Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Featured Replies

1. Flower

2. The Ox

3. Neitz

4. Lyon

5. Oliver (probably No1 at the end of his career 

Tingay, Farmer & Jimmy could easily slot in

 

This is mostly lists of players that people have seen in the modern era. These may not be the greatest of all time

 

I'm in the awkward position of only having been properly inducted to Australian Football in the very late 90s (2000 was a good season to have committed to it!) so my top 5 could only be very recent.

Lots of respectable, even elite, players in that time but not many you could say were absolute greats.

I have the uncanny, electric and slightly alarming feeling that I might be watching my personal top 5 Demons all at once any moment now, and that it might not even be just for my couple of decades of experience.

Touching wood and keeping the lid on and all that.

 


Judging by the OP, we're talking favourite players we've watched play as opposed to best players throughout our history, so with that in mind...

1. Matty Whelan - Toughest footballer I've seen. Would destroy opposition players, but without trying to be a 'tough guy' or having over the top bravado. Also underrated for his disposal IMO.

2. Jeff Farmer - Just seemed to have a habit of putting together incredible bursts of footy that would get Dees fans out of their seats.

3. Liam Jurrah - Could do anything on the footy field, just pure footy talent.

4. Kozzy - See combined descriptions of 1 and 2.

5. Green - Might not be the 'coolest' option, but his beautiful kick combined with the way he would throw himself into marking contests was a highlight to watch, and he's probably gone under the radar in a way with his efforts for us.

7 hours ago, Demons1858 said:

The Cordners are popular among the older brigade of Melbourne Fans.I doubt they were better than Schwartz or Nietz even on team balance.

A flag will re-write history.

6 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

Judging by the OP, we're talking favourite players we've watched play as opposed to best players throughout our history, so with that in mind...

1. Matty Whelan - Toughest footballer I've seen. Would destroy opposition players, but without trying to be a 'tough guy' or having over the top bravado. Also underrated for his disposal IMO.

2. Jeff Farmer - Just seemed to have a habit of putting together incredible bursts of footy that would get Dees fans out of their seats.

3. Liam Jurrah - Could do anything on the footy field, just pure footy talent.

4. Kozzy - See combined descriptions of 1 and 2.

5. Green - Might not be the 'coolest' option, but his beautiful kick combined with the way he would throw himself into marking contests was a highlight to watch, and he's probably gone under the radar in a way with his efforts for us.

Good list and explanations, Lord.

I've always loved Wrecker. He's proof you can be a tough, aggressive player without being an alpha male.

 

Always too tough these types of questions.

I just think of the players that compelled me to go and watch the Red and the Blue.

Flower, Jakovich, Farmer, Davey,  & Schwarz

 


My Favourites:

Tony Anderson

Steve Smith

Brett Lovett

J. Farmer

D. Schwartz/Sean Wight

 

The Best:

Barassi

Hassa Mann

Rob Flower

G.Lyon

J. Stynes

 

19 hours ago, Biffen said:

The Cordners are popular among the older brigade of Melbourne Fans.I doubt they were better than Schwartz or Nietz even on team balance.

A flag will re-write history.

I unfortunately was not born when they played but Dr Don Cordner was a Brownlow winner in 1946 so he was a fair player and in our Team of Century and 1948 Flag so was a Class ruckman.

Yes Neita and SChwarta were great and really op players but we didn't get a flag in that period. 

  • 5 months later...
  • 1 year later...

I only started following the AFL in the early 2000s so won't have anyone before then.

Davey, Robbo, Green, Oliver and Gawn 

In my time (since 2000, because rating players based on reputation is silly and I'm not an old fart who remembers last century), with the goal being to pick someone to play a game for my life:

1. Gawn
2. Oliver
3. Jurrah
4. Petracca
5. Green
 

1 Robert Alan Flower

2 Clarry Choo Choo

3 Ronald Dale Barrassi

4 The Ox

5 Neil Stanley Alves


What a great thread, brings back some lovely memories of great players tearing (some) games apart in the afternoon sun at the G.

 

Flower

Schwarz

Jakovich

Gawn

Grinter

 

Gawn

Oliver

Petracca

May

Neitz


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • 2026 AFL Fixture

    The Demons 2026 AFL Fixture is as good as can be expected considering their performances and finishes the past two seasons. Sunday games and late afternoon starts are on the menu with only 1 Friday night fixture until Round 15. They will travel 8 times including their home game in the Alice, their Gather Round game as well as a match against the Hawks in Tasmania. They will face, the Bombers, Bulldogs, the Suns, the Tigers, the Hawks and the Dockers twice.

    • 263 replies
  • TRAINING: Wednesday 12th November 2025

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers ventured down to Gosch's paddock to give you their brief observations on the second day of preseason training in the lead up to the 2026 Premiership Season.

      • Like
    • 1 reply
  • TRAINING: Monday 10th November 2025

    Several Demonland Trackwatchers were on hand at Gosch’s Paddock to share their observations from the opening day of preseason training, featuring the club’s 1st to 4th year players along with a few veterans and some fresh faces.

    • 1 reply
  • AFLW REPORT: Brisbane

    Melbourne returned to its city citadel, IKON Park, boasting a 10–2 home record and celebrating its 100th AFLW matchwith 3,711 fans creating a finals atmosphere. But in a repeat of Round 11, Brisbane proved too strong, too fit, and too relentless.  They brought their kicking boots: 9 goals, 2 points.

      • Thanks
    • 0 replies
  • AFLW PREVIEW: Brisbane

    Forget the haunting of Round 11 — we’ve got this. Melbourne returns to its inner-city fortress for its milestone 100th AFLW match, carrying a formidable 10–2 record at IKON Stadium. Brisbane’s record at the venue is more balanced: 4 wins, 4 losses and a draw. 

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 11 replies
  • AFLW REPORT: Geelong

    Melbourne wrapped up the AFLW home and away season with a hard-fought 14-point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park. The result secured second place on the ladder with a 9–3 record and a home qualifying final against the Brisbane Lions next week.

      • Thanks
    • 2 replies

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.