Best Player

[Guest Diamond Jim Tillbrook]

Allen Jackovich.

[Swampfox 190]

Always admired what Ivor Warne Smith achieved in a limited playing career

La Fontaine as mentioned was a GEM of a player

Barrassi is the greatest name in Football even more than Whitten and was the most competive player i have seen

Barrassi didnt have the skill of a Whiiten , Skilton or Stewart but his will to win was enourmous

IMO Robert Flower is the greatest player i have seen at Melbourne and even when played out of position still excelled

Flower for his size is pound for pound the best player to play the game

Flower

Warne Smith

La Fontaine

Barassi

Mann

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

Always admired what Ivor Warne Smith achieved in a limited playing career

La Fontaine as mentioned was a GEM of a player

Barrassi is the greatest name in Football even more than Whitten and was the most competive player i have seen

Barrassi didnt have the skill of a Whiiten , Skilton or Stewart but his will to win was enourmous

IMO Robert Flower is the greatest player i have seen at Melbourne and even when played out of position still excelled

Flower for his size is pound for pound the best player to play the game

Flower

Warne Smith

La Fontaine

Barassi

Mann

Hey swampfox! You must be much older than me. Warne Smith played his last game in 1932 and La Fontaine in 1945. Did you actually see them play? They doubtless were great players but do you think you should really rate them just on hearsay. I didn't nominate the Red Fox because I didn't actually see him play. Agree though about Hassa Mann,he was a champion.

[Tigers Dayz 2]

I won't go to the books and stats which I really can't rate... I can only decide from players I have seen. Barassi, I only saw with Carlton though, but could see the 'aura'.

So my choices are;

1. Robbie Flower

2. Ron Barrassi (probably because he captained and played during our best period)

3. Greg Wells.

[Tim 3,426]

Hey swampfox! You must be much older than me. Warne Smith played his last game in 1932 and La Fontaine in 1945. Did you actually see them play? They doubtless were great players but do you think you should really rate them just on hearsay. I didn't nominate the Red Fox because I didn't actually see him play. Agree though about Hassa Mann,he was a champion.

Agree it's harder to assess players from earlier eras, but wouldn't want to eliminate Bradman and Grace from cricket lists, or Carbine or Phar Lap from racing evaluations for that reason alone.

From what I've gathered over the journey we do have some all time greats from earlier eras to rank with the likes of Barassi and Flower. Names like La Fontaine, Beames and (especially) Jack Mueller. Stuart Spencer must have been special - B&F's in 2 dominant flag teams, as well as top goal-kicker in one while playing as rover. Laurie Mithen and Don Williams also appear to have been potent forces in the 50's/60's era.

[Swampfox 190]

Hey swampfox! You must be much older than me. Warne Smith played his last game in 1932 and La Fontaine in 1945. Did you actually see them play? They doubtless were great players but do you think you should really rate them just on hearsay. I didn't nominate the Red Fox because I didn't actually see him play. Agree though about Hassa Mann,he was a champion.

Pretty old and no i never saw either Warne Smith or La Fontaine play and only make the judgement from those who did

Its always been an interesting debate over who was better than someone else and its all about opinion

like Carji Greeves could have easlily won 4 Brownlows for example might have got him in Mike Sheahans greatest 50

As it is Flower isnt even in it yet Barassi is

I really think the only real way of rating players is during eras as sports medicine and training has changed so much over the years

The really old footy followers still rate Bunton as the best and who are we to argue with them

Hassa Mann was my boyhood hero and every October 10th i think of the great #29

Worst day i ever had barracking for Melbourne was the day they sacked Norm Smith

Ironic that the club has been without success since that day

[Guest skipper3]

You really are a hack, aren't you?? Ron left with a very very heavy heart, but he did so becasue if he didnt leave MFC he would never had been able to coach due to Norm been there forever (who was to know what the future was going to hold). Ron had given our club everything.

FWIW - my top 5 are like this;

1) Garry Lyon

2) Jimmy Stynes

3) David Neitz

4) Todd Viney

5) David Schwartz

** I did not include Robbie Flower as I only saw 2 out of his final 3 games ('87 Elim & '88 Final).

I can't rate Barrasi as his loyality was based around who could pay him the most.

Flower would have played for a pie with sauce. Champions and their love of the club shine through.

[dee-luded 2,959]

i'm only young so i haven't seen the flower's, barrassi's etc <_< , but what i will say is that Brock McLean and David Neitz seem the two that are most likely going to be remembered as superstars.

also i don't want to jinx them but Rivers and Dunn could be pretty damn good too.

come to think about it that has the "potential" to be a very good CHB-CHF combination

These boys are pale by comparison, Flower was a beauty. Individually, pound for pound, the equal of your GAbletts snr, Locketts, Blights, Matthews, he was versatile and could play anywhere.

He would give people like Bartlett a shalacking.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Robert Flower is the best player I've seen play for us by a long way. It tends to make a mockery of the Best & Fairest voting IMO, when Robbie only won 1. I think that this hindered his chances of making the Team of the Century. He was a far better wingman than Greig and Bourke.

Good points about Flower. He was better than Grieg and much better than Bourke.

The key issue for Grieg and Bourke is they had their fair share of flags and B'lows to distract the judges.

IMO pound for pound Schimma was better than Greig.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Before my time but I am surprised that Norm Smith did not register a vote given La Fontaine, Beames and Warne Smith got a mention. After reading RedFox and other sources I have read, Smith was Hird like as a player. Or was Hird was Smith like?

[Swampfox 190]

Before my time but I am surprised that Norm Smith did not register a vote given La Fontaine, Beames and Warne Smith got a mention. After reading RedFox and other sources I have read, Smith was Hird like as a player. Or was Hird was Smith like?

Being related to the oldest living collingwood player (not my fault ) i do get some insight on players of other clubs but this guys opinion can vary as much as people playing these days as well

Flower nominated his toughest oponent as being Schimma not Greig

Hardeman was so unlucky not to win the brownlow that year

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,294]

In 2046 we'll all be in our rocking chairs saying "gee that Brock was a true demon great"

Neitz/Flower to the present (apologies to Godfrey, Holland, Grgic, and Hopgood)

McLean for the future

From what I have seen live, Flower by a mile! From what I hear from yesteryear however, Barassi was unbelievable and probably won several of those flags for the club by his own brilliance.

(Apologies to James Cook, Isaac Weetra and Cameron Hunter)

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

Being related to the oldest living collingwood player (not my fault ) i do get some insight on players of other clubs but this guys opinion can vary as much as people playing these days as well

Flower nominated his toughest oponent as being Schimma not Greig

Hardeman was so unlucky not to win the brownlow that year

Is your relative Lou,Lou by any chance?

[Swampfox 190]

Is your relative Lou,Lou by any chance?

Norm Crewther

[rollinson 65 181]

Barassi.

I agree it is unfair that the people who could comment on the players from previous generations are dead.

I saw many barrasi games, and most flower games.

Barassi the match-winner and premiership-maker by a country mile.

He turned the momentum.

Robbie was the complete player, would win every one-on-one contest, and could not be tagged, but barrasi imposed himself on the game and forced the premierships our way.

Repeat my apologies to the memory of the past players it was never my privilege to see in action.