I need to preface that this is based on them together & not how they stack up individually but how close are they to being on that level or possibly surpassing them ?

Does a Brownlow to Oliver or Petracca & another premiership this year give them the edge over the Eagles trio ?

Definitely need another premiership (or 2) and perhaps a Brownlow to start being in the conversation by the wider footy community. This includes being compared with Brisbane 3peat and Hawthorn 3peat teams.

Even if individually they stack up without the silverware the wider footy community won’t even begin to include them. 

I can’t say I remember the Eagles too well but I think Kerr and Embley were also a worthy 4 & 5.

but back to your point, right now they are almost on par, but who knows in another 2-3 years with as many premierships it could be a different convo.

If Gawn keeps this up for another 2 seasons, he’ll go down as the best ruckman to have ever played the game. Having Trac, Oliver and Viney as your rovers has the potential to be legendary, but it’s a bit early to call just yet. 

28 minutes ago, Floody100 said:

I need to preface that this is based on them together & not how they stack up individually but how close are they to being on that level or possibly surpassing them ?

Does a Brownlow to Oliver or Petracca & another premiership this year give them the edge over the Eagles trio ?

Love the question! They are getting pretty close, however they also had a handy mid called Daniel Kerr as well but we also have Viney. 

I'd say another flag or brownlow and then it's no question.

If Oliver and Petracca play at this level for another 5 years then it will be hard to argue they weren't better just for the body of work. Remember Judd left West Coast, Cousins went off the rails and Kerr became injury prone. Oliver and Trac are here until 2029. Gawn will retire a lifer. 

In our history, you will be hard press to not include those 3 in our best-ever 22 after all is said and done.

Edited March 18, 20233 yr by MurDoc516

It'll be interesting to see how Gawn's great contribution around the ground and away from stoppages affects the perception of this core unit, especially with Grundy in the mix.

The way Oliver and Petracca complement each other's game could become legendary.

But let's not forget that for about 8 weeks last season it was actually Viney who was just quietly our most in-form and relentlessly effective midfielder. For a player who has embraced unselfish play so thoroughly, his numbers were astonishing.

Way in front! They are not on the sauce. 

Gawn, as an individual, has to be one of the greatest ruckman to ever take the field. He is just a freak and a unique player who does things nobody his height has any right to do. And has been a pillar of consistency for 6 seasons now. IMO he is better than Cox. 
 

As a unit, only more flags/ a Brownlow will make it a discussion. Eagles were more successful with those 3 than we have been to date. That could still change. 

Trac needs to learn to kick and Oliver still needs to use his foot more but no problems with the big guy so it's just a work still in progess

Edited March 19, 20233 yr by IRW

Best I've seen - in no particular order . . .

• Scott/Tuck/Matthews
• Fitzpatrick/Sheldon/Ashman
• Cox/Judd/Kerr (as named in the granny side)
• Gawn/Tracktor/Choo Choo

Of that lot, only Scott/Tuck/Matthews delivered multiple premierships.

My view is that premierships are all that count. Every player I know off would swap an AA, B&F or BL for a premiership medallion. So on that criteria, Scott/Tuck/Matthews win out with Fitzpatrick/Sheldon/Ashman a close second (Sheldon had moved to the HBF in their second premiership - his place in the triad taken by Phil Maylin.

When Dees pull another flag in six months, Gawn/Tracktor/Choo Choo stand with anything I've seen in 50 years. 

8 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Best I've seen - in no particular order . . .

• Scott/Tuck/Matthews
• Fitzpatrick/Sheldon/Ashman
• Cox/Judd/Kerr (as named in the granny side)
• Gawn/Tracktor/Choo Choo

Of that lot, only Scott/Tuck/Matthews delivered multiple premierships.

My view is that premierships are all that count. Every player I know off would swap an AA, B&F or BL for a premiership medallion. So on that criteria, Scott/Tuck/Matthews win out with Fitzpatrick/Sheldon/Ashman a close second (Sheldon had moved to the HBF in their second premiership - his place in the triad taken by Phil Maylin.

When Dees pull another flag in six months, Gawn/Tracktor/Choo Choo stand with anything I've seen in 50 years. 

That's quite true.  Cox/Cousins/Kerr/Judd only actually played in the one flag together.  Even though they played in a team that was capable of multiple premerships.  I'd go as far as to suggest that their poor off-feild culture of getting on the gear together was probably the reason they didn't become a great team and win those multiple flags.

Gawn is a much better captain than Judd and that the latter bailed to Carlton soon after the 2006 flag confirms Gawn's value to the MFC was greater than Judd's to WC.

If we win another flag, I think our mids would easily rank as a better combo than the WC one mentioned.

The other midfields that I think would be a more than worthy comparison would be those of the Lions 2000 era, three peat midfield of Voss/ Black/Ackermanis (Clark Keating in the Ruck?) etc and probably the Hawthorn 2010 era great sides, but I can't recall the individual mids they had of such great brilliance Cyril/Lewis/Hodge perhaps although McAvoy was hardly a super star.

12 hours ago, Demonland said:

Definitely need another premiership (or 2) and perhaps a Brownlow to start being in the conversation by the wider footy community. This includes being compared with Brisbane 3peat and Hawthorn 3peat teams.

Even if individually they stack up without the silverware the wider footy community won’t even begin to include them. 

I agree with this wholeheartedly.