Underrated (poster boy) Josh francou

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Lingsface

Lingsface

Norm Smith Medallist
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May 9, 2005
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Who are the underrated players of all time, not semi big names but guys that just completely fly under the radar.

Francou never liked him much but as a footballer could battle with the best, top 3 Brownlow 3 years and the best midfielder of a very strong side that finished top of the table or top 3 numerous times.

For Geelong Mitch Duncan is our current under rated player has been excellent his whole career and worthy of more recognition.
 
Lingsface said:
Who are the underrated players of all time, not semi big names but guys that just completely fly under the radar.

Francou never liked him much but as a footballer could battle with the best, top 3 Brownlow 3 years and the best midfielder of a very strong side that finished top of the table or top 3 numerous times.

For Geelong Mitch Duncan is our current under rated player has been excellent his whole career and worthy of more recognition.
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Funnily enough, Duncan was always the player I was most concerned about going into our recent finals. A lot more so than Danger, Hawkins et al. Duncan does not waste a kick. I reckon other Tigs supporters would feel similarly

If I was to pick a player from current Cats outfit I would say Menegola
 
G
GastevsBeard said:
Funnily enough, Duncan was always the player I was most concerned about going into our recent finals. A lot more so than Danger, Hawkins et al. Duncan does not waste a kick. I reckon other Tigs supporters would feel similarly

If I was to pick a player from current Cats outfit I would say Menegola
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Great first half in the grand final we lost to you and finished second behind Martin in the Gary Ayres medal I think. Agreed he is such a class player ,great decision making and a execution.
 

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As far as key backs go Max Hudgeton was one of the best defenders I've ever seen.

He made the AA squad in 08 but was generally very underrated as he wasn't flashy and didn't win much of the ball. But key forwards of his time like Lloyd, Brown, Fevola, etc used to rate him as one of the hardest if not the hardest defender to play on.

The only player I remember ever beating him was David Neitz who just seemed to match up well on him.
 
g_TRAIN said:
As far as key backs go Max Hudgeton was one of the best defenders I've ever seen.

He made the AA squad in 08 but was generally very underrated as he wasn't flashy and didn't win much of the ball. But key forwards of his time like Lloyd, Brown, Fevola, etc used to rate him as one of the hardest if not the hardest defender to play on.

The only player I remember ever beating him was David Neitz who just seemed to match up well on him.
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Yes max was a very very good player and wore his heart on his sleeve.
 
g_TRAIN said:
As far as key backs go Max Hudgeton was one of the best defenders I've ever seen.

He made the AA squad in 08 but was generally very underrated as he wasn't flashy and didn't win much of the ball. But key forwards of his time like Lloyd, Brown, Fevola, etc used to rate him as one of the hardest if not the hardest defender to play on.

The only player I remember ever beating him was David Neitz who just seemed to match up well on him.
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As odd as this sounds I don’t think even to this day people appreciate how good Brendon Goddard was.

He was tough as nails in that 09 decider and there was nothing more he could have done against the Pies in the drawn decider. For a while he was as good as just about anyone getting around
 
PhatBoy said:
As odd as this sounds I don’t think even to this day people appreciate how good Brendon Goddard was.

He was tough as nails in that 09 decider and there was nothing more he could have done against the Pies in the drawn decider. For a while he was as good as just about anyone getting around
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Good point I am guilty of this under rating him when I try name there best players of that time was as good in the half back offensive role as there was in that era.
 
Lingsface said:
Who are the underrated players of all time, not semi big names but guys that just completely fly under the radar.

Francou never liked him much but as a footballer could battle with the best, top 3 Brownlow 3 years and the best midfielder of a very strong side that finished top of the table or top 3 numerous times.

For Geelong Mitch Duncan is our current under rated player has been excellent his whole career and worthy of more recognition.
Click to expand...
Francou's team mate Roger James 👍
 
Chance Bateman was a really good footballer.
 
Rohan smith is one that doesnt get raised often.
2 time AA. One quite late in his career.

Ben hart another one. Over a long period too.

Both were quality
 
Luke McPharlin
about a dozen fwds have come out over time listing him as the toughest/one of opponents ever faced.
Couldn’t get up for the finals in 14/15 retired of the end of 15.
The difference between him in the side or not was more pronounced then may and Melbourne this year.
250+ games 1 AA
 

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I was stuck watching these highlights for 15 minutes the other day. Remembered as being a tough nut and who gave 100% but Campbell Brown had some seriously good highlights.

Also largely forgotten that he made an All Australian team playing a season at centre half back despite being 178cm tall.

 
Blackhawk42 said:
I was stuck watching these highlights for 15 minutes the other day. Remembered as being a tough nut and who gave 100% but Campbell Brown had some seriously good highlights.

Also largely forgotten that he made an All Australian team playing a season at centre half back despite being 178cm tall.

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He really was a great utility player. Loved to go forward and kick goals when he could, but so strong in defence.

Brent Guerra is another. Always so dependable.

We had a bunch of very good players during our drought. But some terrible coaches.
 
Brett Ratten qualifies here I reckon (though surely not with Blues supporters).
His status as a player suffers a bit by comparison to some of his more decorated and spectacular teammates, but he was a three time best and fairest winner in a very strong Carlton era, including their dominant 1995 premiership year.
 
Randall Stevens said:
Brett Ratten qualifies here I reckon (though surely not with Blues supporters).
His status as a player suffers a bit by comparison to some of his more decorated and spectacular teammates, but he was a three time best and fairest winner in a very strong Carlton era, including their dominant 1995 premiership year.
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I always thought Ratten was an out and out gun, but yes when looking at guys like Kouta, Diesel, Bradley, and even Camporeale I can see how some may downplay how good he was
 
Randall Stevens said:
Brett Ratten qualifies here I reckon (though surely not with Blues supporters).
His status as a player suffers a bit by comparison to some of his more decorated and spectacular teammates, but he was a three time best and fairest winner in a very strong Carlton era, including their dominant 1995 premiership year.
Click to expand...

I think Ratten’s Wikipedia page mentions somewhere that he’s got the highest rating ever recorded by champion data for a season. Not that it means everything but it’s a noteworthy tidbit
 
From our side today, Blake Hardwick doesn't get enough love. Has consistently been one of the best lockdown small defenders for a few years but that group of players as a whole is usually pretty underrated. Still gobsmacked Neville Jetta never made AA.

A name for all time would be Tuck. People remember him for at one point being a game records holder and most Premierships but people seriously undervalue his contribution to those premiership sides. Was runner up in the B&F six (or seven?) times to the likes of Matthews and Knights.

In the 70s he would have been under the lime light of big personalities like Matthews, Knights, Scott.
In the 80s overshadowed by the likes of Dipper, Dunstall, Dermie, Bucky and Platten.
 
Last edited:
Randall Stevens said:
Brett Ratten qualifies here I reckon (though surely not with Blues supporters).
His status as a player suffers a bit by comparison to some of his more decorated and spectacular teammates, but he was a three time best and fairest winner in a very strong Carlton era, including their dominant 1995 premiership year.
Click to expand...
Kouta, SOS, Bradley, Ratten & Allan (another one for this group - went close to a Brownlow in 99) were the 5 of that mid-late 90s era Carlton that I always enjoyed watching.
 
StillAtLarge said:
Pretty sure Ben Hart was AA in his first two years at afl level, phenomenal player
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Great call one of the best defenders of the AFl era gets overlooked.
4x AA
2x BNF
2 flags and over 300 games
If he played for Geelong he would of been an 8 time all Australian !
 
A player in the Richmond side that almost never gets a mention in the media/commentary etc is Nathan Broad. Super consistent, composed and always in the right spot.
He is 193cm, so hybrid key/medium back. Comparing his averages to say Maynard who we all know has had a great season, and in some ways plays a similar role.
2022
Ave disposal: Broad 17.91 vs Maynard 17.55
Marks: Broad 6.18 vs Maynard 4.65
Rebound 50: Broad 5.36 vs Maynard 3.50
Inside 50: Broad 1.14 vs Maynard 2.80
Metres gained: Broad 318 vs Maynard 376

Not much between them, and not suggesting that Broad is up there with Maynard, but as a player who flies under the radar he would be pretty high up on the list this year and for a few now.
 

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Underrated (poster boy) Josh francou

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