Who do you think is the best player ever?

[Danger Mouse]

I doubt I'll get anyone else to agree/back me up on this, but I'll be the first to mention Greg Williams in this thread.

Definately with you man! If i were making a team, he'd be the first one in, as noone thats ever played the game will take centre off him.

 

[Gone Critical]

Can't believe when mentioning older players that Whittens name has not been mentioned,he was without doubt the most influencial player in the VFL between 1953 till his retirement in 1970. He single handedly(pardon the pun)forced the league to change the rules i.e. the flick pass rule.
In the modern era Blight or Ablett followed by Carey.
saw some pleb put Leon Baker on his list, suggestion; get out a bit more.

Len Smith might have something to say about that.

Matthews clearly the best I have seen. He influnced matches more strongly and more often

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

Jakovich because he beat Wayne Carey.

 

[windyhill]

The Wayne. Easily.

 

[Bomber32]

Gary Ablett Snr.

 

[Happy Daze]

Remember visiting my brother in Melbourne one time, back in the early to mid 80's when we didn't get Friday night games broadcast at home on the TV - he said to me: "watch this bloke Ablett, he likes playing against Richmond." (this was before the famous Hawthorn-Geelong punchup that landed Leigh Matthews in court)

Anyway, I sat and watched Ablett kick 14 goals from the wing/half-forward flank. There is no other player in history who could have done that - ever. Anyone who questions Ablett's right to be called the best player ever should slot in a replay of the '89 GF to quell and doubts - the Hawthorn of that time was one of the most dominant teams of all time and he kicked 9 goals against them (and several more shots at goal).

I never saw the best of Leigh Matthews - and my opinion of him is coloured by the fact he was above all one of the dirtiest players to have ever played the game - sure Ablett was a thug as well, but Matthews was one of the worst snipers the game has ever seen. He and Deisel Williams would have spent a significant time in jail if they had of ever been convicted of crimes they perpetrated on the football field. Even in his declining years, when I saw him most, Matthews was a great player, but frequently he resorted to not playing football at all when he played in the then VFL.

Carey - yep, great player - not as good as Ablett however.

 

[Coopers]

Barrie Robran, pure total gunnage, back when men were men.

 

[Wallaby]

Best I've seen:

Gary Ablett sr - he could do things only a few other players could - kick goals like Daicos, mark like Peter Knights, fastest, strongest player in the game..........
Tony Lockett - At his best, the most dominant player in a single postion I have seen. Better Full-forward than Ablett (but Ablett could play HFF, wing, centre.......)
Greg Williams - best midfielder.
Leigh Matthews - not as physically gifted as Ablett, but maybe a better all-round footballer.

Judd is close.

 

[Books]

1. Michael Voss

2. Leigh Matthews

3. Gary Ablett Snr (brilliant but less consistent than the others).

4. Wayne Carey

5. Darren Jarman

 

[DCFCFAN84]

Wayne Carey is the best I have ever seen no one even comes close.

 

[djs_23]

I have been old enough to appreciate/judge footballers since around 1990.

Therefore I'd say of the footballers I've seen

1 Ablett snr
2 Carey
Then a whole bunch.

I never saw Matthews play, but had I seen him, I reckon he'd be with or above Ablett. His numbers and the sheer number of intelligent people who rate him as the best have to count for something.

Special shout out to someone who wasn't the best, but by far my favourite when I was a kid - Gary Buckenara!

 

[Adrian Shelton]

Barrie Robran was not of this earth...

Paul Bagshaw was of this earth but only just

I wish id seen more highlights of Stephen Michael, a more athletic and dominant Goodes, god help us

Michael Aish was a pure footballer, poor bugger had to don a helmet coz the 80's SANFL hoods wanted to knock his block off to stop him

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

Ablett Snr is perhaps the most overrated player to ever play the game. A sniper that chipped in with a couple of freak goals / marks (sometimes given but not legal ) when the going was easy. He also generally failed on the big days in September. Not even the best FF give me Lockett, Dunstall or even the carrot farmer Sumich over Ablett any day

 

[The Chiefton]

Jakovich because he beat Wayne Carey.

Wrong.
Brokeven and Carey got over the top of him slightly in the end. The only reason Jakovich used to beat the duck is because Carey used to get sucked in to trying to outbustle and wrestle him one on one which took his focus off going for the ball!

 

[Lionfan17]

Wayne Carey, end of story.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Fevola.

 

[Lionfan17]

Cain Ackland.

 

[Invigoration]

David Letterman
Playa

 

[The Chiefton]

Fevola.

LoL.

 

[Rojik of the Arctic]

From those I've seen:

Matthews was the best all-round footballer. He did everything well and there wasn't a weak part of his game.

Ablett was a freak who - if he was on song - was unstoppable and could do things other players wouldn't even consider let alone try.

Matthews over Ablett by a smidge.

 

[LonerGun]

Jesus, how old of a thread do you want to revive?! 2000, seriously? Ahh well...

...I don't have any knowledge pre-2004 bar glimpses but James Hird's the best I've ever seen through those years for me, I'd need to watch more old footage I think.

 

[numchuks]

+1 to Carey*



*non bias opinion

 

[lihei]

Leigh Matthews, Malcolm Blight, Phil Carmen, Peter McKenna, Wayne Carey, Peter Hudson, Royce Hart.

 

[andon]

History and memory often enhance the past, but even accounting for enhancing memories...

Leigh Mathews...........In a league of his own.

Ablett Senior
Wayne Carey

Ablett Jnr

Bob Skilton

 

[finders]

Over the sixty years of watching footy mine would be

Leigh Matthews Capt coach

John Coleman
Bob Skilton
Wayne Carey
Poly Farmer