Best MFC team in last 50 years

[reynolds46 1,235]

	Wight	Stephen Smith	A.Johnson
	Yze	Neitz	B.Lovett
	Flower	Wells	Tingay
	Lyon	Schwartz	Wilson
	Farmer	Jakovich	Davey
	Stynes	Gerard Healy	T.Viney
Inter	J.White	Hardemann	Alves
from	S.Stretch	Yeats	Woewodin
	R.Jackson

[What 18,810]

A Jakovich firmly at Full Forward.

Doesn't have the longevity helping him, but he as the best goalkicker we have ever had. And a match winner.

Pretty sure Jaka is the only MFC player to average over 4 goals per game for their career (not including his  7 games at the Bulldogs that dipped his career average just under 4)... Fred Fanning averaged 3.95.

And speaking of Fanning why isn't he in any of the teams?  411 goals in 104 games,  VFL/AFL record 18 in one game and an MFC record of 97 in one season.

 

Edited October 24, 2017 by Petraccattack

[ManDee 7,134]

1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

A Jakovich firmly at Full Forward.

Doesn't have the longevity helping him, but he as the best goalkicker we have ever had. And a match winner.

Pretty sure Jaka is the only MFC player to average over 4 goals per game for their career (not including his  7 games at the Bulldogs that dipped his career average just under 4)... Fred Fanning averaged 3.95.

And speaking of Fanning why isn't he in any of the teams?  411 goals in 104 games,  VFL/AFL record 18 in one game and an MFC record of 97 in one season.

 

MFC best team in last 50 years, not 100.

[What 18,810]

2 hours ago, ManDee said:

MFC best team in last 50 years, not 100.

Oops....  that would explain it.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

On 24/10/2017 at 8:33 AM, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'll go further. It saddens me to say this, but if every team with the possible exceptions of Fremantle and the Gold Coast created their best teams of the last 50 years, ours wouldn't beat any of them. 

That's a big call. We will never know will we?

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,710]

7 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

That's a big call. We will never know will we?

I don't think it's a big call at all (unless your referring to the question of whether Fremantle's and Gold Coast's best teams would also beat us). And hardly surprising given we've never had a team good enough to win a Premiership during that time.

[Locky McCulloch 2]

B - A.Johnson, R.Biffin, S.Wight

H.B - S.Febey, G.Hardeman, M.Whelan

C - R.Flower (C) , G.Wells, S.Alves

H.F - D.Schwartz, G.Lyon (V.C), A.Yze

F - J.Farmer, D.Neitz (D.V.C), A.Jakovich

R - J.Stynes, T.Viney, N.Jones

Inter. - G.Baker, S.Tingay, Gerald Healy, G. Lovett

Emg. -  L.Fowler, R.Robertson, B.Lovett, J.McDonald, +++++++ (Near misses) - A.Davey, B.Green, T.Johnstone, A.Obst, A.Ingerson, C.Ditterich, A.Leoncelli , D.Hughes  

Not sure how this team would gel together as far as personalities and positional aspects go .......by it would be great to find out

Sorry, I've cheated by naming so many emergencies. I have watched and supported the D's passionately since very early 70's. My team is somewhat emotion based and I have probably favored the heart over the head with some selections. Left out 3 Brownlow medalists - Moore, Wilson and Woewodin. I really struggled with Alves or Tingay on the wing (maybe Stingers missed games through injuries cost him the spot). Of the current crop only Jones - but I think Oliver and Gawn could maybe find a spot in the future ....and possibly Petracca if he can show continued improvement and consistency AND hopefully some others?? Hogan, J.Viney, N.Jetta.....Leaver??

*Honorable mention for D.Bennett - averaged 2.76 goals per game - and probably the best kick I've seen at the D's

 

[Locky McCulloch 2]

On 10/23/2017 at 6:16 PM, ProDee said:

You know you've been pathetic for 50 years when key defenders of the calibre of Danny Hughes and Steven Smith are making teams.

I'm not saying that's wrong by the way, just an indictment.

I think Ray Biffin was a very good defender (also played forward at times) - I'd put him ahead of Hughes and S.Smith  - extremely competitive ....(possibly a bit beyond the rules at times  

[Deemania since 56 6,618]

Biffen was a rule-stretcher, yes; however, he was only protecting his team mates. He made a few opposition forwards shake in their socks and he was incredibly reliable at full back. 

[Deemania since 56 6,618]

Honestly, this is an impossible selection to make, as we could all pick over forty players who would make the grade. What about defining our selections for this coming season, 2018? The backline looks elite on possibilities, except for Oscar. What about the rest of the team? Then, the application of the game plans the coaches should apply.

[tiers 2,829]

On 23 October I posted this comment:

The very best team of the past 50 years must include the following (excluding current players whose careers have still to blossom):

Alan Johnson, Steven Smith, Sean Wight;

Brett Lovett, David Neitz, Gary Hardeman;

Stan Alves, Greg Wells, Robert Flower;

Garry Lyon, David Shwarz, Adem Yze;

Gerard Healey, Allen Jakovich, Jeff Farmer;

Jim Stynes, Shane Woewodin, Brian Wilson

Int Gary Baker, Steven Tingay, Alan Obst, Glenn Lovett

Skilled, courageous, attacking match winners.

Unfortunately, the month of October coincides with the end of the footy and the onset of daylight saving and I reserve the right to review all decisions in that month.

How could I have forgotten Travis Johnstone? His inclusion would make this team infinitely better as he would have the delight of playing with his peers and we would have the joy of watching his smooth, silky skills being used to advantage. Imagine Travis passing 50 to Jako.

Apologies to Glenn Lovett - great player but not in the same league.

 

[TGR 1,367]

Northey Coach.

 

 

 

How B Lovett can not start in the 18 is beyond me.  How G Lovett makes the squad is beyond me.

[hemingway 7,615]

On 23/10/2017 at 1:06 PM, nosoupforme said:

What about Diamond Jim.   The Great John Tilbrook. I think  his salary in the 70s was more than Clarry and Sugar put together.

Do you know what l mean?

Unfortunately turned out they were fake diamonds. 

[Locky McCulloch 2]

10 hours ago, TGR said:

Northey Coach.

 

 

 

How B Lovett can not start in the 18 is beyond me.  How G Lovett makes the squad is beyond me.

I think I would favor N.Daniher ....just ahead of Northey  -  Also - I think G Lovett maybe lacked a little in pure class BUT his four Qrt fitness was very high class - his pace wasn't the greatest but he seemed to maintain it through the whole match. As most of the others were slowing down he never seemed to drop off......from my observations of that era. P.S. I also rated B.Lovett very highly - he had great vision, and was a very unselfish player

[Biffen 12,940]

Tom Gillies could easily be on that team he reckons.

[dieter 3,325]

22 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Biffen was a rule-stretcher, yes; however, he was only protecting his team mates. He made a few opposition forwards shake in their socks and he was incredibly reliable at full back. 

I saw Hudson kick about 29 goals on him in the first half at Glenferrie Oval. If Barry Bourke hadn't come to his rescue by ruining Hudson's knee he would have kicked 60 for the game.

Biffen was a better forward. He was toooo slooow and luuugubrious to be a defender against a skillful forward. Beside, these days you can't just thump players any more.

In 1976 he kicked a lot of goals as a Full Forward. I loved watching him.

[Deemania since 56 6,618]

He had his good days, he had his bad days; he was a backman who could rotate up forward; he was just one of many who had some problems with Peter Hudson, and others up forward in that era. Still respect his reliability, though. 

[What 18,810]

21 hours ago, tiers said:

On 23 October I posted this comment:

The very best team of the past 50 years must include the following (excluding current players whose careers have still to blossom):

Alan Johnson, Steven Smith, Sean Wight;

Brett Lovett, David Neitz, Gary Hardeman;

Stan Alves, Greg Wells, Robert Flower;

Garry Lyon, David Shwarz, Adem Yze;

Gerard Healey, Allen Jakovich, Jeff Farmer;

Jim Stynes, Shane Woewodin, Brian Wilson

Int Gary Baker, Steven Tingay, Alan Obst, Glenn Lovett

Skilled, courageous, attacking match winners.

Unfortunately, the month of October coincides with the end of the footy and the onset of daylight saving and I reserve the right to review all decisions in that month.

How could I have forgotten Travis Johnstone? His inclusion would make this team infinitely better as he would have the delight of playing with his peers and we would have the joy of watching his smooth, silky skills being used to advantage. Imagine Travis passing 50 to Jako.

Apologies to Glenn Lovett - great player but not in the same league.

 

Tingay, Obst, G Lovett, Johnstone, Yze, Woewodin...

but no Todd Viney?   

Edited November 7, 2017 by Petraccattack

[Diamond_Jim 12,556]

5 hours ago, dieter said:

I saw Hudson kick about 29 goals on him in the first half at Glenferrie Oval. If Barry Bourke hadn't come to his rescue by ruining Hudson's knee he would have kicked 60 for the game.

Biffen was a better forward. He was toooo slooow and luuugubrious to be a defender against a skillful forward. Beside, these days you can't just thump players any more.

In 1976 he kicked a lot of goals as a Full Forward. I loved watching him.

You always needed to close your eyes when Biffen was kicking for goal.

Not unknown for him to miss from 10-15 metres out dead in front.

[tiers 2,829]

Re Pettracattack's support for Todd Viney.

My criteria in selecting the team was to include those players that I considered to be skilled, courageous, attacking match winners. They had to possess both magical footy skills as well as the ability to win a match "off their own boot", so to speak.

While Todd Viney was undoubtedly courageous and attacking, I never saw him as skilled or as a match winner. More tenacious and determined.

In any event, there were only 22 positions available and someone had to miss out.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,710]

On 06/11/2017 at 10:31 AM, Deemania since 56 said:

Biffen was a rule-stretcher, yes; however, he was only protecting his team mates. He made a few opposition forwards shake in their socks and he was incredibly reliable at full back. 

I misread this on the first go and thought it was making a comment about Ray Biffen's propensity to place opposition players horizontally onto stretchers. Actually, makes sense that way, too.

[Deemania since 56 6,618]

Thanks, 'Comdedia 

[Demonised 1,343]

On 06/11/2017 at 2:28 AM, Locky McCulloch said:

I think Ray Biffin was a very good defender (also played forward at times) - I'd put him ahead of Hughes and S.Smith  - extremely competitive ....(possibly a bit beyond the rules at times  

If we're looking for a fullback, Tassie Johnson sneaks into 'last 50 years'. 

[nosoupforme 3,085]

On 11/6/2017 at 4:32 PM, hemingway said:

Unfortunately turned out they were fake diamonds. 

 HAHA

Hem your a classic.  Fake as.

[Locky McCulloch 2]

2 hours ago, Demonised said:

If we're looking for a fullback, Tassie Johnson sneaks into 'last 50 years'. 

Yes - great call .....  I was only around 5 years old when he retired so my memory is very vague - and the D's were pretty ordinary in his last few seasons 66 to 69....But he barely missed a game through his career, true champion - Biffin was one of my Hero's as a kid thus I put him at full back in my team