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91
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: How does Crippa rank among the panoply of Carlton greats?
Last post by Lods -
You're right about the set positions of the old timers GIC. It happened that some moved around, but it wasn't as common as today.
Kouta was probably the prototype of the modern footballer.
He could change all over the ground during the course of a game.
But over the course of a career Jesaulenko was also pretty versatile...champion centre half forward, centre, 100 goal full forward- and probably gave another hundred away to teammates...and finally a half-back flanker. It could be argued that in that position he set a trend for the attacking half back. :D
92
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: How does Crippa rank among the panoply of Carlton greats?
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: Lods – on
I think this exercise is a bit like a pyramid

We have the top one or two at the top, but as we go down the pyramid the base widens.
Players like Ratten, Bradley, Rhys-Jones are in the pyramid for mine. They definitely crossed my mind.... just a few tiers from the top.
Lods it comes down to who you have seen play first hand. I never go to see the likes of Nicholls, Jackson and that era play. My recollections of players live started in around 1974 when I went to my first Carlton (v Rich) game. I caught the tail end of blokes like Jezza, McKay, Walls, the last 10 yrs or so of Doull, Sheldon and Johnno.
Doull and Johnno left enought of an impression on me to rate them highly. Obviously 80s to now I have seen enough footy to judge.
I'll stand corrected but in the days before my time, players played in their positions for an entire career. Later players came along who could swing to either ends of the ground. At the end of the day, the greats had strengths which is what I base or rank them on.
For me based on what I saw:
Doull was the most consistent (rarely beaten).
Williams was the most highly skilled on both sides of the body.
Kouta was the ideal hybrid in that he was able to play ANYWHERE on the ground and do things that were superhuman.
Sticks was our best forward and leader.
I can't split Hunter and Simpson in the category of pound for pound crazy courage.
Walls was probably the most stylish, elegant and natural footballer I have seen (albeit I saw the end of his)
Buzz was the most freakishly talented who could make the impossible possible.
SOS was the best FB I have ever seen play the game, played on the best FF's to played the game and for the most part had their measure.
Juddy was the most explosive and damaging footballer I have seen.
Crippa is the beast of all beasts when it comes to tough, contested footy.
Fitzy was the best ruckman I have seen.
How the hell anyone could rank the above in any sort of order its above my pay grade.
Apologies to Braddles, Fev, Ratts, Dean, Sexton, Madden, etc etc.
PS If I had to put my life on someone's boot to kick for goal, Fev hands down.