Swooper1987

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.

Well done to young Josh Smith. Played in the U18 Champs a couple of years back for Vic Country. I have seen him play since u10's and actually coached him for a couple of years. I'm sure he'll give a good account of himself. Number 66 I believe!

6. Gawn 5. Hunt 4. Pickett 3. Langdon 2. Viney 1. Salem

Just another example of why that Royal Commission was required. The duty of care that young people like Owen deserved was nowhere to be seen in schools, sports clubs or basically any institution. That he survived at all is a credit to his resilience and his strength of character. He was an amazing talent and I was truly excited by what he showed us in the early part of 1991.All I thought about then was his footy; he obviously had so much more on his mind. Good luck to him and well done to those who have provided him with ongoing support.

Madden was a remarkable player. He kicked well over 500 goals but nearly always had a very good ruck partner which allowed him to spend plenty of time forward. His first two senior seasons he played almost exclusively forward as Graham Moss (1976 Brownlow medallist) was the number one ruck at the Bombers. Then he played alongside his brother Justin for a number of years, before he went to Carlton in 1983, Paul Salmon from 1983 until the end of his career, as well as Peter Somerville towards the end of his career. Roger Merrett also often took the ruck in the mid 80's. So Madden was genuinely versatile and could have played exclusively as a key forward. His ruck work was incredible. Gawn is the best ruck since Dean Cox in my view, and certainly worthy of a place in that top 5. He's a better ruckman than Peter Moore - not as spectacular but a better pure ruck.

Coaches Votes: 9 Salem 9 Oliver 5 Gawn 3 Pickett 2 Petracca 1 Steele 1 Tomlinson Only Salem, Oliver and Gawn received votes from both coaches.

The Age Player of the Year votes from Peter Ryan. His match report is a good one too. Mentions Petracca trying to do too much in the first half. Pleased to see Salem recognized by the mainstream media and Gawn's game receiving the acknowledgement it deserved. He and Oliver form a lethal combination. VOTES: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) 8 Christian Salem (Melbourne) 7 Max Gawn (Melbourne) 7 Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne) 7 Dougal Howard (St Kilda) 6

6. Oliver 5. Salem 4 Gawn (a dominant second half and gave Oliver first look nearly every time). 3. Pickett 2. ANB 1. Petracca

Very reminiscent of a young David Schwarz the way that he moves. His marking has improved - his kicking will too.

6. Lever 5. May 4. MacDonald 3. Langdon 2. Tomlinson 1. Oliver (although our mids were beaten pretty comprehensively as a unit)

We have had some pretty poor defensive units in the last 20 years, but individually some good players. Frawley, Whelan, Jetta, Ingerson were all at times, excellent defenders. The game has moved past Nev now but at his best he was very good. Frawley was a star in 2010; Whelan about as tough and courageous a player as I've seen at Melbourne and Ingerson was one of the main reasons we made the 2000 GF. Nathan Brown was underrated by the football world by and large but was also a very courageous player. May is probably a better player than most of those guys but we are basing his Melbourne contribution off just last season. I actually think Lever is potentially the best player of all of them. He's crazy brave in the air. His disposal can let him down a little but he looks fit, tuned in and ready to repay the club's investment. And he is likely to see a bit of the ball, too.

6. May 5. Lever 4. Nibbler 3. Gawn (and only 76% game time which was a different look) 2. Fritsch 1. Langdon A very clear top 2 today, probably because the ball spent most of the game in our back half.

Yes, agree entirely. It was a different era but it was certainly a much better "flow" - more in sync with what was happening on the field. I watched a replay of the Melbourne V Footscray game from 1987 the other day from the ABC. Drew Morphett, Ian Robertson and Bernie Quinlan were commentating. They let the game tell the story without their own egos becoming part of it. Tim Lane, Doug Heywood, Clarke Hansen, Geoff Leek, John Nicholls all great commentators because of what they didn't say. I didn't mind Bruce until the last few years. He was a great all rounder until he needed to become part of the show.

Great topic. Since 1979, when I was 9 I can recall pretty much every Melbourne season. From each decade - the 80's belonged to Flower. He matched up and bested some of the all time greats - Greig and Schimmelbusch; Hawkins; Neagle; DiPierdomenico; Bryan Wood - some truly great players. Our next best player was probably Gerard Healy, then guys like Brian Wilson, Steve Icke. After 87 and into the 90's, Lyon was definitely the best player over that whole period, Stynes was a great workhorse but was probably never the best ruck in the comp over that period - Madden, Salmon, Scott Wynd, Shaun Rehn etc. Neitz and Schwarz for different periods were wonderful players. Neitz carried that into the first part of the 2000's. A couple of AA's, one B&F, a Coleman and captained us to a GF. Between 2007 and the emergence of Gawn in 2015 there was no Melbourne player who you'd consider elite. Junior McDonald got an AA. Now we have Gawn, with Oliver and Tracc probably a rung below but all three are better than anyone since the Daniher era. I'd rate Gawn as the second best Melbourne player I've seen after Flower; ahead of Lyon and Neitz. He's a great ruck, against other great rucks. He's a champion and he's probably the first player since Flower that opposition teams and fans fear for his ability to influence a game.

It's all so subjective. I think Rob Flower was a terrific captain at Melbourne yet we only played finals once in his tenure of 7 years. Bruce Monteath was a handy player but captained Richmond to a flag (from the bench) in 1980, in a team chock full of leaders - Bartlett, Cloke, Wood, Bourke etc etc. That was his only season as skipper. The best captain I've ever seen, from both an on and off field point of view was Terry Daniher. One of the lads, but set such an outstanding on field example that players were prepared to follow him anywhere. All time greats like Tim Watson and Simon Madden, as well as workmanlike players Peter Bradbury and Steve Carey speak reverently of TD's leadership capabilities. He spoke to fans, to corporates and media in an authentic and relatable manner. Gawn has the capacity to lead like Daniher. He has great media and fan presence. He is an outstanding player who clearly has the respect of the playing group - in almost every interview Petracca and Oliver do they reference the influence Gawn has on their individual and collective games. He has been an outstanding player for many years now. 4 times an AA speaks volumes as to his playing ability. He will grow into the role, and as Petracca, Oliver, Lever, May etc become better able to share that onfield leadership burden, we will collectively become a better team. Those pushing for May need to remember he was not a successful Captain at GC. He led a side with an ingrained poor culture that he couldn't effectively influence, and was a part of since day one. Often injured and sometimes suspended he was far from professional. His first year at Melbourne was a continuation of that. He has played one good season. He has leadership capabilities, no doubt, but he would not have the respect that players like Gawn have built up over a number of years.

Nice to see him go some way to fulfilling the enormous potential he has always had. His work ethic was outstanding both preseason and within season and he reaped the individual accolades that came with that. He still has work to do (one swallow doesn't make a summer) to be spoken of in the same company as Martin but he looks likely to join that elite company if his progression continues on the same trajectory. Congratulations to him!

Gawn is a genuine champion of the game. Bar the Brownlow and a flag, he has won everything there is to win. He's also showing great promise as Captain - a player respected right across the entire competition. Well done on another great season Max, played under great duress.

He's a paid up member of Essendon. Our last significant state level political supporters came from the Bracks Government - then Deputy Premier John Thwaites is a Demon, as is Bracks wife, Terry.Before that was Alan Stockdale, the treasurer in the Kennett Government. Re Geelong - plenty more votes for both sides to be won in that part of the world, from both a state and federal perspective.

I wonder if Tom was to drop a bit of weight and regain his previous mobility if he could actually become the other winger we are looking for? As Alex McDonald pointed out, his 2018 season involved a little bit of wing time, then he'd drift forward and kick goals. Many times during the season he'd start on the wing and then shift forward. He has an elite tank. He's not super quick but I'd wager he's quicker than most guys his height. Richo nearly won a Brownlow when he moved to the wing late in his career. It is a position that might play to his strengths.

Good on you Dr Evil for putting it out there. I've been around long enough to remember when Peter Matera was signed, sealed and just about delivered and ended up staying at West Coast. People change their minds. Smith was probably coming to us at one point, now he's probably not. Keep telling us what you know Doc, it makes an interesting read.

Yep, the Richmond ethos - know your role, accept your role, play your role. Dustin goes forward, kicks match winning goals and the Tigers win flags. He might not get as many Brownlow votes but his team keeps winning. I'm sure Tracc has no problem playing forward if it helps the team succeed.

Tom Morris and John Ralph were discussing trades on the GF preview on Fox Footy. Said that Mahoney and others had met with Hogan and have subsequently ruled him out. Not much more than that.

Agree that Oliver was better than 5th this year (and Gawn was better than 6th but missed games so fair enough), however he got very lucky in 2019 when he wasn't our best player but still tied for the Bluey because Gawn missed in effect two games (Brisbane when he was injured by quarter time and then Carlton the week after due to the same injury). These things are always in the eye of the beholder. As I said in another post, Rob Flower is the best Melbourne player in my lifetime. He won the Bluey once, in generally hopeless teams. Peter Moore and Brian Wilson both had outstanding Brownlow winning years in the 80's and neither won the Bluey. Danny Hughes beat Gerard Healy in 1985 when Healy had an outstanding season - his last in red and blue. Viney beat Gawn in 2016 which was a staggering decision considering Gawn dominated that season, was AA and polled 16 Brownlow votes. It's a bit of a raffle. I think our top 6 this year were the best 6 players. The order - probably not right but when you have 4 people independently giving scores out of 10 you'll get all sorts of differing views. People rate the AFLCA votes - Polec got 4 off Teague when North played Carlton and the umps gave him 1 Brownlow vote, yet he was dropped for next game by Shaw.

Probably this season they were, over the 17 games. I'd take a few others before them in an open draft but based on this season, I have no argument at all that they were the two best performed players. In relation to Gawn, which was the point of the post you replied to, he was clearly the best ruck in the comp until he got injured. He was a unanimous choice for AA ruck in both Jake Niall's and Robbo's AA teams and Naitanui was not even in consideration at that stage. After his injury, Naitanui had the better second half of the year and both were rightly selected in the team of the year. I believe Gawn to be the more valuable player due to his marking ability. I struggle to see how the best ruckman in the game can take only 11 marks for the season and average around 65% game time in 4 16 minute quarters. But it's just an opinion.

Max polled in 6 games, 3 times he scored 2 votes in losses - Geelong, Richmond and the Swans. He polled in three wins - 2 votes v Carlton and Gold Coast and 3 v Hawthorn. Says a bit about Max that he still plays well when some of his team mates don't. Viney was the other one to pick up votes in multiple losses - WC and Fremantle.