White debuted in 1995, playing 32 games for Fremantle. So that may have been 95-96. Actually they may have played 2 years together, 1997-98. You could be right? Someone will tell us anyway?

Can someone tell us if they played 2 years together or one?

White's first year at Melbourne was 1998, where he was instrumental in our rise to 4th, and came 4th in the B&F as a 21yo. Stynes retired mid-season '98 and Matt Bishop(?) was elevated off the rookie-list, so they probably only played a dozen or so games together. Our ruck division in '97 was Stynes and Dean Irving.

White debuted in 1995, playing 32 games for Fremantle. So that may have been 95-96. Actually they may have played 2 years together, 1997-98. You could be right? Someone will tell us anyway?

Can someone tell us if they played 2 years together or one?

Yeah they only played together in '98, White didn't come over in '97 - he was still playing for the Purple Haze in that year.

Jeff White 1 GF

Jeff did play in a GF, but he also was our B&F in 2004, which you didn't mention.

Both have now played almost exactly the same number of matches, Jimmy 264 and Jeff is now at 265 I believe.

Stynes was well ahead of White without a doubt.

Not to nitpick or anything, but Big Jimmy didn't play a grand final. He would've played one had he not crossed the mark in that Hawthorn prelim (a heartbreaking thing to even think about). He's still ahead though!

Yes he did. he played in the 1988 final v Hawthorn. Who could forget, it was a 96 point drubbing. Thankgod Geelong broke the record last year for the greatest winning margin!

Spot on. Strawb's was the one genuine ruckman out of the three because he had the height. Both Stynes and White are short for ruckmen and had to rely on athleticism. I think White is the better tap ruckman of the two. His leap more than compensated his height. Jimmy was solid without having the leap. But Jimmy was harder at the contest around the ground and I would say definitely more consistent during the game and during the season. Whitey has been very inconsistent over the years and often has periods where he has a slump. Jimmy could impose himself on a game in a way Whitey has rarely done. Without a doubt Jimmy exceeded all expectations and got the maximum out of himself whereas of course White had huge expectations but I wouldn't say he will retire and be able to say he got the absolute maximum out of his talents.

Yeah he did. He was our best player in the 88 debacle. They only played the one year together (98) and Whitey finished fourth in the B&F. For what it's worth, i reckon the best genuine ruck we have had in the last 20 years was Strawbs O'Dwyer. He was sensational in 87 and 88. Won the B&F the year we made the Granny, played for the Big V and unfortunately got rubbed out in the Prelim in 88. Bad knees got him within a couple of years. Out of Stynes and White, I'd take Jimmy.

I often wonder what might have been, had Strawbs played in the GF in 1988. So too, had Brucey made it in 2000. Wonders shall never cease........