This Sunday (March 9th) a new book is being released which celebrates the 150th anniversary of this nation’s indigenous code, Australian Football. Kick2Kick will be buying one and will let you the public know all about it. One of the articles is Mike Sheahan’s top 50 players from the 150 years. It is a hard task with all the great players that have played before we were all born and before TV was around like Gordon Coventry whose goal kicking record stood for 70 odd years.
You can read Mike Sheahan’s top 50 hear. In this article I will note his top 10 and then discuss a few players who may raise a few eyebrows. Please discuss what you think as I am sure some players do deserve to be included while others do not.
Sheahan’s top 10 players
- Wayne Carey – Kangaroos & Adelaide
- Leigh Mathews – Hawthorn
- Ted Whitten – Footscray
- Gary Ablett – Hawthorn & Geelong
- Jason Dunstall – Hawthorn
- Tony Lockett – St Kilda & Sydney
- John Nicholls – Carlton
- Graham Farmer – Geelong
- Kevin Bartlett – Richmond
- Greg Williams – Geelong, Sydney, Carlton
Sheahan’s dubious selections
Jason Dunstall at 5 is a huge call, yes goals win games which is obvious a criteria will Sheahan with Lockett and Ablett in the top 10. I am bemused by Greg Williams at 10 with Ian Stewart at 11 who was a triple brownlow medalist. Williams was good but top 10?
Recently on Channel 9, they had Australia’s top 20 sportsmen, Wayne Carey was named at 17 and Leigh Mathews was at number 4, yet Wayne Carey is number 1 for Mike Sheahan.
It is interesting to see John Nicholls and Graham Farmer 7 and 8 respectivly. If Farmer had played more games, would he be higher than Nicholls?
Some other notes worthy of been risen:
- I am not saying Michael Voss and James Hird (19, 20) are not good but top 20 is a big call.
- Michael Tuck at 43?
anyone who plays over 400 games has to be a legend! - Glenn Jakovich – 46. Matera and Cousins (39 & 42) is about right but bit surprised to see Jakovich at 46.
- John Coleman – 22: The leading goal scorer is named after him.
Observations of Mike Sheahan’s top 50
I think its obvious that recent present players were given an easier ride into the top 50 than past players from the 50s and below. 12 players who played before or during 1950 are named. Half of the players (25) have played since or in 1980. I really do not think half of the best 50 players have only played in the last 30 odd years, what about the other 120 years?
Your opinion
Please add your opinion either below in the comments or over at the k2K Forum were a copy of this article is added for conversation.
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March 6th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
It’s always hard to make judgment on these lists.Some of these players I have never seen play.
It always covers a great span of time, and Footy has evolved over these different eras.
In the past 20 years Carey at number 1 is a worthy pick as he was such a game breaker at a position that was hard to play.And many of today’s players model their game on him.
But if not Wayne Carey at no.1 who then?
March 6th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
In the last 20 years Wayne Carey would easily be the best footballer no doubt about it but this is a 150 years best of list!
I have only seen limited footage of Leigh Mathews but from what I have seen he was simply awesome. Yes he was a thug (actually de-registered as a player) but in those days you could get away with such play.
My top player would be Leigh Mathews and then Carey.
Jermayn’s last blog post..Salvation explained for Dummies
September 29th, 2010 at 10:52 am
@Jermayn, the thing is that the speed of the game now is SO much higher than it was back in the days of Leigh Matthews. He is no doubt a fantastic player, however today he would have struggled to keep up with the pace of the game. Watch footy flashbacks and compare the skill level from then to now.
Imagine what someone like Nick Riewoldt could have done back then
October 4th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Nah slightly disagree with you Dene!
1) Nick Riewoldt would have been average as he is soft and would have been monstered, he cannot take pack marks and yesterdays era of CHFs was all about pack marks. Nicks greatest asset is his fitness not his marking.
2) pace is important but let me ask you a question. Would you rather someone like Daniel Rich who aint fast but has a deadly kick or someone like Brett Peake who is fast but cant kick to save his life? And another question, what travels faster? Someone running with the ball or someone kicking it 50m+ to a team mate?
Yes you need pace but you do not want just pace, look at Essendon for example – all pace but not football ability.
December 6th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
@Jermayn, nick riewoldt soft? mate thats a joke, he has more courage than anyone ive seen play AFL in the modern era, cept maybe campbell brown, hes a freak and would dominate any era
December 7th, 2010 at 11:10 am
I am sorry but diving for free kicks does not equal courage in my books….
March 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I can only comment on the last 20 years because that’s all I have seen.
Hence the problem with these lists is the vast timespan they cover.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Good topic. I agree with you on Dunstall. Haydn Bunton should have been in the top five. Glad he got Garry Wilson in, he was often underrated.
When they compile these lists the early players are inevitably overlooked. From what I’ve read, Jack Worrall deserves to be up there with the greatest.
Michael’s last blog post..Grumpy old man
March 7th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Thanks for your views Michael. I agree with Hayden Bunton, he is a legand! I have not seen him play but winning 3 Brownlows and 3 Sandovers (WA Brownlow) and coaching, playing and even umpiring for successful teams (Fitzroy, Subiaco, Port Adelaide) around Australia kinder should make you more than 15th.
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~basiced3/footy/legends/bunton.html
I do not know much about Garry Wilson and even Jack Worrall but from what I have read from the included links, Jack played for Australia as well and scored a 400 odd in club cricket. Jack was also the first non playing coach.
Jermayn’s last blog post..Salvation explained for Dummies
March 11th, 2008 at 9:31 am
So has anyone brought the book yet? If you have and would like to do a review of it on K2K please contact us.
Jermayn’s last blog post..Bringing the wrong culture to the church
March 19th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Hears Mikes top 50 for this year.
I really cannot see why and how Chad Cornes can be top 10. He is the biggest and softest cherry picker in the AFL. I have not seen him win one hard ball in a contest yet.
In looking at the list. Its surprising to see Collingwood with their highest rated player at 26 (Cloke) and with the Eagles no player after Glass (11). btw I would prefer Glass than Scarlett any day. Dean Cox at 3 I am sure will generate some interest.
Jermayn’s last blog post..Releasing WotUThink.com
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I have looked at this book in the book stores and it looks AMAZING!!!
In regards to the top 50 Mike lists, he goes into quite a lot of detail detailing the person, their history and achievements.
Jermayn’s last blog post..No Matter What it Takes – Jeremy Camp
March 16th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Leigh Matthews a thug? – then so were 80% of players of the pre-90s. Players such as Matthews who receieved ‘extreme attention’ from the opposition (because they were match-winners), needed defending, and Matthews was strong enough to ‘defend’ himself – please be careful about adopting headlines about the past when you are not old enough to know what the real situation was.
Graemeb
March 16th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
If by defending you mean breaking some guys jaw by a cowardly hit behind the play…
I agree that prior to the 90s and todays sanitized footy, you had to defend yourself but doing what he did was unacceptable, I am sure Leigh would also agree. I know for a fact (heard him saying it several times) that he is ashamed of his actions on that day.
btw I do appreciate your comments Graemeb and I hope to see more from you
March 26th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I’ve followed footy since 1966 and I was in awe by Alex(Jezza)from Carlton until travelling to SA to watch the Champion of Champions where Carlton played North Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval (a beautiful ground)in 72 i think and North won by a point. To this day it was the best game i’ve seen and im a Carlton supporter. Now i thought Jezza was good but a guy called Barry Robran who never played in Vic made Jezza look like a school boy. There was a moment Jezza actually clapped Robran in awe himself. For me as a footy purest its Barry Robran by daylight then Leigh Mathews, followed by Wayne Carey. We go on about Gary Ablett Senior but as good as he was i think its very difficult to rate him consistently because he was a burst player as such in many games
March 27th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Thanks for your comments Russell and sorry your comment got caught in the spam filter, all fixed now
I have heard a lot of Barry Robran but never seen any footage of him, I thank you for talking about him and sharing your viewing experience of him. From memory he is mentioned in the AFL 150 years book (where this was taken from) under the SA section.
I also prefer Mathews than Carey, think Carey was named as number one because he played more recently and that always favours them over the past players.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
are you joking ted should be no.1 why do they call him Mr football because he is the 3rd best football player ever NO because he is the best football player ever!
June 14th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
To be fair Alex, Ted Whitton did get that nickname before Leigh & Carey even played. Carey was nicknamed King, Ablett snr God & Leigh was voted the best player (by more than just Sheahan) in the first centuary.
I think Leigh & Ted had done more ‘off field’ than Ablett snr & Carey though.
Would love to see your top 10 Alex.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Wayne Carey no.1 are you kidding. Garry Ablett all the way mate!!!!
GOD!!!! What more can I say….and not only that his son is a brownlow medalist and has two flags!!! This man ist the Greatest football player ever!!!!
June 2nd, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Kevin Bartlett and greg williams are ranked higher than all four triple brownlow medalists…that seems a little odd. Bill hutchinson is a very overated player so im glad to see him ranked highly. I was wondering if you were to freeze time now where would you put J.Brown, C Judd and G Ablett jnr?
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I think lists are just too hard to make up with the amount of players going around however a few missing names i think would be Robert Harvey, Bob Skilton, Ron Barrassi, Darrel Baldock, Craig Bradley, Tim Watson(hate him but credit where credit is due) Stephen Silvagni (Fullback of the century surely counts in the top ten?) just a few options.