Your fave lazy/undisciplined player

[Foxtrot]

A lot of time and energy seems to be spent at Bigfooty glorifying players like Ratten, Hird, Buckley, Carey, Cousins etc. Everyone knows they are all great players due to their consistency, reliability and strong work ethic.

However if all AFL players were like those guys the game would be pretty dull. I put forward to you that it is time to dedicate a thread to the unsung footy heroes that make the game truly great. I speak of the L.I.B.O.Bs (lazy, inconsistent but occasional brilliant)

The erratic form of these noble warriors is what provides the true highs and lows of the die hard fan. To qualify the player must exhibit one or all of the following characteristics…

* Able to win a game off his own boot on his day yet go missing for most of the remaining 364
* Prone to flashy look-at-me behaviour
* Possessing an indifferent attitude towards pre season training
* Ability String together a series of blinding performances then disappear completely in the blink of an eye
* Would rather submit 5 entires into the mark of the year than lay a Shepard or perform a smother

Note I am not talking about duds here. These are players who on their day were/are world beaters yet failed to duplicate the form regularly (or ever again). Personally, I love watching these blokes perform….

Here’s a few to start off….

BRUCE LINDNER (CATS/CROWS)
Took screamers + kicked a few big bags for the cats and often looked as good as Ablett. If you look past Ablett’s blinder in the 89 GF you will also see the President playing the consumate flashy half back flanker’s game. Ended up looking v. ordinary w/- the Crows.

ADRIAN McADAM (NORTH)
The greatest 90s flash in the pan imo. 23 goals in his first 3 games and he looked like an absolute superstar. His demise was so sudden I can barely recall what happened to him.

DARREN DOC WEILDON (ROYS)
Capable of the mind bogglingly brilliant but also with a penchant for laziness, off field misdemeanours and stupid haircuts. Sandy Roberts once exclaimed “The doctor is in!!” during a Weildon blitz – a phrase my mates and I used to yell during kick to kick when someone tried something arsey.

WARWICK CAPPER
Perhaps a bit unfair as he was pretty consistent over a reasonably long period. Good fullbacks (such as Langford) used to make him look dog ordinary tho. However he was responsible for some of the best screamers of the 80’s and you’ve got to love him for that.

MATTY RICHARDSON
Included just to show Im not being biased and trying to hang crap on other clubs. Tiger supporters know the double edged sword of joy and horror that is Richo. Can do no wrong imo no matter how wayward his kicking is or how many tantrums he chucks.


Any other contenders?

 

[topdon]

At Essendon ... step forward Dean Rioli.

All and sundry saw what he is capable of against St.Kilda in 2001. Was back on the turtle meat for the remainder of the season!

 

[Lockyer24]

Chris Tarrant..when he pulls the finger out hes awesome

 

[Syd Swan]

Has to be Jeff Farmer

 

[Portia]

Stuart Dew

 

[NYMets]

Originally posted by Lockyer24
Chris Tarrant..when he pulls the finger out hes awesome

agree ...also after hearing such buildups I'd like to see more from Nick Davis and Frasier.

I'd also like to nominate all the lazy St Kilda "stars" who got rid of a tough coach and put in one who'll do it "thier way" .
I really feel for their fans and only for them do I hope they have a good year.

 

[Bulldog1954]

Big James Cook and every Dogs fans favourite player Allen Jackovich.
Cooky could have been anything if he pulled his finger out, Jacko should have been a good player for far longer then he was. To many meat pies for both

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by Foxtrot

...

MATTY RICHARDSON
Included just to show Im not being biased and trying to hang crap on other clubs. Tiger supporters know the double edged sword of joy and horror that is Richo. Can do no wrong imo no matter how wayward his kicking is or how many tantrums he chucks.


Any other contenders?

Not really sure that Richo fits into this category! While there is no doubt that he is erratic, capable of either the most breathtaking or godawful acts, often in the same passage of play, this comes about because that's just the way he is. I believe he always has the right work ethic, and always tries, though still capable of the odd dummy spit.

The current Richmond player that best fits into this category would be Rory Hilton. Even last year, when he was much fitter, he would go often missing, usually when it really mattered. Take a look at our low troughs last year and see what his stats were. Usually bugger all!

Joel Bowden used to be like this, but appears to be a much more consistent worker with only the occasional lapse.

 

[SydneyBomber]

Originally posted by topdon
At Essendon ... step forward Dean Rioli.

All and sundry saw what he is capable of against St.Kilda in 2001. Was back on the turtle meat for the remainder of the season!

Would have to agree.

Micky Symons?

 

[MarkT]

Originally posted by NYMets
...also after hearing such buildups I'd like to see more from Nick Davis and Frasier.

Agree a little with the Davis call. He has awsome talent and is one of those who always look like they are in slo motion even when he is flat out. Can't agree on the Fraser call. He has only played 2 seasons. For a big man and one so young he has shown remarkable poise and consistancy. He tailed off toward the end of last season because his under dveloped body tired and he was not yet accustomed to the mental aspect of top level footy. He is one player who I am confident will not waist talent because of his maturity and work ethic.

From the 'Pies past, it would hard to go past Renee Kink. He beat every good player in the comp as CHF and was also beaten by many a no hoper.

 

[RacerX]

How about Winston Abraham. I reckon he fits the criteria fairly well.

 

[Foxtrot]

Agree with you CJH. I didn't mean to suggest Richo falls into all categories - Inconsistency is his thing, certainly not laziness.

Also good call by Bulldog1954 - can't believe I ommitted Jako from my original post. As great a L.I.B.O.B. as ever there was. Tubby and sluggish as they came but became 10 yards faster when the ball was in his hands. Kicked some awesome goals in his Melbourne hey day.

Some others I thought of..

GRENVIL DEITRICH (sp?)
SA's greatest ever pie eater - I remember him kicking arse in an old state of origin game and thinking "has this bloke ever been to training?" Maybe Porthos or Macca could fill in the blanks as I don't know much else about him.

PETER BOSUSTOW
High portion of goal + mark of the year contenders but also looked like he enjoyed a pie or two.

 

[mandy]

Originally posted by Lockyer24
Chris Tarrant..when he pulls the finger out hes awesome

I'd go with Anthony Rocca.

 

[nolsey77]

THE WHEEL

Has to be the host of TV's most favourite segment the wheel

BOUNCING BILLY BROWNLESS

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Aaron Lord fits quite nicely into this category (not necessarily a favourite though ). Even in 2001, Lordy kicked bags (two lots of six in successive weeks) and then did sweet FA for the rest of the season.

 

[Eago77]

For me it's Dewy.

 

[Tredders#16]

Agreed Porthos...Stewart Dew!


Perhaps another candidate could be P.Burgoyne or previously Che Cockatoo-Collins


Tredders#16

 

[Eago77]

Burgoyne has become a little more consistent recently, but still fits the bill nicely.
Tredders what about Eago, not everyone can kick that many goals (7 was it?) in one match and then play like a boundary umpire for the next ten games!!

 

[Malibu#27]

From Port Adelaide - Peter Burgoyne. Seems at times like he lets his off field worries (and hes allegedly had a few) get in the way.


Even though I was not really old enough to see him play, if your talking about discipline preventing a player from reaching his full potential then I'd have to say Phil Carmen. My current coach had a fiar bit to do with him at Norwood and said he was the most 'talented' player to come through an SA club, but had too much a case of white line fever to ever get to the top.

Didn't he almost get a Brownlow after playing only half a season ??

 

[Mr Ripper]

Conlan. See 1986 Elimination Final.

 

[Shinboners]

Corey McKernan (post-'96 version). Just watch how well he plays when facing Geelong, and then watch him disappear when it's any other team.

 

[cjwalkley]

Step on up.....


DOUGIE BARWICK!!!

 

[The Hitman]

Hawthorn have disposed of most of our flashy undisciplined players (hello to you Mr. Lord and Mr. Croad), so it's kinda hard to look at us for that. One in the making though is Mark Williams. Raw and young, but choc full of ability and excitement.

The Hitman

 

[Catman]

While he was at Geelong it would have to be Clint Bizzell. Looked like a world beater at times, with bags of goals and a few speccies. But for the majority of the year he did sweet bugger all and continued to get a game on potential alone.

 

[Asgardian]

BIG Grenville Deitrich was a man mountain who loved a beer and a feed, well actually it was several of each, more than most things in life.

I believe he's originally Victorian, but played his best footy for North Adelaide. He was a Saturday footballer, he loved playing, he didn't know what training meant