Franklin

[GoodOne]

But Richo has it all over Buddy in marking, general field kicking, endurance and defensively.

Buddy is infinitely better than Richo was at general field kicking. Have seen Buddy deliver beautiful passes to team mates when playing up the ground. Buddy is also miles better than Richo was at ground level. Right with the other 3 though, Buddy can't really mark, although Richo's defensive side didn't really come to mind when thinking of assets.

 

[theScabman]

Ha, okay, fair point. Thought milney was better than that. Knew he was average, but just thought better.

Franklin also lead the league in contested marks in 2008.
In 2012 he had 2 less contested marks than Pavlich and Darling(1 less than Walker, Brown and Reiwoldt), and yet missed 6 games.

He may not be Tony Lockett when it comes to having a vice like grip, and he may not take pack marks(who does?), but this perception that he's a poor contested mark is just that, perception.

 

[cmarkidis]

He may not be Tony Lockett when it comes to having a vice like grip, and he may not take pack marks(who does?), but this perception that he's a poor contested mark is just that, perception.

Frog. There are plenty better contested mark players in the comp than Buddy. It's not perception, it's fact.

 

[Streak]

Buddy is infinitely better than Richo was at general field kicking. Have seen Buddy deliver beautiful passes to team mates when playing up the ground. Buddy is also miles better than Richo was at ground level.

Can't agree there. When you look at the two of them up the ground, Richo was by far the better player.

 

[Streak]

Buddy is a freak for his size when the ball hits the deck. No one his size comes near him IMO. Richo a star in the air and clearly superior but buddy the same for ground balls.

Maybe up forward, but I reckon Richo was better in this regard further up the ground.

 

[Streak]

Leaving aside our possible disagreement on these matters, streak, how do you feel about the laying the ball off notion?

Can't really recall Richo doing that much of it tbh.

For me, it depends where you want to judge these guys.

Buddy actually lays the ball off in the forward line, where as D-rod burnt Richo once and Richo never ever did it again :hihi

But up the ground, I cannot see how Buddy comes close to Richo in any facet.

Maybe I am just biased.

 

[Streak]

Of the blokes who can play tall forward with some versatility to their game (ie. not say a Lockett who could really only play from the goalsquare, albeit very damn well), personally I rate Pavlich as a better player than Buddy.

And I'd have Richo above both.

Infact, since 1990, excluding Lockett, Dunstall and Lloyd who I see as being pure full forwards, the best tall forwards in the game for mine have been

1. Gary Ablett Snr
2. Wayne Carey
3. Matthew Richardson
4. Buddy Franklin
5. Matthew Pavlich

But if you look at the impact these guys could have up the ground, the order would be

1. Matthew Richardson
2. Matthew Pavlich
3. Buddy Franklin
4. Gary Ablett Snr
5. Wayne Carey

I would be prepared to accept that Pavlich actually could be ahead of Richo on the latter criteria because of the time he has spent away from the forward 50. Richo only did play up the ground for a couple of seasons, but given the age he did it at, I think it is a crying shame he never got the chance earlier.

 

[linuscambridge]

In all my years watching footy there are 2 guys that stand out head and shoulders above Buddy and Richo for marking, Ablett and Carey. If either of these guys were one out in the 50 the defenders would be terrified because you can bet your bottom dollar they are going to get the ball. Buddy is miles better than Carey below his knees but not in the same cosmos with contested marking. Ablett is a different story, it's a much closer bet.

The fact that I am even comparing Buddy with these two shows the regard in which I hold him, he will go down as one of the greats. Richo I'm afraid is the next rung down with some highly esteemed company.

 

[spook]

Disagree about Buddy being miles better than Carey below his knees. Carey could have done a Pav and bludged in the midfield for most of his career but he was too good for that.

At ground level Ablett slays them all but then he's the same height as the Chimp. I saw him play in the centre, have 30 touches and kick 5 goals. Can't have anyone but Gazza as the best 'up the ground' Streaker.

 

[blx]

Ablett > sunshine > everyone else

 

[spook]

Gazza Senior is the best player I've seen.

(Yet Junior's better. I can live with that dichotomy.)

 

[tigersnake]

Gazza Senior is the best player I've seen.

(Yet Junior's better. I can live with that dichotomy.)

Can't agree. Gary jr is a superstar, I'm a fan. But what he is is an elite midfielder, there are always a handful of them around. Gary snr was a 1 off. Did the impossible often.

 

[spook]

As I said, Gazza Sr's the best I've seen.

 

[Coburgtiger]

I think Gary jnrs a one off as well. He's a freak. And, we know senior did his best work later in his career. We're yet to see what happens when jnr finishes at the gold coast at 31, comes back to geelong and plays full forward for five years.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Can't agree. Gary jr is a superstar, I'm a fan. But what he is is an elite midfielder, there are always a handful of them around. Gary snr was a 1 off. Did the impossible often.

Good summation snake. Ablett snr was the most brilliant individual footballer I have ever seen. Just a freak.

Back to the subject, Buddy sure does some freaky things too. I mean how many talls in the history of the game have ever done this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUcnjGKOw80

 

[GoodOne]

Good summation snake. Ablett snr was the most brilliant individual footballer I have ever seen. Just a freak.

Back to the subject, Buddy sure does some freaky things too. I mean how many talls in the history of the game have ever done this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUcnjGKOw80

After already doing it once in the game.

 

[spook]

youtube.com.raygabelich

 

[CarnTheTiges]

As I said, Gazza Sr's the best I've seen.

I agree, he was just extraordinary.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

As I said, Gazza Sr's the best I've seen.

Agree with that.

 

[BrettC]

Infact, since 1990, excluding Lockett, Dunstall and Lloyd who I see as being pure full forwards, the best tall forwards in the game for mine have been

1. Gary Ablett Snr
2. Wayne Carey
3. Matthew Richardson
4. Buddy Franklin
5. Matthew Pavlich

But if you look at the impact these guys could have up the ground, the order would be

1. Matthew Richardson
2. Matthew Pavlich
3. Buddy Franklin
4. Gary Ablett Snr
5. Wayne Carey

I would be prepared to accept that Pavlich actually could be ahead of Richo on the latter criteria because of the time he has spent away from the forward 50. Richo only did play up the ground for a couple of seasons, but given the age he did it at, I think it is a crying shame he never got the chance earlier.

Matthew Lloyd would have to be ahead of Richo at 3 as a pure full forward, as much as I hated the guy he was a damn good FF, but up the ground he was useless.

Wayne Carey IMO is the best of the lot overall, behind Ablett Snr as a pure FF but Carey was just as dangerous at FF as he was at CHF.