Is Gawn the best player we have ever had?

[Guest]

He might be one of the most consequential, which is ironic considering the Gawn yawn and smoking on the way to training moments.

His legacy will be remembered in terms similar to that of Tom Harley (though I rate him more highly as a player) in that his leadership was a change in philosophy that was sorely needed.

I think for a period there we were convinced that to be a good leader that you had to be a glass eating, stone faced intensity monster. While that can work, it’s not the only way. Max, while definitely knowing when it’s time to put his feet up, also knows that when you put the jumper on that you are playing for keeps. 

He has shown that you can be a character but also a competitor. 

[Robbie57 2,022]

I had Ron Barrassi football boots and he was something, I loved Robbie Flower. Big Jim was amazing as well. The thing is we some new greats in the making and how fantastic is that!

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

Let's start a bit smaller. Should Gawn be ruckman in the Demon's best team of all time? I didn't see Cordner play, but I did see Stynes. I think Gawn should be our best-of-all time ruckman.

I saw all of Flower's career and I'm not willing to replace him yet with any of Gawn, Petracca or Oliver as the best Melbourne player that I have seen. By the end of their careers, that may change.

One thing that Flower and Gawn both have, though, is almost universal support from non-Melbourne supporters as their favourite player other than players from their own team. 

[Fritta and Turner 4,522]

Can we revisit this please.

I was one who would have said Flower, then daylight, but now someone is starting to block the light - Christian Petracca.

Very different styles, Robbie was poetry in motion, which you wouldnt describe Trac as, but he does have some finesse.

If Tracc plays many more games like he did last night......

[Nasher 33,617]

Hadn’t seen this thread before but Gawn isn’t even the best player we’ve got right now, let alone the best ever.

But by and large, it doesn’t matter. Gawn, Oliver and Petracca don’t belong in the same conversation as drought-era greats such as Flower, Stynes, Lyon etc because they’ve been able to do what others haven’t: form the nucleus of a TEAM that at the very least is extremely powerful, and has the potential to be great. It’s not important to decide which of the individuals is the best, it’s what they add up to that matters.

[58er 6,559]

14 minutes ago, Nasher said:

Hadn’t seen this thread before but Gawn isn’t even the best player we’ve got right now, let alone the best ever.

But by and large, it doesn’t matter. Gawn, Oliver and Petracca don’t belong in the same conversation as drought-era greats such as Flower, Stynes, Lyon etc because they’ve been able to do what others haven’t: form the nucleus of a TEAM that at the very least is extremely powerful, and has the potential to be great. It’s not important to decide which of the individuals is the best, it’s what they add up to that matters.

Did you see Robbie Jim or Gaz play to compare? 

[Ugottobekidding 1,194]

I think Petracca may well be

[Demon Disciple 12,271]

Nope. Trac and Clarry are ahead of him and that’s just the present. You might be able to make a case for best ruckman.

Though I believe he will end up comfortably being the best captain we have ever had.

[Roost it far 8,579]

Flower, Oliver and Petracca are the best I’ve seen. For pure football talent Alan Jakovich was quite something but injuries cruelled  his career. Max is a a legend for what he has done and for that I will always be thankful 

[Ollie fan 3,468]

11 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Nope. Trac and Clarry are ahead of him and that’s just the present. You might be able to make a case for best ruckman.

Though I believe he will end up comfortably being the best captain we have ever had.

Big call! We once had a guy named Barassi….

 

28 minutes ago, 58er said:

Did you see Robbie Jim or Gaz play to compare? 

I did  -all of them. Jimmy was an excellent ruckman and great mark but Max is at least as good if not better. Lyon was a great player - both at CHF or when sent into the backline to help out - and both he and Jimmy played in Grand Final sides, IIRC. Robbie was beautiful to watch - hard to compare him. 
 

Clarrie really reminds me of RDB, which is really saying something. I believe he is the best of them all, although now that Tracc is putting it all together consistently, he might go past him. I think they are both better than Max but how do compare such different types of players? As with Robbie. 
 

The thing with Clarrie is that we are so used to watching him dominate games, get possessions at  will, clear the ball out of a pack with ease and accuracy, that we now just expect it and hardly even notice it. Not really fair to him!

[Swooper1987 3,322]

Gawn is the best ruckman since Cox, who was the best since S Madden, who was the best since Polly Farmer.  Gawn is certainly the best Melbourne ruck in the modern era and is worthy of comparison to the greats I just mentioned.  As a 5 time AA, twice B&F, AFLCA Player of the year 2018, Premiership Captain he's got most current players in the league covered.  He is coming towards the end of his prime years in the game.  I expect that Petracca and Oliver will both continue to have celebrated careers a little bit longer than Max's but I don't know that their impact on the club will exceed what Max has achieved as a leader.  In my time, Flower is incomparable as a pure footballer.  I'd argue Gawn is the most influential.

[Gorgoroth 13,016]

Ox would have been the best if he didn’t do his knee. Prob better than Carey was.
Flower was amazing, 

Oliver is great, Gawn too.

Trac…. Trac is heading towards a whole new level.

Edited March 27, 2022 by Gorgoroth

[whatwhat say what 22,933]

been a dee since the mid 1980s...

gawn: best ruckman i've ever seen for the dees

petracca: best inside-outside midfield i've ever seen for the dees

oliver: best pure midfielder i've ever seen for the dees

good time to be a demon in the early 2020s

[Billy 2,544]

I’ve never seen a MFC footballer as brilliantly consistent as Oliver , has he played a poor game?

[Allus Monk 568]

Let me rephrase this for the OP:

 

Is Gawn the most important player we have ever had?