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11
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: How does Crippa rank among the panoply of Carlton greats?
Last post by Lods -
The problem with placing Cripps in a "best of" is.... we all come to the task from different age groups, or length of time following Carlton
If you've been a supporter for the last ten years I'd dare say Cripps would be Number 1.
If you've been following the club since 1968 he'd probably slip a few spots in the draft order.
It'd be the same as me trying to make a case that Jesaulenko was a better full forward than 'Soapy' Vallence without having ever seen the latter play.

And it's probably fair to say that some of our 'heroes of old' grow a few inches, and kick a few yards further with the passage of time (yep, the imperial measures were used on purpose).

We tend to remember our favourite players like a 'highlight' reel.
We don't remember the ordinary games, partly because when the important games came they rarely let us down.
Some of the younger members of the site are probably a bit tired of some of the same old names being trotted out because to them it's 'history' rather than an "experience"

Our team of the century was announced on 20th May 2000.
It doesn't include a player who was in the early stages of one of the greatest seasons in Carlton history in Koutoufides.
Since that team was announced there has been constant debate about who would replace some of the players in a greatest ever Carlton side.
Kouta is usually a walk up start (I'd have him in), Judd's another, Fev at Full forward?
But the ones to go out are often older players like Vallence or Deacon and James--both Brownlow medallists
The team of the 20th century should probably stay just that.

We're probably a bit caught up in what's happening with the football and coaching at the moment...but an interesting thread activity in the off season might be a "Top ten players of the 2000s" or even a team of players covering the same period.
Most of us would have seen all the players play and while it may not match the 20th century side the debate would give everyone a fair point to judge without the barrier of time.






17
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by DJC -
Jacinta Allan was going to fight for her job but saw the writing on the wall and opted for a smooth transition to Ben Carroll.  That's when Sonya Kilkenny threw her hat into the ring and managed to create some chaos.

Carroll is the Premier but it seems that there's blood on the floor of the party room.  This is a stark contrast to the smooth transition of leadership that has characterised Victorian Labor for decades and must give Jess Wilson some cause for optimism.

Jacinta Allan becomes one of the few Victorian Premiers who never lost an election ... or won one  ::)
18
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: How does Crippa rank among the panoply of Carlton greats?
Last post by DJC -
One of the reasons I rate Cripps so highly is that he's done it in a pretty average side over the journey.

The other greats we talk about, with the possible exception of Judd, had a fair bit of talent around them.

Jezza, Nicholls, Doull, Johnson, Kernahan, Kouta, Williams, the bloke at St Kilda (nah, that's disrespectful...he is a Carlton great- Silvagni) and I've probably missed someone ::) ...all had some pretty good team-mates.

I grew up watching John Nicholls play and his arrival at Carlton coincided with our weakest on-field period to date.  Big Nick virtually carried the team single handedly until Ron Barassi arrived and we added some very good players in Walls, Crosswell and Jesaulenko to some stalwarts in Goold, Lofts, Silvagni, Jones and Gallagher.

Hopefully, the back end of Crippa's career is similar to Big Nick's.
19
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: How does Crippa rank among the panoply of Carlton greats?
Last post by Gointocarlton -
So who's your top 5 Pauly? (IMO our top 10 to 15 would smash the top 5 of most clubs, we have been blessed over the journey)

In no particular order :
Cripps
Ken Hunter
Bruce Doull
John Nicholls
Sticks Kernahan

The list is restricted to players from my era, except maybe John Nicholls. Several others would also be worthy nominees.


C Judd C Bradley, G Williams S Silvagni (FBOTC) W Johnston, one could go on and on. Naming a Carlton top 5 is THE most difficult and would be the most hotly debated topic in football.
20
The Sports Desk / Re: Commonwealth Games-"Is anybody out there"
Last post by Thryleon -
These meets have all lost something by expanding the competitions out too much.  Once upon a time, the Olympics was all about the order of events and the events themselves were to be watched.  Now watching it is like an ADHD Australian supporter.  You go from sport to sport to sport, and end up not being invested in any one thing but watching Australia. 

Its fine I guess, but its not my cup of tea.  I prefer to watch a sport rather than just our athletes.  Gives me no appreciation of the achievement being the best in a field I havent even gotten to know.