The thread about the best MFC team posters had seen live got me thinking. Specifically, that I've never really thought about demon players in terms of best (with one obvious exception) but rather who my favourite players are. Most of my favorite players are pretty good players but not necessarily the best.

So my question is who are posters' top 10 favourite players.

Mine in no order (except one obvious exception) is as follows:

1. Robbie

Greg Wells

Gary Hardeman

Nathan Jones

Jack Watts

Steven Icke

Garry Baker

Jeff Farmer

David Schwarz

Jimmy Stynes

 

With honorable mentions to: Spud Dullard, Andy Moir, Ray Biffen, Peter Giles, Steven Smith, Rhino Richards, Sugar Healy, Max Gawn, Laurie Fowler, Gerard Healy, Todd and jack Viney, Travis Johnstone, Glen Lovett, Alan Johnson, Steven Stretch, Jesse Hogan, Alan Jacovich, Brent Croswell, Neita, Yze, J Mac and Carl Ditteriich. Hell I could name another 50!

 

Robbie

Lyon

Ox

Stynes

Farmer

Jakovich

Healy

Yze

Jeff White

N Jones

Gee, Binnie this is a bit tough. Here's a first pass but I reckon it'd change several times as I gave it more thought.

The 10 below came to mind because of various reasons.

Flower

B Lovett

T Viney

J Viney

Stynes

Ooze

D Hughes

G Rigoni

J Farmer

S Stretch

Hassa Mann

Gary Hardemann

Robert Flower

Greg Wells

Jeff White

Nathan Jones

Jack Watts

Jim Stynes

David Schwarz

David Nietz

 

 

Good thread binman ... I've tried to put mine in order based on how the how I felt at the time of viewing these players.  Down the track I'd like to be able to add Hogan,  Brayshaw,  Petracca,  Oliver and a number of other present day players. 

Flower

Wells

Hardeman

Jakovich

Neitz

Ditterich

Stynes

Schwartz

Farmer

Lyon

Other favourites include Wilson,  Biffin,  Alves,  Johnson,  Yze,  O'Dwyer,  Tingay,  Jones,  both Viney's,  Wight,  Grinter and a number of others.  I've no doubt left more than a few out ... 'Tiger' Crosswell was another favourite. 

22 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Gee, Binnie this is a bit tough. Here's a first pass but I reckon it'd change several times as I gabe it more thought.

 

You're right it is a bit tough, not least because the idea of favourite players is somewhat fluid. Perhaps a better thread might be more along the lines of naming some of our favourite players

Some of the lists above reminded me of some players who are among my favorites. Sean Wight, The Duke, Stinga and Danny Hughes among them. 

Not in order other than the first two:

Flower

Wells

Lyon

Farmer

Baker

Hogan

Alan Johnson

Neitz

Oliver

Petracca

 

Ox

Ox

Ox

Ox

Petracca cos ge wears the ox's number

Ox

Ox

Ox

Ox

Schwartz.

Jakovich

Schwartz

T.Viney

Neitz

Farmer

Jones

Bruce

Stynes

Woewodin

Robertson

Flower

Kent

Jakovitch

Ox

Jones

Farmer

Stynes

Ditterich

Grinter

Don Williams

Many out of memory

Tough one.  In no particular order:

Gerard Healy (had his number on the duffle coat in the early 80's)

Flower

Warren Dean (class but injury prone)

Danny Hughes

Sean Wight

Brett Lovett

Schwarz

Stynes

Jakovich

Wilson

 

 

Ron Barassi

Tassie Johnson

Robbie Flower

Stan Alves

Max Gawn

David Schwarz

Aaron Davey

Liam Jurrah

Jim Stynes

Alan Johnson

not necessarily the best except for RDB and Robbie but the best to watch

 

As it is favourite, and not best, mine will look extremely different to some!

The Wiz

Sean Wight

Andrew Ford

Jim Stynes

Dom Tyson

Liam Jurrah

Jeff White

Angus Brayshaw

Ricky Jackson

Chopper Carroll

3 minutes ago, billy2803 said:

As it is favourite, and not best, mine will look extremely different to some!

The Wiz

Sean Wight

Andrew Ford

Jim Stynes

Dom Tyson

Liam Jurrah

Jeff White

Angus Brayshaw

Ricky Jackson

Chopper Carroll

I had no memory of Andrew Ford (those 8 games must have made quite an impression on you though Billy), so had to look at the brilliant Demonwiki (by the by i would love to know Supermercado's fav players):

Andrew Ford
DOB: 16 September 1970

Debut: Round 6, 1991 against Collingwood at Waverley 
Last Game: Round 10, 1992 against North Melbourne at MCG

From: North Ballarat, Selection #55, 1988 National Draft

Number: 43 1991-1992

Games: 8 
Goals: 1 
Career Statistics

Wins    Draws    Losses    Winning %
4    1    3    50.00
After spending 1989 and 1990 in the Reserves, Ford finally made his debut in 1991. He was given the difficult role of tagging Tony Shaw in his first game and impressed, but played just seven more matches in his career.

Ford also wore number 43 when playing Under 19's and Reserves in 1989 and 1990.

Year    Games    Goals    Brownlow
1991    4    1    0
1992    4    0    0
 

1. Cale Morton 

2. Daniel Nicholson

3. Lucas Cook

4. Rory Taggart

5. James Strauss

6. Kelvin Lawrence 

7. Michael Newton

8. Alexis Georgiou

9. Michael Evans

10. Tom Couch

Josh Tynan stiff to miss out

56 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

1. Cale Morton 

2. Daniel Nicholson

3. Lucas Cook

4. Rory Taggart

5. James Strauss

6. Kelvin Lawrence 

7. Michael Newton

8. Alexis Georgiou

9. Michael Evans

10. Tom Couch

Josh Tynan stiff to miss out

Did they all play more AFL games than you, DJ?

51 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Did they all play more AFL games than you, DJ?

I think @Demon Jack played the same amount of AFL games as Lucas Cook did. 

A few of my favourites:

- The Wiz

- Neitz 

- Schwarz

I don't usually do these but some of mine deserve recognition.  Also I've done mine in order to put meaning and difficulty into it.  Unlike Pro I haven't put any of our youngsters in as I reckon a player needs to stand the test of time.

1.  Robert Flower.  Anyone who needs an explanation why didn't see him play at his prime in our horror years.

2.  David Neitz.  What a man.  Games, captain and goals record holder I think.  A fantastic leader who just did it all.  Two time all Australian.  Turned down money from the club he was entitled to because of our financial situation.  Only beaten by Flower.

3.  Junior McDonald.  AA midfielder in our worst period.  Brave, respected, small and a true leader.

4.  Steven Stretch.  Sadly more remembered for deciding not to spend the night in hospital for a meaningless display of courage and play out the game.  Graceful, fast, beautiful kick, great overhead, two time B&F and could find it and did it over a long period. If you want to know how good this guy was just watch the 1987 finals.

5.  Alan Johnson.  Fantastic player both in the midfield in his youth and in the back pocket as he got older.

6.  Brett Lovett.  For all the reasons mentioned.  Unfashionable but impassable in the backline.  Just a team player.

7.  David Schwarz.  Injury denied us of our Wayne Carey  His '94 final series was just unbelievable. A bitterly sad day when he did his first knee.  Devastating the second.

8.  Greg Wells.  Along with Flower was a shining light in the dark days of the '70's and just played so well. Was a terrific overhead mark for his size and a prolific kick winner.

9.  Gary Hardeman.  Springs in his step, great to watch, a fantastic highlight reel with his high marking. Broke two of my ribs playing indoor cricket some years later!  What's not to like?

10.  Steven Tingay. At his best an AA midfielder who provided dash and excitement.

Apologies to Alan Jakovich who had it all but didn't do it for long enough and Jeff Farmer for his excitement but he ran out on us.  There are others but when it comes to all time favourites you can't think of a bad thing when you think of them and sadly some were, from time to time,  just more interested in themselves than the team.  Finally Rhino Richards was so close but I'm not really sure why.

Good memories all round and although this has been done before it never loses its interest.

Jack watts, Ron Barassi, Ray Biffen, Ross Dillon, David Schwarz, Rod Grinter, Jim Stynes, Allan jackovich, Russell Robertson, Robbie Flower.

 

Fav non Melbourne player Sam kekovich.

How G Lyon can be left out is a bit of a mystery to me.

But it does say favourite and maybe he is out of favour but he is probably one of our top ten players ever .

In no particular order....

Green

Jakovich

Ox

Robbo 

Netia

Flash

The Wiz

Lyon 

Yze

Bennett

Unlike Vogon mine is not in order but pretty close and not top 10 but my favorite players from my time watching

P. Callery -  was my favorite player and had his number on my jumper, devastated when he left and never had a another number on a jumper  and why i never put favorite players on my profile just the team .

R.Flower- Also my favorite after Callery and really one of the only reasons to watch the Dees back then and loved the club.

G. Hardeman -  Great player and real nice guy very upset when he to S.A for awhile.

R.Biffin - Just loved the guy.

Crackers Keenan - Great bloke and a good player.

G.Baker - A character,good player and a top bloke 

G.Wells - highly skilled,gutsy and loved the club .

M.Jackson- was a better player than he gets credit for but was a nutter

More recently ....not favorites but loved watching them

Balls 

Ox

Wiz

Garry

Viney

Jaka

Neita

Lovett -both

Flash

Jimmy

Stinger

Todays crop...

Maxy - If anyone could be my favorite again its him , just love the way he is and that lap after the port game was brillant as it comes from the heart !!!

Viney

Watts

Jones

Brayshaw

Petracca

and ...well that will do,no doubt i have forgotten someone  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travis Johnstone

Schwarz

Woewodin

Jakovich

Todd Viney

Wizard Farmer

Yze

Lyon

Neitz

Tingay

 

Future potential favorites:

Jack Viney

Oliver

Gawn

Hogan

Petracca

4 hours ago, Vogon Poetry said:

I don't usually do these but some of mine deserve recognition.  Also I've done mine in order to put meaning and difficulty into it.  Unlike Pro I haven't put any of our youngsters in as I reckon a player needs to stand the test of time.

1.  Robert Flower.  Anyone who needs an explanation why didn't see him play at his prime in our horror years.

2.  David Neitz.  What a man.  Games, captain and goals record holder I think.  A fantastic leader who just did it all.  Two time all Australian.  Turned down money from the club he was entitled to because of our financial situation.  Only beaten by Flower.

3.  Junior McDonald.  AA midfielder in our worst period.  Brave, respected, small and a true leader.

4.  Steven Stretch.  Sadly more remembered for deciding not to spend the night in hospital for a meaningless display of courage and play out the game.  Graceful, fast, beautiful kick, great overhead, two time B&F and could find it and did it over a long period. If you want to know how good this guy was just watch the 1987 finals.

5.  Alan Johnson.  Fantastic player both in the midfield in his youth and in the back pocket as he got older.

6.  Brett Lovett.  For all the reasons mentioned.  Unfashionable but impassable in the backline.  Just a team player.

7.  David Schwarz.  Injury denied us of our Wayne Carey  His '94 final series was just unbelievable. A bitterly sad day when he did his first knee.  Devastating the second.

8.  Greg Wells.  Along with Flower was a shining light in the dark days of the '70's and just played so well. Was a terrific overhead mark for his size and a prolific kick winner.

9.  Gary Hardeman.  Springs in his step, great to watch, a fantastic highlight reel with his high marking. Broke two of my ribs playing indoor cricket some years later!  What's not to like?

10.  Steven Tingay. At his best an AA midfielder who provided dash and excitement.

Apologies to Alan Jakovich who had it all but didn't do it for long enough and Jeff Farmer for his excitement but he ran out on us.  There are others but when it comes to all time favourites you can't think of a bad thing when you think of them and sadly some were, from time to time,  just more interested in themselves than the team.  Finally Rhino Richards was so close but I'm not really sure why.

Good memories all round and although this has been done before it never loses its interest.

Sadly, I don't have "great" memories of too many.  Good, but not great.  How could I ?

I liked Ricky "Steamboat" Jackson, Obst, Icke, Ingerson, Green, Yze, Yeater and countless others.  What about Brett Lovett and those handballs ?  Not to mention Glenn 'hamstring" Lovett was a very good player who couldn't get his body right.  I saw Chopper Lovell train at the G when he was a 16 year old a year before he came over fron Tasmania.  He became good, but not great.  Adrian Battiston was a ripping bloke who I got to know.  

I had high hopes for Lally.  Sean Charles too.  How good could Warren Dean have been ?  What about Schwarz in '94 ?  Kevin Dyson's right leg and those 60 metre drop punts ?   The legacy Jacovich could have left.  Darren Bennett's last quarter heroics at Windy Hill.  Seddon was meant to be a star from Tasmania that every club was chasing.  What about Glen Swann, Darren Cuthbertson and their highlight games ?  Young potential stars in Reynolds, O'Brien and O'Sullivan ?  Vardy from Adelaide and the early days of Byron.  Jeff White for a while ?  And then there was big Carl.  But alas, it wasn't to be.

I pick Hogan, Petracca, and Oliver on hope as much as anything.  I'd throw in Viney, Brayshaw, and Hunt too, but it would look a bit silly; and it's just based on that word again, hope.

If we win a flag only Flower would remain from my original list.  

The rest will be premiership players.

 

Too many players over too many years to consider. So I will make two lists of five -  the first from the late 50s and 60s when I had a boy's view of the team and the second from the beginning of the renaissance in 1987 when I had a more mature view. I have excluded the current crop as it is only fair to give them time to develop and show their talent but Oliver would be close.

All those listed have displayed an individual and uncommon skill or talent that made them exceptional. In no particular order, my favourite players are:

50s/60s

RDB, Hassa Mann, John Townsend, Tassie Johnson, Phil Rhoden (his sublime drop kicks from full back in the reserves have never been matched)

Post 87

Robert Flower, David Schwarz, Jim Stynes, Travis Johnstone, Garry Lyon (apologies to Allen Jakovich)