GRAND FINAL: Demonland's Best/Favourite Demon 1988-2020 - Lyon vs Neitz

[Demonland 72,228]

GRAND FINAL

The Grand Final is upon us and it's a matchup between long time Captains Garry Lyon and David Neitz

You can either vote by going to our Facebook or Twitter pages or for convenience you can vote in the poll above.

Garry Lyon:
226 Games
426 Goals
2 x Keith Bluey Truscott Trophy
2 x MFC Leading Goalkicker
3 x All Australian
1994 Victorian Captain
MFC Captain 1991-1997
MFC Team of the Century
MFC Hall of Fame

David Neitz:
306 Games
631 Goals
2000-2008 MFC Captain
2002 Keith Bluey Truscott Trophy
2002 Coleman Medalist
7 x MFC Leading Goalkicker
2 x All Australian
MFC Hall of Fame
AFL Hall of Fame

Tournament Fixture:

[In Harmes Way 7,795]

I'm surprised Lyon isn't in the AFL Hall of Fame. Great player, but Neita for me.

[rjay 24,950]

The question should have be phrased differently I guess from the start.

Best and Favourite are 2 different things.

To me Lyon was probably best in this time period but he's most definitely not my favourite.

Edited May 10, 2020 by rjay

[darkhorse72 1,920]

This may be a close one!  Lyon is above Neita in his class and ability.

[dl4e 5,851]

Nietz easily.

[LachlanJ25 0]

Nietz

[Diamond_Jim 12,592]

Hard one as expected but Neitz just ..... mainly on the basis of favourite player rather than best

[Demonland 72,228]

48 minutes ago, rjay said:

The question should have be phrased differently I guess from the start.

Best and Favourite are 2 different things.

To me Lyon was probably best in this time period but he's most definitely not my favourite.

It's posed that way because you can answer any way you want. 

[spirit of norm smith 16,474]

This is tough. Really tough. 

[P-man 13,366]

Lyon for me. Off field antics often overshadow the outstanding player he was. Underrated if anything.

[Lord Travis 10,742]

Tipped Neitz to win this competition a while back and expect him to do so. He holds the records that matter. Most goals, most games, most games as captain. He’s the best.

[MyFavouriteMartian 572]

2 hours ago, rjay said:

The question should have be phrased differently I guess from the start.

Best and Favourite are 2 different things.

To me Lyon was probably best in this time period but he's most definitely not my favourite.

Lyon the better player. 

But I wonder if Neita had the healthier leadership style.

 

Lyon the player for my vote.

[MyFavouriteMartian 572]

12 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Tipped Neitz to win this competition a while back and expect him to do so. He holds the records that matter. Most goals, most games, most games as captain. He’s the best.

In a lesser club list, and team.

[Demon3 2,541]

Lyon was a leader for the time, it was what the club needed, they were an us against them team early on. Lyon was a sublime player, Neitz was a strong brilliant player, both played fwd and back. Lyon seems to have annoyed a few on this site, so it will come down to the favourite vote. Both deserving of the label of best player though. Great players, lucky to have been in our era to watch.

[Deemania since 56 6,654]

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Hard one as expected but Neitz just ..... mainly on the basis of favourite player rather than best

Neitz due to his diversity early-on. He was a star backman as a kid. He was moved to a starring role as a forward yet endured form slumps later in that career placing. Still, a knockout Captain in that process. Opponents were rightly afraid of Neitz, a man of great power, skill and execution. 

Lyon was a star - undoubtedly. Lyon had a strong team delivering the ball and the forward role for Lyon was well rehearsed and well coached. Lyon also had some slumps later in his career due to injury and his back issues. Lyon was a great motivator. 

Somehow, Neita's contribution was longer and more encompassing amid several weakened team lists - as well as the really great team lists from whence his goodly fragrances were sourced. As a forward, Neita had greater lethality than Lyon over and across the time frame, and for a goal or two.

[Demon3 2,541]

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Neitz due to his diversity early-on. He was a star backman as a kid. He was moved to a starring role as a forward yet endured form slumps later in that career placing. Still, a knockout Captain in that process. Opponents were rightly afraid of Neitz, a man of great power, skill and execution. 

Lyon was a star - undoubtedly. Lyon had a strong team delivering the ball and the forward role for Lyon was well rehearsed and well coached. Lyon also had some slumps later in his career due to injury and his back issues. Lyon was a great motivator. 

Somehow, Neita's contribution was longer and more encompassing amid several weakened team lists - as well as the really great team lists from whence his goodly fragrances were sourced. As a forward, Neita had greater lethality than Lyon over and across the time frame, and for a goal or two.

All good points, Lyon was a 2 time All Australian CHB  as well, he also had diversity.

[darkhorse72 1,920]

3 hours ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

Lyon the better player. 

But I wonder if Neita had the healthier leadership style.

 

Lyon the player for my vote.

Unfortunately neither could stop our yoyo season's....

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,851]

Lyon for mine.

I don't recall Lyon playing too many poor games and was extremely reliable.

Neitz on the other hand was a bit of a barometer of our success. How often would we ask the question: "If Neitz is on today, we're a real chance".

Lyon kicked back to back high 70's goals in 1994 and 1995. Imagine how many more goals he would've kicked had he been a permanent full forward.

 

[RalphiusMaximus 6,054]

Just based on the careers they both had.  There is very little between them, but Neitz played a lot more games, was captain for longer and kicked more goals per game.  I think he has to take the chocolates. 

[MyFavouriteMartian 572]

2 hours ago, Darkhorse72 said:

Unfortunately neither could stop our yoyo season's....

I wonder if Gazza was a part of the creation of,  or the carrying on of the soft culture,  that was never fully snuffed out from the club under Barrassi.

 Barassi got a lot of it out, but it was such a mess.  Northey helped a lot as well,  but so many of the senior players,  who started pre Barassi,  were still infected from way back in their early years.

 

So when we got strong it still inhabited the clubs being. >> Holywood Boulevard.and the like.

I think it got worse under the time of Balme.  And it certainly stayed around after Balme's time.  Right thru til Neeld, in a way.

I believe Neeld cracked the soft culture network right open,  and left it bleeding,  when he was removed... so in a way he was also a victim of this same culture. he removed some ofit but then he was sent packing before the job was completed.   Maybe a bit of MfcSS stepped in to remove him because of fear of what he was doing.  

    Certainly MfcSS from the outside of the club panicked at what was happening... and this in-turn made the admins panic,  and start sacking people.  The truth is now we will never know just what Neeld could have done with the rebuild.  Because people panicked, and sacked him.

What was left out of the rebels,  was Watts for one,  who was finished up a few years later, and he was a very self oriented player,  who would only work when he was ready, and not before.

Now Port can try with him.   And god luck to them, they'll need it.

 

After Neeld,  Roos had a chance to do something great with the club,  and we had pJackson at the helm,  to steer things up top.

 

IMO,  were in the best position since Norm Smith was flung out,  to resurrect this clubs aggressive Demon culture,  and to put the soft rot into outer-space.

We see today,  the story of the same failings in Gawn as a young player,  before he was woken up by being dropped, & a Roos comment,  saying that he Roosy himself could have got 90 hit-outs, against that opposition.

Around that time,  there was also mentions of trading Gawn out,  to the annoyance of many around Demonland.

 

But the proof is now in the pudding... that we did wake up Gawndog,  and he is not just a very good player now,  but has earned the Mfc captaincy.

Lets hope the same happens to both Petracca and to Brayshaw as well.  They need some more heat under their rumps to continue firing them up.

And some other young talents, following those Boys.

Edited May 11, 2020 by MyFavouriteMartian

[david_neitz_is_my_dad 4,083]

Big Neita!

[nosoupforme 3,085]

20 hours ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

In a lesser club list, and team.

Garry Lyon was a champion and could  influence a match and was also a great kick for goals. IMO he was almost the perfect player to have in your side. Is rated high and deserves to be.

David Neitz was very influential and when he was on song he was so consistent for long periods.  Neitz and Lyon played  in similar positions from CHB to CHF to being an important targets at   Full  Forward.  IMO Lyon was more agile however Neitz was a War horse that would lead you into battle and  almost always had an influence in the eventual outcome of our games. David Neitz  for me.

David did it all bar win a Premiership for our great club. He almost had that perfect career you could dream of..

[Deemania since 56 6,654]

18 hours ago, Demon3 said:

All good points, Lyon was a 2 time All Australian CHB  as well, he also had diversity.

Yep, both diverse, skilled, adept. This was a difficult one to separate, Demon3. 

[MyFavouriteMartian 572]

4 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

Garry Lyon was a champion and could  influence a match and was also a great kick for goals. IMO he was almost the perfect player to have in your side. Is rated high and deserves to be.

David Neitz was very influential and when he was on song he was so consistent for long periods.  Neitz and Lyon played  in similar positions from CHB to CHF to being an important targets at   Full  Forward.  IMO Lyon was more agile however Neitz was a War horse that would lead you into battle and  almost always had an influence in the eventual outcome of our games. David Neitz  for me.

David did it all bar win a Premiership for our great club. He almost had that perfect career you could dream of..

 

4 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Yep, both diverse, skilled, adept. This was a difficult one to separate, Demon3. 

Lyon had better diversity in the front half and disposal skills. kicking goals with ease from 55m.  Neitz from 50m.

Lyon from tight angles.  And passing to teammates.

Lyon the quicker thinker.

Neitz I would have in my CHB team everyday,   when Lyon and Schwarz were up front.  Neita IMO the perfect CHB,  with his strength,  core strength,  and mental attitude.

I would have Neita as the leader, over Gazz.

 

But for the all-round better player,  I have Lyon,  for his use with the ball. 

 

 

[darkhorse72 1,920]

On 5/11/2020 at 4:21 PM, MyFavouriteMartian said:

I wonder if Gazza was a part of the creation of,  or the carrying on of the soft culture,  that was never fully snuffed out from the club under Barrassi.

 Barassi got a lot of it out, but it was such a mess.  Northey helped a lot as well,  but so many of the senior players,  who started pre Barassi,  were still infected from way back in their early years.

 

So when we got strong it still inhabited the clubs being. >> Holywood Boulevard.and the like.

I think it got worse under the time of Balme.  And it certainly stayed around after Balme's time.  Right thru til Neeld, in a way.

I believe Neeld cracked the soft culture network right open,  and left it bleeding,  when he was removed... so in a way he was also a victim of this same culture. he removed some ofit but then he was sent packing before the job was completed.   Maybe a bit of MfcSS stepped in to remove him because of fear of what he was doing.  

    Certainly MfcSS from the outside of the club panicked at what was happening... and this in-turn made the admins panic,  and start sacking people.  The truth is now we will never know just what Neeld could have done with the rebuild.  Because people panicked, and sacked him.

What was left out of the rebels,  was Watts for one,  who was finished up a few years later, and he was a very self oriented player,  who would only work when he was ready, and not before.

Now Port can try with him.   And god luck to them, they'll need it.

 

After Neeld,  Roos had a chance to do something great with the club,  and we had pJackson at the helm,  to steer things up top.

 

IMO,  were in the best position since Norm Smith was flung out,  to resurrect this clubs aggressive Demon culture,  and to put the soft rot into outer-space.

We see today,  the story of the same failings in Gawn as a young player,  before he was woken up by being dropped, & a Roos comment,  saying that he Roosy himself could have got 90 hit-outs, against that opposition.

Around that time,  there was also mentions of trading Gawn out,  to the annoyance of many around Demonland.

 

But the proof is now in the pudding... that we did wake up Gawndog,  and he is not just a very good player now,  but has earned the Mfc captaincy.

Lets hope the same happens to both Petracca and to Brayshaw as well.  They need some more heat under their rumps to continue firing them up.

And some other young talents, following those Boys.

While Neeld tried to crack the soft culture and that was his initial pitch I imagine, simple he did not have the skills to do it.  Though there was massive problems with the culture.

You can only pus the players as far as they trust you, he had no trust, he hadn't earned it yet.