http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=61130

Wow

YMs top 10 is not bad.

Ablett is stiff to miss.

So is McLeod and Pavlich.

Franklin is doing the right things to force a spot too!

Gary Ablett Jnr isn't even the best player that I've seen in his own family, let alone the best player that I've ever seen.

reminds me of a great sledge by an english cricketer whos name escapes me. was a surprise selection and when mark waugh had a dig and said along the lines of 'i cant believe you're in the best 11 cricketers in your country' his response was 'probably not, but at least i'm the best cricketer in my family'...

I never much go for ranking who is better etc etc, but one thing to note is that Ablett took several years to develop into what he is now. Apart from his name, he was nothing more than a good small forward for his first couple of seasons. It has only been in the last 2 years perhaps that he has turned into one of the competetions elite midfileders.

Im willing to say he's the best I've ever seen as well

Please, Ablett is a star, but a bloke named Wayne has him covered comfortably.

Just thinking as I watch Ablett star again against WC how it would suck to be hawthorn.

Gary Ablett snr. Used to play for Hawthorn before being traded to Geelong.

Could you imagine how Ablett snr would have fitted into the hawthorn sides of 80's, and how Ablett jnr would fit into Hawthorn now!

Does any one know what they got for Ablett snr and is there ever been a worse case than this (bad trades)

jnr would fit into Hawthorn now!

Was he traded or did he just quit/walk off and get delisted then re-drafted by the Cats?

I'm not sure, but I think he was kicked out of the Hawks for his bad character, and they got nothing in return.

The Tassie-Waverley Hawks have learnt their lesson and tolerate misdemeanours from stars now.

No, he just walked away from them because he didn't particularly like AFL (much like what Nathan did at the start of this year)

Didn’t know that,

But still im sure you could take a little bad character in return you get 2 SUPER STARS

Was he traded or did he just quit/walk off and get delisted then re-drafted by the Cats?

Rules were a lot different then (Ablett Snr). And he didn't play many games for the Dawks. You didn't get drafted as such, but players were "signed" (can't think of the right word).

And remember, how many premierships did the Dawks win without Ablett, and how many did the cats NOT win!

My brother played two's with Ablett Snr at Hawthorn in 1980 and they knew he was very very good. He kicked 5 goals from the centre as an 18 year old. He went back to Myrtleford as a youngster due to his well discussed nature. Hawthorn were never in any doubt as to how well he could play. He had two brothers that played for the club, it's not as if Hawthorn were blind to the family talent.

Let's remember that they had a fantastic team oriented culture in those days and won numerous premiership as well as appearing in 8 Grand Finals in a row. Ultimately, it was far more Ablett's loss than Hawthorn's.

But still im sure you could take a little bad character in return you get 2 SUPER STARS

Yes, and back then they made decisions about players dependent upon their potential offspring 25 years hence. Are you for real ?

And since when was Nathan a superstar ? Oh yeah, he coulda, shoulda, woulda...

I need to read the book, which Whispering Jack reviewed here a while back, but my recollection is that rather than walking on Hawthorn, he just stopped showing up.

They then delisted him which must have [censored] his brothers off big time. I think Geoff was either still on the list or just retired. His sister was married to Micheal Tuck and it must have been an issue to many relatives but not Gary.

He did however play for Myrtleford (?)the next year and apparently that season is talked about as magical.

He did walk away from Geelong too.

I remember his first game back was against us and we put Andrew Obst on him.

Could you imagine how Ablett snr would have fitted into the hawthorn sides of 80's, and how Ablett jnr would fit into Hawthorn now!

Just imagine the classic 1989 GF - six points the difference 21.18.144 to 21.12.138. Ablett kicked 9 goals in a losing team. If he was playing for Hawthorn it would have been 30.18.198 to 12.12.84.

Allan Jeans puts it this way... "How many premierships did Hawthorn win without Ablett and how many premierships did Geelong win with Ablett". Sums it up for me!

Bump, wow

the guy is nuts

My top 10 players of this decade

1. Chris Judd

2. Michael Voss

3. James Hird

4. Ben Cousins

5. Mark Ricciuto

6. Nathan Buckley

7. Adam Goodes

8. Simon Black

9. Jonathan Brown

10. Daniel Kerr

Cant even fit Ablett into the top 10 of the decade.

Take your hand off it for 5 seconds YM. Ablett JR is easily better than Cousins, Kerr, Black, Buckley, Ricciuto, Voss. Comparing him to Brown isn't fair, its apples against oranges, likewise Goodes. I'd say he's about on par with Judd in his prime (ie. 2-3 seasons ago) and maybe just behind Hird. Ablett's been unbelievable this year.

Take your hand off it for 5 seconds YM. Ablett JR is easily better than Cousins, Kerr, Black, Buckley, Ricciuto, Voss. Comparing him to Brown isn't fair, its apples against oranges, likewise Goodes. I'd say he's about on par with Judd in his prime (ie. 2-3 seasons ago) and maybe just behind Hird. Ablett's been unbelievable this year.

I disagree. Ablett has a long way to go to match the consistently excellent standards set by the players you mention. Eighteen months ago Gary Ablett was an inconsistent small forward who occasionally had a run in the midle. At the end of 2006 he'd played 100 games of footy and averaged 15.17 possessions. The last 18 months he's been superb. He's built an engine to run in the middle and in his last 37 matches he's averaged 27.7 possessions, a marked difference. But it will take more than 2 years of stellar footy to match the exploits of those that did it for over a decade - all bar Kerr.

That said, Ablett's last 18 months are equal to or better than the elite company named above. He just needs to do it for a few more years.

I disagree. Ablett has a long way to go to match the consistently excellent standards set by the players you mention. Eighteen months ago Gary Ablett was an inconsistent small forward who occasionally had a run in the midle. At the end of 2006 he'd played 100 games of footy and averaged 15.17 possessions. The last 18 months he's been superb. He's built an engine to run in the middle and in his last 37 matches he's averaged 27.7 possessions, a marked difference. But it will take more than 2 years of stellar footy to match the exploits of those that did it for over a decade - all bar Kerr.

That said, Ablett's last 18 months are equal to or better than the elite company named above. He just needs to do it for a few more years.

At present Gary Ablett is the best midfielder in the competition, both in statistically and with the impact he has on the game.

Consistancy over the past few years means nothing when judging who is currently the best midfielder in '08.

At present Gary Ablett is the best midfielder in the competition, both in statistically and with the impact he has on the game.

Consistancy over the past few years means nothing when judging who is currently the best midfielder in '08.

No argument from me on that count. But if he never played again he'd be ranked below nearly all the others from a career perspective.

Im willing to say he's the best I've ever seen as well

He has become very good in the last couple of years. He's hot at the moment. I've seen a lot of players, and he's good, but no way is the best I've ever seen.

His father was pretty good you know. So was Wayne Carey, Leigh Matthews, Alex Jesaulenko, Greg Williams, James Hird, Robbie Flower, Michael Voss, Barry Cable, Royce Hart, Darrell Baldock, Ian Stewart, Polly Farmer, Ted Whitten, Dermie, Nathan Buckley.

So are some current players - Andrew McLeod, J Brown, Buddy Franklin, Chris Judd, Adam Goodes.

Yes, Ablett is HOT at the moment, and is the best in the league at what he does, extract the ball out the middle and do something very creative and effective with it. Judd at his fittest was just as effective and even more explosive. Ablett jnr. is an amazing player, and he may get even better, but he is not the best I've ever seen.

Oh and I forgot Dean Cox, who is just awesome atm in a crap team.

He has become very good in the last couple of years. He's hot at the moment. I've seen a lot of players, and he's good, but no way is the best I've ever seen.

His father was pretty good you know. So was Wayne Carey, Leigh Matthews, Alex Jesaulenko, Greg Williams, James Hird, Robbie Flower, Michael Voss, Barry Cable, Royce Hart, Darrell Baldock, Ian Stewart, Polly Farmer, Ted Whitten, Dermie, Nathan Buckley.

So are some current players - Andrew McLeod, J Brown, Buddy Franklin, Chris Judd, Adam Goodes.

Yes, Ablett is HOT at the moment, and is the best in the league at what he does, extract the ball out the middle and do something very creative and effective with it. Judd at his fittest was just as effective and even more explosive. Ablett jnr. is an amazing player, and he may get even better, but he is not the best I've ever seen.

I agree Bt. No disrespect to Ablett, but presently he wouldn't be in the top 30 players I've seen.

Given the speed of the game and the sheer fitness required to paly it...far greater than in decades past ( just admit it all) then G A Jnr is easily in the top ten players. His father was a God around goal but not nearly as creative around the ground ( but that wasnt his job ) and it is for Jnr !! To be as intuite , creative and dangeous as Ablett is..you have to be very very very good !! I HAVE seen footy in the 60's 70's 80'90's and the naughties !! I have seen many of the modernish greats..and Garry Ablet Jn r is well and truly esconched in there !!

Food for thought. some of the "hallowed" greats ( of yore ) wouldnt get a game today!! theybe blowing hard after quarter time !!