Richo on 3aw - top 5 players in the AFL?

[one-eyed]

* Teased for plugging his DVD lol.

* Best at Richmond all time?
Off the top of his head he said Dyer, Hart, Stewart, Bourke, KB.
When given the ad break to put them in order, Richo had:
1. Dyer
2. KB
3. Bourke
4. Titus
5. Hart


Richo's top 5 current players:

1. Gary Ablett jnr ............ clear no.1 in Richo's mind. Most consistent player over past 3 years.
2. Nick Riewoldt ............ best forward in the AFL.
3. Jonathan Brown ......... 2nd best forward
4. Matthew Scarlett ........ best defender.
5. Chris Judd

Unlucky: Franklin



2010 Premiership tip: St Kilda

[Smokey]

1. Dyer
2. KB
3. Bourke
4. Titus
5. Hart

Can't argue with that one little bit.

[Damo]

1. Dyer
2. KB
3. Bourke
4. Titus
5. Hart

Can't argue with that one little bit.

I'll argue. No doubt in my mind that Hart is better than that. Out and out champion.

[Infamy]

1. Dyer
2. KB
3. Bourke
4. Titus
5. Hart

Can't argue with that one little bit.

David Bourke was pretty lucky to make the list

[Smokey]

I'll argue. No doubt in my mind that Hart is better than that. Out and out champion.

No better than those above him - and they all played for much longer.  Out and out champion?  Undoubtedly.  Better than the 4 above him?  Nup.

And he was my all time favorite player so can't say I'm biased against him.

[jackstar is back again]

Hart better player than Bourke no doubt.
Royce would turn games, same as KB

[Smokey]

Hart better player than Bourke no doubt.
Royce would turn games, same as KB

On a single given day yes, but not over a whole career.  Many, many players can turn a game on their day and some do it often in their career but for all the attributes that go to rating someone in the top 5 of all time, Bourke beats Hart every single time.  Might not have taken the flashy mark or kicked the uplifting goal but his presence and ability on the field inspired his team mates year after year after year - for 113 more games in fact.  I watched them both (a large percentage live) for their whole careers - Bourke was a better player than Hart when you weigh up all their individual attributes and career history.

[the_boy_jake]

2. Nick Riewoldt ............ best forward in the AFL.
3. Jonathan Brown ......... 2nd best forward

Interesting POV. Could argue about it all day and the reality is there probably isn't much in it. Riewoldt had a stellar year no doubt but Browny has matured more and is doing it in a much weaker side. Riewoldt you could probably say has had a luxury ride in terms of the talent in the St Kilda team. There is not one year you could really say they were a bottom 8 team.

[Fishfinger]

Except in his first 3 years. 
2001 - 15th, 2002 - 15th, 2003 - 11th. They've done well since and he has been part of the reason.

Have I mentioned before they've "won" 26 wooden spoons @ one every 4 years? Oh yeah, so I have. 

[mightytiges]

No disrespect to St Francis who was obviously a champion as well but I would've thought Royce would be in the top 3 to most Tiger supporters along with Dyer and KB. Hart debuted in 67 and starred from round 1. Made the Victorian side within 2 months. Once his dodgy knees forced him into retirement that was end of that successful era. I was too young to see him play but for me the 1973 PF and him coming on off the bench after half-time with us 6 goals down and inspiring us to win which lead to the flag the following week is the stuff of the legends. He played in the hardest position on the ground at CHF. Champion CHFs are as rare as hen's teeth.

As for the current player list - does Judd still belong in the top 5? I think opposition sides found a weakness as far as him lacking a defensive side this year. I would have Selwood instead. Just love the way he plays.

[MikeetIGER]

No disrespect to St Francis who was obviously a champion as well but I would've thought Royce would be in the top 3 to most Tiger supporters along with Dyer and KB. Hart debuted in 67 and starred from round 1. Made the Victorian side within 2 months. Once his dodgy knees forced him into retirement that was end of that successful era. I was too young to see him play but for me the 1973 PF and him coming on off the bench after half-time with us 6 goals down and inspiring us to win which lead to the flag the following week is the stuff of the legends. He played in the hardest position on the ground at CHF. Champion CHFs are as rare as hen's teeth.

As for the current player list - does Judd still belong in the top 5? I think opposition sides found a weakness as far as him lacking a defensive side this year. I would have Selwood instead. Just love the way he plays.

Think the Hawks would too...

GO TIGES!!!

[Smokey]

No disrespect to St Francis who was obviously a champion as well but I would've thought Royce would be in the top 3 to most Tiger supporters along with Dyer and KB. Hart debuted in 67 and starred from round 1. Made the Victorian side within 2 months. Once his dodgy knees forced him into retirement that was end of that successful era. I was too young to see him play but for me the 1973 PF and him coming on off the bench after half-time with us 6 goals down and inspiring us to win which lead to the flag the following week is the stuff of the legends. He played in the hardest position on the ground at CHF. Champion CHFs are as rare as hen's teeth.

I was there that day MT - the roar when he came on made the hair stand up on the back of your neck.  It's only a subjective opinion clouded by the vagaries of time and as I said in an earlier post, Hart was my all time favorite player (I had the #4 on the back of my duffel coat), but he also could go missing in matches.  He didn't always dominate even though he was always dangerous but Bourke was just so dependable - he never played badly, never let you down, and the tougher the game got the more dependable he was.  He could play all over the ground but defensively he was just unbeatable and he was also another one that played with dodgy knees, although they didn't have the career ending impact that Hart's did.  I'm basing my opinion on their respective impact to the team for the whole of their careers and I believe that Bourke was better value for the team in his 300 games.

[JVT]

Royce Hart, Champion Player . . . not so much a champion bloke!