Top 50 SANFL Players Of All Time

[wooly]

Maybe - but the fact is that these blokes never did pre-seasons like they do now, so we will never know. My point (which I maybe didn't make clear enough!) was that if these blokes suddenly could be "teleported" into today, without the extra training etc. etc. etc. they probably would really struggle. That is just my opinion in what is a highly subjective but interesting topic.

In that case, you're comparing apples and pears. It's all about comparing the innate footballing ability of the players concerned.

To take one of your other examples - Patrick Johnson has broken 10 seconds for the 100 metres. You cannot seriously suggest he is a greater sprinter than Jesse Owens.

Statistically... yes, just like Don Bradman is still the greatest batsmen ever.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Maybe - but the fact is that these blokes never did pre-seasons like they do now, so we will never know. My point (which I maybe didn't make clear enough!) was that if these blokes suddenly could be "teleported" into today, without the extra training etc. etc. etc. they probably would really struggle. That is just my opinion in what is a highly subjective but interesting topic.

In that case, you're comparing apples and pears. It's all about comparing the innate footballing ability of the players concerned.

To take one of your other examples - Patrick Johnson has broken 10 seconds for the 100 metres. You cannot seriously suggest he is a greater sprinter than Jesse Owens.

Patrick Johnson also does not have to deal with social issues fronting Jesse Owens in everyday life. Being the world's greatest sprinter and being unable to find a hotel in which to sleep or appropriate training conditions is something today's millionaire afro-American athlete doesn't have to worry about.

And from that we can also glean that Brant Chambers is a far better player than Ken Farmer

We've looked at it from the point of view of yesterday's player being transported into today's game, but how about today's player coping with yesterday's game? No roof overhead in those days, they played in wind, rain, mud up to their backsides, and had to compete for each ball with an opponent breathing over their shoulder. I would suggest a number of today's better players would struggle to get a kick in that environment. Added to this, today's player uses a smaller weather resistant ball that is easier to handle, and doesn't kick stab passes, drop kicks, torpedos, etc, and a number of them couldn't mark a ball with a texta pen.

[Dog_ger]

Great topic.

You could get in trouble very easy here.

Your 50 is as good as any.

I could have squeezed John Tilbrook in there on my list.

This takes me back, was it "Muscle Man Jim..?

[McAlmanac]

I could have squeezed John Tilbrook in there on my list.

This takes me back, was it "Muscle Man Jim..?

Diamond Jim Tilbrook.

[SANFLnut]

The inclusion of the Gowans on the list is an interisting one and got me thinking as to a)whether there were any more deserving current players & b) would either of them have been listed if they were not seen as a package deal?

My answers were a) Yes and b)No.

Considering the criteria that is proposed i reckon Jade Sheedy from Sturt is probably the most deserving player of inclusion in terms of high level of performance over a sustained period. Not sure of his exact stats but has a magarey, premiership, SANFL State team captain, Club Captain, Bob Quinn medal, multiple best & fairests and seems as though he has been in Sturt's best players every week for about 10 years. I can't remember the last time he played a bad game against West or I heard of him having an off game. I am amazed he did not end up on an AFL list. The Gowans have more premierships between them but I am not convinced their level of performance outranks Sheedy.

b) The impact they have as individuals is not that streets ahead of Thomas, Schell, Slade, Healy, Steinberner, Callinan, McKenzie etc who have also been part of a succesful time at Elizabeth. They have played well in big games but I am sure they attract more attention because there are two of them - imagine the McKenzie twins as a tag team rucking and playing forward!!

Just my view.

[CK]

Had a very spirited debate yesterday with a mate whose views on footy I respect enormously and had me wondering whether any players currently in the SANFL could make this list if updated in 20 years - over to the panel.