Not much of an NFL fan, but for those who are, just noticed former Demon Warren Dean's son Lucas is rated as one of the best punters in college football. Warren was a super talent who's career was unfortunately ruined by a knee injury.

https://stayaliveinpower5.com/2021/03/30/college-footballs-15-best-punters-of-2021/

https://goutsa.com/sports/football/roster/lucas-dean/6730

Warren Dean was one of the finest kicks I have seen in many decades following the Dees. 

Have always wondered why we have never produced an NFL field goal kicker. Sure the skill is different to punting but it's a skill used in NRL and rugby.

 

11 hours ago, Hampton 22 said:

Warren Dean was one of the finest kicks I have seen in many decades following the Dees. 

Finest ???

I don't think so.  He could kick a long, long way when he got onto one  but could be very wayward with his accuracy.

31 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Finest ???

I don't think so.  He could kick a long, long way when he got onto one  but could be very wayward with his accuracy.

It was great to watch W Dean, he was a very entertaining and stylish footballer after transfer to the Dees. His kicking was good but as mentioned, sprayed about, at times. He had a very good set of hands for a bloke without a great deal of muscle. There's still some great footage of him around - UTube, etc - back in the days when we were moving towards the repeat of '64. I often thought that Garry Lyon stylised his game on the influence and poise demonstrated by Dean; the similarities were clearly there - Lyon was the better footballer by far.

 

5 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

It was great to watch W Dean, he was a very entertaining and stylish footballer after transfer to the Dees. His kicking was good but as mentioned, sprayed about, at times. He had a very good set of hands for a bloke without a great deal of muscle. There's still some great footage of him around - UTube, etc - back in the days when we were moving towards the repeat of '64. I often thought that Garry Lyon stylised his game on the influence and poise demonstrated by Dean; the similarities were clearly there - Lyon was the better footballer by far.

 

Re comparisons of Dean and Lyon . I used to think the same.  He definitely did seem to look and move like Garry at the time ...which was and is still a massive compliment. Losing him was a real blow  back then. He was a  dominant force in the 87 finals series with only something like 20 games to his name. A cruel blow. 

51 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

He could kick a long, long way when he got onto one  but could be very wayward with his accuracy.

Yes, tended to hook it quite a bit. Kicked 25.38 in his unfortunately short career.

Still was great to watch, especially his marking and unusual kicking action:

 

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Have always wondered why we have never produced an NFL field goal kicker. Sure the skill is different to punting but it's a skill used in NRL and rugby.

 

Wasn't Darren Bennett a star punter over there?

 

Nevermind, just realized they are two different things you mentioned.. punter and field goal kicker.  

Edited April 10, 20214 yr by Pickett2Jackson

1 hour ago, dice said:

Yes, tended to hook it quite a bit. Kicked 25.38 in his unfortunately short career.

Still was great to watch, especially his marking and unusual kicking action:

 

Thanks for this footage. Great team of great Demon players - wish we had this team, now. Really good.

He was a very good footballer.  Played an outstanding last month of the 87 season.  Best on in the final game at the Western Oval to get us into the finals, then played three really good finals.  Injured his knee early in 1988, was rushed back way to early and barely played again.  Traded to the Eagles for the 1990 season but didn't play a game for them.  He arrived with Earl Spalding and Todd Viney.  Had we been able to keep him on the park I wonder how we might have gone with a couple of our near misses (1990 in particular).  He was a rare talent - as other have said a booming if somewhat erratic kick, an outstanding overhead mark for a relatively light player.  He took the much bigger Stephen McCann apart in the 1987 Elimination Final.  I really enjoyed watching Dean play for us.  Interesting to note that Steve Turner is rucking for the Demons in that round 7 game.  That was with a list that included Peter Moore, Steve O'Dwyer and Jim Stynes.  Just goes to show how quickly things changed throughout that season.