Your Team of The 90s

[Partridge]

Not bad effort but orielly was the best full back of the decade.

bruer probably deserves a spot ahead of burns. Although its close.

O'Reilly is one of the rare ones where I really stand by bold predictions.

He settled in immediately - instantly - as a top drawer full back. Only played two seasons and was already very close to anyone in the comp in that position. Never came anywhere near that form again for either Fremantle or Carlton. Would have been a great full back had he stayed at Geelong. Was also versatile enough to play a great game at centre half forward against the Eagles in 1993 (19 touches, 10 marks, 3 Brownlow votes). Really a shame how it panned out.

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

Not bad effort but orielly was the best full back of the decade.

bruer probably deserves a spot ahead of burns. Although its close.

O'Rielly may have been better (I was too young to remember him well) but my here's my logic behind selecting Graham.
36 games for Stephen in 93/94 against 77 from Ben 95-98 at full back, (a further 22 in 1999 moving around the field). Graham also led a league best defense in 1997, while we regularly were a bottom 10 defense in O'Rielly's time (I understand that's heavily Blight related.)

I also think Ben copped it unreasonably from our crowd at times. Seemed to be a constant need for him to be something he wasn't, rather than celebrating the good player he was.

 

[Seeds]

O'Rielly may have been better (I was too young to remember him well) but my here's my logic behind selecting Graham.
36 games for Stephen in 93/94 against 77 from Ben 95-98 at full back, (a further 22 in 1999 moving around the field). Graham also led a league best defense in 1997, while we regularly were a bottom 10 defense in O'Rielly's time (I understand that's heavily Blight related.)

I also think Ben copped it unreasonably from our crowd at times. Seemed to be a constant need for him to be something he wasn't, rather than celebrating the good player he was.

Orielly was aruably the best full back in the league at geelong. Graham wasnt at that level as a full back. The difference is clear. Graham may justifably still earn a spot in the team as he could also play centre half back and move up foward.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

There is no way milburn gets in ahead of hinkley and mansfield. both were multiple times all australian and guns.

Hinkley and Mansfield both twice All Australian, Darren Milburn once All Australian.

Hinkley and Mansfield both highly skilled, failed forwards who couldn't defend a lolly from a hungry 5 year old even if they were armed with a box of claymore mines and a minigun. I'd like at least one of my half back flankers to be able to defend.

 

[Seeds]

Hinkley and Mansfield both twice All Australian, Darren Milburn once All Australian.

Hinkley and Mansfield both highly skilled, failed forwards who couldn't defend a lolly from a hungry 5 year old even if they were armed with a box of claymore mines and a minigun. I'd like at least one of my half back flankers to be able to defend.

Milburn won his all australian in 2007. Not the 1990s. beyond a couple of good weeks in the midfield milburn did very little in the 90s.

the defending point is bullshit. Go watch the 94 semi against carlton when geelong was massively outmanned. Hinkley puts on a defending clinic. being a defender involves stopping you opponent fowards from getting the ball and hinkley was one of the best ive seen in reading the playing and getting the intercept. Even better then enright cos he could do it in the air as well as on the ground. mansfield you have a little bit more of a point but attacking defenders are an important commodity and one we are currently lacking in spades.

 

[My Tilly]

Milburn won his all australian in 2007. Not the 1990s. beyond a couple of good weeks in the midfield milburn did very little in the 90s.

the defending point is bullshit. Go watch the 94 semi against carlton when geelong was massively outmanned. Hinkley puts on a defending clinic. being a defender involves stopping you opponent fowards from getting the ball and hinkley was one of the best ive seen in reading the playing and getting the intercept. Even better then enright cos he could do it in the air as well as on the ground. mansfield you have a little bit more of a point but attacking defenders are an important commodity and one we are currently lacking in spades.

Mansfield was a good footballer but unlike Milburn, did not improve throughout his career. Milburn was polling top 5 in our B&F right throughout the late 90's to mid 00's. He was arguably at his best when we were winning those premierships.
Mansfield was a below average defender. Not his fault, he was just short and in many ways, similar to Steve Hocking (who was a far better defender).

Hinkley was extremely talented. Wonderful overhead for his size. Elusive and remarkably skilled. Not in Milburn's class as a defender though.

Sanderson was another one I'd comfortably have ahead of both Mansfield and Hinkley.

 

[Seeds]

Mansfield was a good footballer but unlike Milburn, did not improve throughout his career. Milburn was polling top 5 in our B&F right throughout the late 90's to mid 00's. He was arguably at his best when we were winning those premierships.
Mansfield was a below average defender. Not his fault, he was just short and in many ways, similar to Steve Hocking (who was a far better defender).

Hinkley was extremely talented. Wonderful overhead for his size. Elusive and remarkably skilled. Not in Milburn's class as a defender though.

Sanderson was another one I'd comfortably have ahead of both Mansfield and Hinkley.

Ok people forget hinkley was competition elite. Multiple all australians and first picked on the back flank too in these sides. No questions.

milburn never reached that level. Milburn was considered quite lucky to get picked in 2007 and never challenged for all australian again. The only reason we are even having this conversation is because milburn played during the flag era and was consistent for a long time. Didnt have injury set backs like hinkley and mansfield. And milburn was a midfielder earlier in his career. Thats why he did ok in best and fairests. And he never won one despite being in his prime in the relatively weak era of the early 2000s. Hinkley won a b and f in a grand final year when hocking, couch, ablett, stoneham were at their peaks. Hinkley beat all of them.

this isnt a valid discussion. Hinkley clearly. Mansfield vs milburn is a more even debate. If you are putting together the best side of the past 30 years the defensive selections are pretty straight foward.

B x , Scarlett, Enright
Hb stewart, X, Hinkley.

and the choices for the xs are a toss up between A.bews, lonergan, harley, maybe colbert, mcgrath, graham (the centre half back spot is a weakness). Milburn aint making the side. Hinkley is a lock.

 

[standupand]

Hinkley was fantastic to watch.

Mansfield very elusive (Hinkley not bad in this area too) and extremely strong overhead - but all three were good overhead really.
Mansfield could go forward effectively on occasion, Milburn and Hinkley not averse to slipping forward but Mansfield could really take a hit up leading mark.

Personally I think Milburn at his best was one of the better one v one players I've seen, get him in an even contest with his opponent and he would win that contest in any number of ways.

Not sure who I'd take out of Hinkley/Mansfield; very hard to split (and quite different as you say.).

Yeah for me Milburn quite clearly for the 00s team but not 90s. There's no question for me though on the Hinkley Mansfield debate. Hinkley didn't have too many weaknesses and was critical to the way we played. Mansfield had a knack of getting out of tight situations but also a bit prone to errors in disposal. I would have both in the 90s team in any case.

 

[standupand]

O'Rielly may have been better (I was too young to remember him well) but my here's my logic behind selecting Graham.
36 games for Stephen in 93/94 against 77 from Ben 95-98 at full back, (a further 22 in 1999 moving around the field). Graham also led a league best defense in 1997, while we regularly were a bottom 10 defense in O'Rielly's time (I understand that's heavily Blight related.)

I also think Ben copped it unreasonably from our crowd at times. Seemed to be a constant need for him to be something he wasn't, rather than celebrating the good player he was.

I agree with you. It would have to be a pretty incredible 36 games to make the team of the decade.

 

[Nest of Cats]

Ok people forget hinkley was competition elite. Multiple all australians and first picked on the back flank too in these sides. No questions.

milburn never reached that level. Milburn was considered quite lucky to get picked in 2007 and never challenged for all australian again. The only reason we are even having this conversation is because milburn played during the flag era and was consistent for a long time. Didnt have injury set backs like hinkley and mansfield. And milburn was a midfielder earlier in his career. Thats why he did ok in best and fairests. And he never won one despite being in his prime in the relatively weak era of the early 2000s. Hinkley won a b and f in a grand final year when hocking, couch, ablett, stoneham were at their peaks. Hinkley beat all of them.

this isnt a valid discussion. Hinkley clearly. Mansfield vs milburn is a more even debate. If you are putting together the best side of the past 30 years the defensive selections are pretty straight foward.

B x , Scarlett, Enright
Hb stewart, X, Hinkley.

and the choices for the xs are a toss up between A.bews, lonergan, harley, maybe colbert, mcgrath, graham (the centre half back spot is a weakness). Milburn aint making the side. Hinkley is a lock.

Best team of last 30yrs? Reckon H Taylor is the CHB in that side. The BP is an interesting debate.

 

[Seeds]

Best team of last 30yrs? Reckon H Taylor is the CHB in that side. The BP is an interesting debate.

Good point. Forgot about him.

 

[My Tilly]

Best team of last 30yrs? Reckon H Taylor is the CHB in that side. The BP is an interesting debate.

I thought it was players who mainly began in the 90's because if not, Taylor, Enright and Scarlett are a long way ahead and we now have Stewart quickly closing the gap on Taylor (if he maintains it for 5+ more seasons).

The likes of Sanderson, Milburn, Hinkley, Graham, McGrath, Harley, Mackie . . . next level footballers.

 

[Seeds]

I thought it was players who mainly began in the 90's because if not, Taylor, Enright and Scarlett are a long way ahead and we now have Stewart quickly closing the gap on Taylor (if he maintains it for 5+ more seasons).

The likes of Sanderson, Milburn, Hinkley, Graham, McGrath, Harley, Mackie . . . next level footballers.

Lol hinkley was a superior footballer to taylor. Taylor was better then mcgrath. Thus he gets centre half back position out of the past 30 years.We really havent had any other permanent centre half backs. Harley probably a little short to be centre half back but probably as good as taylor as a defender overall. Graham could of been as good but didnt play much there. Stoneham would of been better but didnt play enough there. And who knows about egan.

and stewart passed taylor 18 months ago as an overall defender. Only scarlett is ahead of stewart.

 

[My Tilly]

Lol hinkley was a superior footballer to taylor. Taylor was better then mcgrath. Thus he gets centre half back position out of the past 30 years.We really havent had any other permanent centre half backs. Harley probably a little short to be centre half back but probably as good as taylor as a defender overall. Graham could of been as good but didnt play much there. Stoneham would of been better but didnt play enough there. And who knows about egan.

and stewart passed taylor 18 months ago as an overall defender. Only scarlett is ahead of stewart.

Ken Hinkley was a running half back flanker who was probably top 10 in his position for a brief 2-3 period of time.
Taylor was top 10 as a key defender for the best part of 7-8 years.

Taylor was easily the better defender. Superior mark and even had the same ability to go forward and kick a goal.

Stewart's close but for me, he has not maintained it for long enough to surpass Taylor. It's difficult to compare defenders when they play different roles for the team.
Stewart rarely takes the best forward as he is often undersized. Taylor played on an abundance of quality key forwards.

Really, when you look at it, after Harley/Scarlett moved on, it was Lonergan/Taylor who held us strong for many more years until Henderson/Stewart emerged on the scene (along with an ageing Taylor).

 

[PhatBoy]

Ken Hinkley was a running half back flanker who was probably top 10 in his position for a brief 2-3 period of time.
Taylor was top 10 as a key defender for the best part of 7-8 years.

Taylor was easily the better defender. Superior mark and even had the same ability to go forward and kick a goal.

Stewart's close but for me, he has not maintained it for long enough to surpass Taylor. It's difficult to compare defenders when they play different roles for the team.
Stewart rarely takes the best forward as he is often undersized. Taylor played on an abundance of quality key forwards.

Really, when you look at it, after Harley/Scarlett moved on, it was Lonergan/Taylor who held us strong for many more years until Henderson/Stewart emerged on the scene (along with an ageing Taylor).

Thank you. Borderline disrespectful the post you responded to. Taylor was an absolutely superb defender in one of the toughest spots on the field and owned it.

 

[Phipppppa]

Have I seriously just witnessed someone compare Hinkley to Harry Taylor, and then go onto say Hinkley was better?

Without Taylor, our defence would’ve crumbled in 09 to Riewoldt and Koschitzke, and in his later years. He kept Tom Lynch quiet in the 2020 Grand Final. Which would be H’s last ever game.

Hinkley and Taylor, although both being defenders. Played different roles so the comparison is unnecessary.

Come back to me when you start comparing two players who played the same role.

 

[Seeds]

Have I seriously just witnessed someone compare Hinkley to Harry Taylor, and then go onto say Hinkley was better?

Without Taylor, our defence would’ve crumbled in 09 to Riewoldt and Koschitzke, and in his later years. He kept Tom Lynch quiet in the 2020 Grand Final. Which would be H’s last ever game.

Hinkley and Taylor, although both being defenders. Played different roles so the comparison is unnecessary.

Come back to me when you start comparing two players who played the same role.

You must struggle when people put together lists of the top 10 players in order comparing players who not only played different roles but played at different ends of the ground and even different eras.

and focusing on two games achieves what? You could also mention taylors many stinkers in plenty of prelims and the first half of the 2011 grand final to get some balance.

who was the better defender. Taylor or longeran? Im tempted to say lonergan. But lonergan was only a full back and scarlett has that spot.

 

[PhatBoy]

You must struggle when people put together lists of the top 10 players in order comparing players who not only played different roles but played at different ends of the ground and even different eras.

and focusing on two games achieves what? You could also mention taylors many stinkers in plenty of prelims and the first half of the 2011 grand final to get some balance.

who was the better defender. Taylor or longeran? Im tempted to say lonergan. But lonergan was only a full back and scarlett has that spot.

First half of the 2011 grand final?

Oh so we are now rating players on an all Australian power forward kicking three goals in 20 minutes of football now to assess a player’s 13 season career.

****en hell this place is a cesspool sometimes

 

[PhatBoy]

The lesson for anyone is don’t bother being good because there will always be someone from the flagless era that was better

 

[Partridge]

I thought it was players who mainly began in the 90's because if not, Taylor, Enright and Scarlett are a long way ahead and we now have Stewart quickly closing the gap on Taylor (if he maintains it for 5+ more seasons).

The likes of Sanderson, Milburn, Hinkley, Graham, McGrath, Harley, Mackie . . . next level footballers.

Not sure about that. They're very different players.

Taylor was a key defender. Stewart is an attacking half back flanker. To me apart from being both defenders they're not remotely similar.

It shows that going back decades (really, at least 40 years), we have been incredibly blessed for quality half back flankers. I reckon you could easily name a dozen and aside from Enright (to me the standout) it just comes down to preference.

 

[My Tilly]

Not sure about that. They're very different players.

Taylor was a key defender. Stewart is an attacking half back flanker. To me about from being both defenders they're not remotely similar.

It shows that going back decades (really, at least 40 years), we have been incredibly blessed for quality half back flankers. I reckon you could easily name a dozen and aside from Enright (to me the standout) it just comes down to preference.

No doubt.
As you say, comes down to preference.
If I had to choose between the two and we are entering a grand final, I'm taking Taylor (prime Taylor from 2010) over Stewart.

 

[Seeds]

The lesson for anyone is don’t bother being good because there will always be someone from the flagless era that was better

Well if you exclude scarlett, ablett jnr, steve johnson, chapman, ling, ottens, selwood, enright, hawkins then sure you may be correct there.

 

[Seeds]

First half of the 2011 grand final?

Oh so we are now rating players on an all Australian power forward kicking three goals in 20 minutes of football now to assess a player’s 13 season career.

fu**en hell this place is a cesspool sometimes

Oh what a stupid f*** comment. Its in a very post asking for balance Of both good and bad moments. Funny how you actually ignored the actual unbalanced Post.

 

[PhatBoy]

Oh what a stupid f*** comment. Its in a very post asking for balance Of both good and bad moments. Funny how you actually ignored the actual unbalanced Post.

No I didn’t.

Taylor played a sensational grand final and played many other fantastic finals and even the grand final you pointed to against Collingwood, Cloke got a hold of him for 20 minutes and that was that.

****en hell mate, even the players who’s poo you would eat had bad games, they had bad finals, they had bad moments.

Reading literally any of your posts, unless the player is one of the guys you have on your pyjamas, they were all inferior to so and so because ‘they went missing in such and such a game.’ Nevermind that they played a few hundred fantastic games

 

[Phipppppa]

Why nitpick at a champion defender like Harry? I simply don’t understand.

Every champion player has a few shockers in their career.

Like Stevie J in the 2009 GF and Mooney in the 2008 GF.