoufides (Car) - His years around 99/2000 were awesome and if he'd done it for 10 years would be top 10.
73/ Gerard Healy (Syd/Melb) - Classy Brownlow winner who made it look easy. Exceptional at Melbourne which many forget.
72/ Brad Johnson (Foots) - Accomplished as a tall and small and pivotal to a good Doggies era. The Smiling Assassin was an extremely tough match-up.
71/ Shane Crawford (Haw) - Elite engine and great skills. Despite his post-career image as a pesky numbskull, he had a fantastic footy brain and read the game well.
70/ Tony Modra (Ade) - Spectacular but unlike someone like Capper, was a well-rounded footballer who should've had a premiership to his name. Marked down due to only a few years of peak performance.
69/ Gary Hocking (Gee) - For so many years he threatened a Brownlow despite his ugly mug. Just an elite competitor.
68/ Dustin Fletcher (Ess) - An attacking and defensive weapon. Hard to put value on lunging saves & kicks to advantage.
67/ Jimmy Bartel (Gee)- Got all the awards and medals and was Mr Versatile. Great overhead and below the knees.
66/ Ross Glendinning (Nth/WC) - A Brownlow winner, an elite kick, and WC pioneer. Was the best pure CHB I had seen before Roos and then became a competent, albeit one-dimensional, full forward at West Coast.
65/ Matthew Richardson (Rich) - What a talent to watch! Unfortunately things could unravel for him too easily.
64/ Tom Hawkins (Gee) - Expectations were too high on him early in his career but given the passing of years and some big game heroics he thoroughly deserves his place amongst the legends of the game.
63/ Steve Johnson (Gee) - Mercurial, and eccentric but consistently produced in big games and became prolific as a midfielder as well.
62/ Doug Hawkins (Foots) - Dancing Dougie was a pleasure to watch in the 80s. Baulked, weaved, blind-turned...
61/ Keith Greig (Nth) - Like many of the early 80s players he is definitely better than this rank, and despite the peak of his career being in the 70s I still marvelled at the remnants of what was the perfect gliding, running wingman.
60/ Paul Kelly (Syd) - Tough, and unflinching, and explosive from stoppages. He was inspirational in an understated way. His most devastating attribute was his forward thinking disposal.
59/ Stephen Silvagni (Car) - His unique athletic talent in making life awkward for some of the greatest full forwards of all time perhaps takes away from the fact that he was an all-round footballing talent who may well have been a great forward himself.
58/ Matthew Scarlett (Gee) - I place him first in my full back standings because his composure defined the Cats thrusts forward in one of the most complete attacking sides I’ve seen and yet was never beaten comprehensively that I can remember.
57/ Glen Jakovich (WC) - The only kryptonite for Carey and an impassible wall at CHB. The best pure CHB I have seen. Roos became an elite running HBF and Grant was a CHF as much as a CHB. Jako was just an ever-present colossus who was the backbone of an imposing team.
56/ Dane Swan (Coll) - He produced more often than not, was insanely prolific and kicked goals but there were deficiencies that are elusive to me... I'm sure they'll come to me.
55/ Paul Salmon (Ess/Haw) - His Hawthorn years give his career completeness in that he reached the heights of his potential in both positions he played in. An elite ruck and forward and kicked many goals in finals. At one point in 1984 he looked like he would revolutionise the full forward position before being cruelly cut down in his prime by an ACL.
54/ Wayne Schimmelbusch (Nth) - A composed, committed, tough, and skilled leader who was brilliant in traffic.
53/ John Platten (Haw) - The perfect rover. He was just so effective and largely unstoppable.
52/ Gavin Wanganeen (Ess/Port) - Forward or back he was a gem. Courage, skill, and smarts.
51/ Robert Flower (Melb) - A sublime artist to watch play. If I'd seen his whole career he'd be higher. Might be just about the least decorated player here but some players just leave an imprint.
50/ Jonathan Brown (Bris) - A colossus. At his best was one of the very best but I feel a bit short-changed over the years on what he might have been. For the sheer ability to be unstoppable he has to be up there though.
49/ Chris Grant (Foots) - Brilliant at either end of the ground. Probably should be a Brownlow Medallist but that award doesn't hold much weight anyway.
48/ Terry Daniher (Ess) - 'Safe' is the word here. Safe hands, safe kick at goal, and others felt safe behind the captain. And tough too but in a sort of laconic way. Won the MVP in '83.
47/ Craig Bradley (Carl) - Endurance, speed, skills. Would still be the perfect midfielder today. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was still playing today.
46/ Sam Mitchell (Haw) - Made himself a better player year after year and nailed practically every possession, bringing others into the game.
45/ Luke Hodge (Haw) - Dual Norm Smith winner and Premiership captain who had a rapid rise up this list backed by enormous finals contributions, hardness, and level-headed leadership despite a somewhat patchy early phase to his career.
44/ Warren Tredrea (Port) - The best CHF in the comp for several years post-Carey.
43/ Patrick Cripps (Car) - Has carried his team on his shoulders for long enough to be properly lauded for his career output. Has found a way to hit the scoreboard a bit more than he used to and has some good finals performances to elevate him to this position.
42/ Dean Cox (WC) - The third-best ruckman on the list. His midfielder qualities set him apart from most. Almost impossible to negate his influence.
41/ Ben Cousins (WC) - He had limitations to his game but not his running. Run...spew...run...spew. Inspiring. Just knew how to get involved when the team needed him to lift them.
40/ Max Gawn (Melb) - Not just consistently regarded as the best ruck in the comp year after year but became an inspirational leader in finals.
39/ Bruce Doull (Car) - He was so damn cool. Unflustered, rarely beaten. Would surely be higher had i seen more. In the early days you just knew he would win his battle, however, he just loses the Battle of the Bald to KB.
38/ Kevin Bartlett (Rich) - I only saw the end of his career and he's this high. When you watched him play you just knew that his class was a notch above everyone else on the field even as an old (looking) man.
37/ Simon Black (Bris) - No longer underrated. One of the classiest big-game players of any era.
36/ Nat Fyfe (Freo) - Remarkably talented all-round player who has cemented his place in the top half of the list on the back of several years of being a part of the big 3 players of his era. His questionable goalkicking feats and not as much finals output places him beneath Dusty and Danger.
35/ Jason Akermanis (Bris) - A pleasure to watch. His speed and precision by foot were a lethal combo.
34/ Matthew Pavlich (Freo) - Before Fyfe there was only Pav. One of the most versatile big men to play the game - forward, back, on-ball, he played well everywhere. Some great finals performances toward the end of career back up his consistent brilliance.
33/ Joel Selwood (Gee)- Produced the goods from the very start of his career and rarely did he not contribute. What an amazing leader. While those ahead of him on this list had specific attributes that stand out more than Selwood’s, none of them can lay claim to being more inspiringly committed to the cause.
32/ Marcus Bontempelli (Foots) - You just have to marvel at the natural ability of the Bont, who has brought his gifts to the big stage consistently. Has there been a more complete player? MVP on 3 occasions.
31/ Matthew Lloyd (Ess) - few better marks at full pace. Few better kicks at goal. Dodgy hammy and Matthew Knights ruined his twilight.
30/ Darren Jarman (Adel/Haw) - Exquisite skills. Maybe the best kick of the footy I have seen. Made the game look easy like few others.
29/ Adam Goodes (Syd) - I truly respect Goodesy. Probably got better as he got older which glosses over some poorer early years.
28/ Paul Roos (Fitz/Syd) - Was an elite CHB and became the prototype running HBF. If he played for a top team he would be universally rated higher.
27/ Dermott Brereton (Haw) - For a short CHF he was immense. As a Bomber fan I am only too aware of how good he was as he seemed to save his best for us. Only an arrogant confidence in one’s own ability can make a 186cm player seem 196cm.
26/ Mark Ricciuto (Adel) - A fierce bulldozer with elite skills. A frightening match-up. Couldnt keep him out of the AA side.
25/ Andrew McLeod (Adel) - Two Norms and the most dashing small defender I've seen. And he was a better on-baller when given the license to roam.
24/ Peter Matera (WC) - A well balanced, goal kicking wingman who performed in big games. So poised.
23/ Robert Harvey (StK) - I used to marvel at how he found his way through traffic. Ultimate pro.
22/ Nick Riewoldt (StK) - Just a machine. Unfairly criticised too. There has never been a forward who ran non-stop like him and his marking was elite.
21/ Stephen Kernahan (Car) - Such a formidable opponent. Everyone knew he was good even before arriving from SA. Sticks Sticky fingers.
20/ Nathan Buckley (Coll) - The ultimate professional and the prototype footballer. I feel he didn't kick enough goals for the kicking ability he possessed otherwise he'd be top 10.
19/ Chris Judd (WC/Car) - Was at his best when at WC bursting out of packs but lacked kicking penetration in the second half of his career and his goal-kicking impact waned. But unquestionably a superb player who became a contested ball-winning machine at Carlton.
18/ Peter Daicos (Coll) - The Macedonian Marvel was the king of the impossible goal. Had freaky skills and was a great on-baller as well early in his career. Kicked an incredible 97 goals in their drought-breaking premiership year as a medium sized goal sneak.
17/ Scott Pendlebury (Coll) - This guy is a jet and has produced enough over the years to warrant a high ranking. His finals and Anzac Day performances are a testament to this status. Is he now Collingwood's greatest? I think he just nudges Daicos in my time.
16/ Patrick Dangerfield (Gee/Ade) - At his best he is unstoppable. Adding to his standing in the game is his prowess as a target forward and has starred in a winning GF to silence any criticism of underachievement.
15/ Malcolm Blight (Nth) - He was capable of unbelievable feats. When I first became a footy fanatic during the early 80s he was my fave non-Ess player. He would be the player who I had the least exposure to on this list but his 100 goal season in '82 is etched in my memory.
14/ Bernie Quinlan (Fitz) - This bloke was incredible to watch. Big mark, long straight kick. Elegant tall match winner. 100 goal seasons in '83 & '84.
13/ Simon Madden (Ess) - The best tap ruckman I have seen. Could kick goals. Could mark on blokes' heads. Was my football hero as a kid. And a Norm Smith winner as well.
12/ Greg Williams (Car/Syd/Gee) - THE ball magnet. Could see things in traffic that no mere mortal could.
11/ Tim Watson (Ess) - He was the best mid of the first half of the 80s. Explosive running goal-kicker, and the player to stop in big games. When he won the MVP in '89 the media were debating who was the best player in the comp between he and Ablett Sr. Ablett's finals series put that debate to rest but it tells you the level he had returned to after losing a year to a knee injury at the peak of his career.
10/ Michael Voss (Bris) - The tough inspiring leader of an all conquering side with a great all-round game.
9/ Dustin Martin (Rich) - Became one of the most devastatingly impactful players the game has seen. His finals resumè is as good as any and better disposal has seen him break away from his main contemporaries, Dangerfield and Fyfe.
8/ James Hird (Ess) - He saw the game unfold like few others and could will himself into the game/contest when needed. He was composure, class, intelligence, skill, and leadership all packaged together into a player who could play both small or tall.
7/ Lance Franklin (Haw/Syd) - Hard to place him but he did such amazing things that few others could ,and was possibly the greatest athlete the game has seen, that it ensures he has to be up there. His career at Sydney has cemented him as a top 10 player. His brilliance now creating folklore in new environs.
6/ Jason Dunstall (Haw) - The most rounded full forward of all. The perfect lead-mark-goal player and had a defensive side. MVP in '92.
5/ Tony Lockett (StK/Syd) - The highest goalkicker of all time is just ahead of JD. Imposing, intimidating, dead-eye, and in a perennially crap team. He was worth going to a game as a neutral just to watch his immensity.
4/ Leigh Matthews (Haw)- I was inspired by this bloke as a youngster, brushing aside giants like flies and snapping goals at will through traffic.
3/ Gary Ablett Jr (Gee/GC) - Is now ahead of Lethal but largely due to me missing most of Lethal's midfield career. Won an amazing 5 MVP awards.
2/ Wayne Carey (Nth) - The most inspiring player to play the game... but not the most incredible... coz that man is...
1/ Gary Ablett Sr (Gee) - You'll never see a player do the things he did again. Got a Norm Smith by kicking the most goals in a grand final but in a losing team, kicked the ton on 3 occasions, once kicked 14 goals as a wingman, and got the '93 MVP. But none of that can fully explain the physics defying stuff he did on the field most weeks. Everyone else on this list can be emulated but not God.
Apologies to;
Rehn, Goodwin, Ben Hart, C Johnson, Alistair Lynch, Leppitsch, Gary Wilson, Betts, W Johnston, Fevola, Hunter, T Shaw, D Cloke, Millane, P.Moore, Gav Brown, N Daicos, Sidebottom, R Merrett, Neagle, Baker, Van Der Haar, N Daniher, M Harvey, West, H Taylor, Mick Turner, Couch, J Cameron, Greene, Ayres, C Langford, Knights, Roughead, I. Smith, Stynes, Neitz, Lyon, Dempsey, J Krakouer, Dench, Stevens, Cornes, Gray, Cotchin, M Rioli, Rance, Roach, Weightman, Milne, Loewe, Barker, S Fisher, Hall, O'Loughlin, Glass, JJ Kennedy, J McGovern and others I'm sure.
Feel free to pick away and make suggestions.
The list is based on what I can vividly remember which makes it hard to know where to place players such as Peter Knights who I have vague memories of being a sensational player but who was winding down and injured a lot when the 80s came around. (As of the end of 2017 I have had to remove Knights from the list).
For those whose careers I only saw a part of I am assessing them on the qualitative aspects of their career in that period. Thus, the quality i saw from Blight was so bloody good he deserves a high ranking whilst Knights only gave glimpses of what he must've once been. And Blight rates above a full Brereton career because Brereton rarely produced the extraordinary footy I saw from Blight in the early 80s.
And how does a largely undecorated career on the wing such as Flower and Dougie Hawkins rate against a big-game performer with 4 premierships and a Norm Smith such as Isaac Smith? I’m still debating this a bit in my own head but the memories of those players in the 80s and their gifted, expressive talent still leaves a big imprint on my love for the game.
So here goes;
100/ Robert Dipierdomenico (Haw) - Tough, straight ahead, intimidating, incisive, and a bit of a numbskull. Was a beast in finals.
99/ Garry Wilson (Fitz) - Possibly the perfect rover and I was lucky enough to see a bit of him over the last 5 years of his career in which he remained prolific and kicked a respectable number of goals as well. Fitzroy people speak glowingly of him.
98/ Zach Merrett (Ess) - One of the most consistent performers the game has seen. Now has 5 B&F awards to his name and has become an inspiring leader. Will need some more big game performances and finals success to really move up the list.
97/ Isaac Heeney (Syd)- Has it all but just needed to put it together consistently. He is also taking the spectacular side of his game to new levels which lifts his standing in the game.
96/ Brent Harvey (Nth) - For the first 2/3 of his career I considered Boomer to be an unexceptional player. Talented, no doubt, but below the very best. But his last 150 or so games earned my respect.
95/ Guy McKenna (WC) - A pure HBF who was beautifully balanced and a model of composure.
94/ Dean Kemp (WC) - Underrated but a very highly skilled and pivotal component of a dominant WC era.
93/ Cyril Rioli (Haw) - In light of his 2015 GF as well as several years of game-turning performances, he earned a spot in the top 100, thus surpassing his uncle Maurice who would be just outside the list.
92/ Gary Buckenara (Haw) - Very gifted and versatile player who had a freakish sense for goals and sure hands when marking.
91/ Brendon Goddard (StK/Ess) - Consistently prolific and a player who adjusted his game from inside to outside to suit the situation. His kicking to advantage was his great strength and his 2010 GF performance is in the best handful I’ve seen in my time watching.
90/ Mark Mercuri (Ess) - Just about the smoothest moving footballer I've seen. He produced big-game performances throughout the 90s but faded later in his career largely due to injuries and personal tragedy.
89/ Nigel Lappin (Bris) - Unfairly in the shadows of elite Lions, he was classy and courageous. A real fave of mine.
88/ Jobe Watson (Ess) - An immense effort to excel to be the rounded player he became. He was too fat and became chiselled, couldn't kick and became precise, and was too slow so became quick of hand and mind. Brownlow Medallist…
87/ Christian Petracca (Melb) - He is putting in consistent seasons now to go with his big game performances and big moment bursts. He's the type of big-bodied mid/forward that every team desires.
86/ Jack Riewoldt (Rich) - Became a better, more rounded player once his role changed to take focus off him as a target forward. Since then he has probably been second only to Dusty in generational impact at the Tiges.
85/ Glen Archer (Nth) - The shinboner spirit was epitomised in this bloke’s game. He was as important to their defence as Carey was to the forward line. Carey was just a wee bit more gifted though.
84/ Tom Stewart (Gee) - He's just about the perfect defensive weapon and considering the unconventional pathway he took to make it to the elite level, he is a bit of a marvel.
83/ Sean Burgoyne (Port/Haw) - Eased his way into this list on the back of consistently being able to provide vital contributions at critical stages in big games like a boss. Iceman.
82/ Corey Enright (Gee) - Dependable and the orchestrator of many Cats attacking plays.
81/ JP Kennedy (Syd) - Became a revelation playing as a big bodied mid at Sydney after an uninspiring period at Hawthorn. He was very difficult to counter and knew how to kick goals at crucial moments. Finals credibility has helped to raise his ranking.
80/ Lenny Hayes (StK) - He was a warrior and I thoroughly respect him. Plus he had a shimmy to die for.
79/ Paul Chapman (Gee) - Everyone wants one in their team. Hard-arsed match-winner forward or mid and in big games too.
78/ Lachie Neale (Bris/Freo) - His Brownlow Medals don't get him a spot here but they look good on the resume. I don't consider him in the league of Ablett Jr, Judd, Robert Harvey, Goodes, or Fyfe who have the same accolades to their name but he now also has a dominant grand final performance to help his cause.
77/ Michael Tuck (Haw) - Consummate professional. Just did everything within his capabilities to perfection.
76/ Nicky Winmar (StK) - Few I've seen with better all-round skills. A pleasure to watch with raking accurate kicks and aerial prowess.
75/ Michael Long (Ess)- Hard to separate from Winmar for the pleasure in watching indigenous artistry but his finals performances win out. Made time stand still.
74/ Anthony Koutoufides (Car) - His years around 99/2000 were awesome and if he'd done it for 10 years would be top 10.
73/ Gerard Healy (Syd/Melb) - Classy Brownlow winner who made it look easy. Exceptional at Melbourne which many forget.
72/ Brad Johnson (Foots) - Accomplished as a tall and small and pivotal to a good Doggies era. The Smiling Assassin was an extremely tough match-up.
71/ Shane Crawford (Haw) - Elite engine and great skills. Despite his post-career image as a pesky numbskull, he had a fantastic footy brain and read the game well.
70/ Tony Modra (Ade) - Spectacular but unlike someone like Capper, was a well-rounded footballer who should've had a premiership to his name. Marked down due to only a few years of peak performance.
69/ Gary Hocking (Gee) - For so many years he threatened a Brownlow despite his ugly mug. Just an elite competitor.
68/ Dustin Fletcher (Ess) - An attacking and defensive weapon. Hard to put value on lunging saves & kicks to advantage.
67/ Jimmy Bartel (Gee)- Got all the awards and medals and was Mr Versatile. Great overhead and below the knees.
66/ Ross Glendinning (Nth/WC) - A Brownlow winner, an elite kick, and WC pioneer. Was the best pure CHB I had seen before Roos and then became a competent, albeit one-dimensional, full forward at West Coast.
65/ Matthew Richardson (Rich) - What a talent to watch! Unfortunately things could unravel for him too easily.
64/ Tom Hawkins (Gee) - Expectations were too high on him early in his career but given the passing of years and some big game heroics he thoroughly deserves his place amongst the legends of the game.
63/ Steve Johnson (Gee) - Mercurial, and eccentric but consistently produced in big games and became prolific as a midfielder as well.
62/ Doug Hawkins (Foots) - Dancing Dougie was a pleasure to watch in the 80s. Baulked, weaved, blind-turned...
61/ Keith Greig (Nth) - Like many of the early 80s players he is definitely better than this rank, and despite the peak of his career being in the 70s I still marvelled at the remnants of what was the perfect gliding, running wingman.
60/ Paul Kelly (Syd) - Tough, and unflinching, and explosive from stoppages. He was inspirational in an understated way. His most devastating attribute was his forward thinking disposal.
59/ Stephen Silvagni (Car) - His unique athletic talent in making life awkward for some of the greatest full forwards of all time perhaps takes away from the fact that he was an all-round footballing talent who may well have been a great forward himself.
58/ Matthew Scarlett (Gee) - I place him first in my full back standings because his composure defined the Cats thrusts forward in one of the most complete attacking sides I’ve seen and yet was never beaten comprehensively that I can remember.
57/ Glen Jakovich (WC) - The only kryptonite for Carey and an impassible wall at CHB. The best pure CHB I have seen. Roos became an elite running HBF and Grant was a CHF as much as a CHB. Jako was just an ever-present colossus who was the backbone of an imposing team.
56/ Dane Swan (Coll) - He produced more often than not, was insanely prolific and kicked goals but there were deficiencies that are elusive to me... I'm sure they'll come to me.
55/ Paul Salmon (Ess/Haw) - His Hawthorn years give his career completeness in that he reached the heights of his potential in both positions he played in. An elite ruck and forward and kicked many goals in finals. At one point in 1984 he looked like he would revolutionise the full forward position before being cruelly cut down in his prime by an ACL.
54/ Wayne Schimmelbusch (Nth) - A composed, committed, tough, and skilled leader who was brilliant in traffic.
53/ John Platten (Haw) - The perfect rover. He was just so effective and largely unstoppable.
52/ Gavin Wanganeen (Ess/Port) - Forward or back he was a gem. Courage, skill, and smarts.
51/ Robert Flower (Melb) - A sublime artist to watch play. If I'd seen his whole career he'd be higher. Might be just about the least decorated player here but some players just leave an imprint.
50/ Jonathan Brown (Bris) - A colossus. At his best was one of the very best but I feel a bit short-changed over the years on what he might have been. For the sheer ability to be unstoppable he has to be up there though.
49/ Chris Grant (Foots) - Brilliant at either end of the ground. Probably should be a Brownlow Medallist but that award doesn't hold much weight anyway.
48/ Terry Daniher (Ess) - 'Safe' is the word here. Safe hands, safe kick at goal, and others felt safe behind the captain. And tough too but in a sort of laconic way. Won the MVP in '83.
47/ Craig Bradley (Carl) - Endurance, speed, skills. Would still be the perfect midfielder today. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was still playing today.
46/ Sam Mitchell (Haw) - Made himself a better player year after year and nailed practically every possession, bringing others into the game.
45/ Luke Hodge (Haw) - Dual Norm Smith winner and Premiership captain who had a rapid rise up this list backed by enormous finals contributions, hardness, and level-headed leadership despite a somewhat patchy early phase to his career.
44/ Warren Tredrea (Port) - The best CHF in the comp for several years post-Carey.
43/ Patrick Cripps (Car) - Has carried his team on his shoulders for long enough to be properly lauded for his career output. Has found a way to hit the scoreboard a bit more than he used to and has some good finals performances to elevate him to this position.
42/ Dean Cox (WC) - The third-best ruckman on the list. His midfielder qualities set him apart from most. Almost impossible to negate his influence.
41/ Ben Cousins (WC) - He had limitations to his game but not his running. Run...spew...run...spew. Inspiring. Just knew how to get involved when the team needed him to lift them.
40/ Max Gawn (Melb) - Not just consistently regarded as the best ruck in the comp year after year but became an inspirational leader in finals.
39/ Bruce Doull (Car) - He was so damn cool. Unflustered, rarely beaten. Would surely be higher had i seen more. In the early days you just knew he would win his battle, however, he just loses the Battle of the Bald to KB.
38/ Kevin Bartlett (Rich) - I only saw the end of his career and he's this high. When you watched him play you just knew that his class was a notch above everyone else on the field even as an old (looking) man.
37/ Simon Black (Bris) - No longer underrated. One of the classiest big-game players of any era.
36/ Nat Fyfe (Freo) - Remarkably talented all-round player who has cemented his place in the top half of the list on the back of several years of being a part of the big 3 players of his era. His questionable goalkicking feats and not as much finals output places him beneath Dusty and Danger.
35/ Jason Akermanis (Bris) - A pleasure to watch. His speed and precision by foot were a lethal combo.
34/ Matthew Pavlich (Freo) - Before Fyfe there was only Pav. One of the most versatile big men to play the game - forward, back, on-ball, he played well everywhere. Some great finals performances toward the end of career back up his consistent brilliance.
33/ Joel Selwood (Gee)- Produced the goods from the very start of his career and rarely did he not contribute. What an amazing leader. While those ahead of him on this list had specific attributes that stand out more than Selwood’s, none of them can lay claim to being more inspiringly committed to the cause.
32/ Marcus Bontempelli (Foots) - You just have to marvel at the natural ability of the Bont, who has brought his gifts to the big stage consistently. Has there been a more complete player? MVP on 3 occasions.
31/ Matthew Lloyd (Ess) - few better marks at full pace. Few better kicks at goal. Dodgy hammy and Matthew Knights ruined his twilight.
30/ Darren Jarman (Adel/Haw) - Exquisite skills. Maybe the best kick of the footy I have seen. Made the game look easy like few others.
29/ Adam Goodes (Syd) - I truly respect Goodesy. Probably got better as he got older which glosses over some poorer early years.
28/ Paul Roos (Fitz/Syd) - Was an elite CHB and became the prototype running HBF. If he played for a top team he would be universally rated higher.
27/ Dermott Brereton (Haw) - For a short CHF he was immense. As a Bomber fan I am only too aware of how good he was as he seemed to save his best for us. Only an arrogant confidence in one’s own ability can make a 186cm player seem 196cm.
26/ Mark Ricciuto (Adel) - A fierce bulldozer with elite skills. A frightening match-up. Couldnt keep him out of the AA side.
25/ Andrew McLeod (Adel) - Two Norms and the most dashing small defender I've seen. And he was a better on-baller when given the license to roam.
24/ Peter Matera (WC) - A well balanced, goal kicking wingman who performed in big games. So poised.
23/ Robert Harvey (StK) - I used to marvel at how he found his way through traffic. Ultimate pro.
22/ Nick Riewoldt (StK) - Just a machine. Unfairly criticised too. There has never been a forward who ran non-stop like him and his marking was elite.
21/ Stephen Kernahan (Car) - Such a formidable opponent. Everyone knew he was good even before arriving from SA. Sticks Sticky fingers.
20/ Nathan Buckley (Coll) - The ultimate professional and the prototype footballer. I feel he didn't kick enough goals for the kicking ability he possessed otherwise he'd be top 10.
19/ Chris Judd (WC/Car) - Was at his best when at WC bursting out of packs but lacked kicking penetration in the second half of his career and his goal-kicking impact waned. But unquestionably a superb player who became a contested ball-winning machine at Carlton.
18/ Peter Daicos (Coll) - The Macedonian Marvel was the king of the impossible goal. Had freaky skills and was a great on-baller as well early in his career. Kicked an incredible 97 goals in their drought-breaking premiership year as a medium sized goal sneak.
17/ Scott Pendlebury (Coll) - This guy is a jet and has produced enough over the years to warrant a high ranking. His finals and Anzac Day performances are a testament to this status. Is he now Collingwood's greatest? I think he just nudges Daicos in my time.
16/ Patrick Dangerfield (Gee/Ade) - At his best he is unstoppable. Adding to his standing in the game is his prowess as a target forward and has starred in a winning GF to silence any criticism of underachievement.
15/ Malcolm Blight (Nth) - He was capable of unbelievable feats. When I first became a footy fanatic during the early 80s he was my fave non-Ess player. He would be the player who I had the least exposure to on this list but his 100 goal season in '82 is etched in my memory.
14/ Bernie Quinlan (Fitz) - This bloke was incredible to watch. Big mark, long straight kick. Elegant tall match winner. 100 goal seasons in '83 & '84.
13/ Simon Madden (Ess) - The best tap ruckman I have seen. Could kick goals. Could mark on blokes' heads. Was my football hero as a kid. And a Norm Smith winner as well.
12/ Greg Williams (Car/Syd/Gee) - THE ball magnet. Could see things in traffic that no mere mortal could.
11/ Tim Watson (Ess) - He was the best mid of the first half of the 80s. Explosive running goal-kicker, and the player to stop in big games. When he won the MVP in '89 the media were debating who was the best player in the comp between he and Ablett Sr. Ablett's finals series put that debate to rest but it tells you the level he had returned to after losing a year to a knee injury at the peak of his career.
10/ Michael Voss (Bris) - The tough inspiring leader of an all conquering side with a great all-round game.
9/ Dustin Martin (Rich) - Became one of the most devastatingly impactful players the game has seen. His finals resumè is as good as any and better disposal has seen him break away from his main contemporaries, Dangerfield and Fyfe.
8/ James Hird (Ess) - He saw the game unfold like few others and could will himself into the game/contest when needed. He was composure, class, intelligence, skill, and leadership all packaged together into a player who could play both small or tall.
7/ Lance Franklin (Haw/Syd) - Hard to place him but he did such amazing things that few others could ,and was possibly the greatest athlete the game has seen, that it ensures he has to be up there. His career at Sydney has cemented him as a top 10 player. His brilliance now creating folklore in new environs.
6/ Jason Dunstall (Haw) - The most rounded full forward of all. The perfect lead-mark-goal player and had a defensive side. MVP in '92.
5/ Tony Lockett (StK/Syd) - The highest goalkicker of all time is just ahead of JD. Imposing, intimidating, dead-eye, and in a perennially crap team. He was worth going to a game as a neutral just to watch his immensity.
4/ Leigh Matthews (Haw)- I was inspired by this bloke as a youngster, brushing aside giants like flies and snapping goals at will through traffic.
3/ Gary Ablett Jr (Gee/GC) - Is now ahead of Lethal but largely due to me missing most of Lethal's midfield career. Won an amazing 5 MVP awards.
2/ Wayne Carey (Nth) - The most inspiring player to play the game... but not the most incredible... coz that man is...
1/ Gary Ablett Sr (Gee) - You'll never see a player do the things he did again. Got a Norm Smith by kicking the most goals in a grand final but in a losing team, kicked the ton on 3 occasions, once kicked 14 goals as a wingman, and got the '93 MVP. But none of that can fully explain the physics defying stuff he did on the field most weeks. Everyone else on this list can be emulated but not God.
Apologies to;
Rehn, Goodwin, Ben Hart, C Johnson, Alistair Lynch, Leppitsch, Gary Wilson, Betts, W Johnston, Fevola, Hunter, T Shaw, D Cloke, Millane, P.Moore, Gav Brown, N Daicos, Sidebottom, R Merrett, Neagle, Baker, Van Der Haar, N Daniher, M Harvey, West, H Taylor, Mick Turner, Couch, J Cameron, Greene, Ayres, C Langford, Knights, Roughead, I. Smith, Stynes, Neitz, Lyon, Dempsey, J Krakouer, Dench, Stevens, Cornes, Gray, Cotchin, M Rioli, Rance, Roach, Weightman, Milne, Loewe, Barker, S Fisher, Hall, O'Loughlin, Glass, JJ Kennedy, J McGovern and others I'm sure.
Feel free to pick away and make suggestions.
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