Matthew Richardson; A Great of the Game?

[damian]

An argument going on at work right now;

Is Matthew Richardson a great of the game?

and

Who is more of a great, Ben Hart or Matthew Richardson?

[Footy Smart]

An argument going on at work right now;

Is Matthew Richardson a great of the game?

and

Who is more of a great, Ben Hart or Matthew Richardson?

over 300 games is hard to go past. B Hart for me

Always loved Richos passion

[Booney]

They, IMO, are both "greats" of the game for differing reasons.

I take into account, when talking about the greats of the game, what they have done post career as well as during their playing days and I think Richo is very good in the media, I quite like him.

Hart, having taking to coaching is joining Collingwood under Buckley which, in todays football world is as big an appointment / feather in your cap as you can get.

Good argument, but they are both greats of our game.

[Mr Beefy]

Above Average Back Pocket Vs One Man Team - Richo for mine

Longevity does not equal greatness.

[Booney]

An argument going on at work right now;

Is Matthew Richardson a great of the game?

and

Who is more of a great, Ben Hart or Matthew Richardson?

over 300 games is hard to go past. B Hart for me

Always loved Richos passion

Richo - 282 games and 800 goals. Tough to go past that and I dont think anyone, without bias, could pick who is the greater.

[Bum Crack]

Richo without doubt. Imagine if he played in a good team.

[Shirtfront]

Both 'greats' in my opinion. Harty was one of my favourite Crows ever, and Richo was my favourite player of other teams to watch.

[Baron Greenback]

Richo easily. And I'm a big fan of Ben Hart.
But Richo will always be remembered, whereas Harty will probably slip into history quietly.
Richo also the leading goal kicker at the MCG.

[whufc]

Hated Hart mainly because of his flaming red hair BUT he was a great in every sense of the word.

-Premiership Player
-300 + games
-club b&f winner
-tough as nails
-reliable
-fair
-brilliant
-loyal
-unselfish
-quality person

[The Sleeping Giant]

Both.

[valleys07]

Have to agree with booney on this one. On one hand you have a 280 game 800+ goal kicker, on the other you have a 300+ dual premiership player.....both great in their own right.

[Wedgie]

I never thought much of Richo, thought he was hugely overrated and was horrified when there was talk of him possibly coming to Geelong once as in my opinion he lost more games for Richmond than won games, I've never seen a player drop his head or give up so often in the AFL.
I just looked up his stats and I can see why I thought that as he played more games against Geelong than any other opponent and had his worst games against Geelong compared to any other opponent. Averaged just over 2 goals per game against us, 13 possies, .5 of a tackle per game and 7 marks, 5 wins 17 losses.

Ben Hart was a good solid player.

Who was better?
Richo at his best against weaker sides was the best player but Richo at his worst against stronger sides was the worst player. Ben Hart had a bit more consistency.
Chalk and cheese with the positions they played though as it would be easier to be more consistent in a back pocket as opposed to a key forward.
Who would have I have chosen in my side first?
Ben Hart

[Groover]

Richo got the best defender every week for his entire career and still managed to bag 800 goals.
Hart a very good backman in his day.
Both great but Richo much better!

[David Brent]

Too hard to call for me. Most greats have played in Big Games eg finals this gives Hart the nod but as for being more influential to their team Richo takes the cake. He carried the tigers for more than a decade & made Richmonds Team of the Centuary only halfway through his career that is a huge effort.

Also I think Richo is starting to get more respect for his career since he has retired & moved into the media & people realise he isn't a bad bloke.

[Footy Smart]

An argument going on at work right now;

Is Matthew Richardson a great of the game?

and

Who is more of a great, Ben Hart or Matthew Richardson?

over 300 games is hard to go past. B Hart for me

Always loved Richos passion

Richo - 282 games and 800 goals. Tough to go past that and I dont think anyone, without bias, could pick who is the greater.

Yep, without Richo's stats and being a 'one eyed crow man' i said that! very good careers for both

[Drop Bear]

I remember the year before Richo broke down with his hammy (2006??). He was playing the whole season up on the wing. Absolutely dominated because nobody could play on a bloke of his size with such a massive engine.

[the joker]

Both greats of the games. But you can't say who was better. Different positions. Richo was a gun forward that was a three time all Australian. And kicked over 800 goals.
Benny hart was one of the best mid size defenders of the last 30 years. 4 time all Australian and in his early years he played on the likes of dunstall, Lockett and Ablett. And Benny hart stood up on the big stage, his first half in the 98 grand final was one of the best halfs by a defender in a long time.
Both champs of the game

[cripple]

Straight away thought Richo and will stick with that. Crows and Port players complain about scrutiny from the media in a two team town, just imagine what Richo had to put up with being almost a one man team. Both players are just short of being "greats of the game" but more then handy players for long periods of time.

[CoverKing]

Without doubt he is a great of the game.
Who is greater? You can argue both cases.

Those who question richos impact on footy though generally do because they do not like him as a person. His passion, his work rate and his courage was second to none. I am bias but the bloke is a legend!

[The Dark Knight]

I remember the year before Richo broke down with his hammy (2006??). He was playing the whole season up on the wing. Absolutely dominated because nobody could play on a bloke of his size with such a massive engine.

I remember watching it and I was deverstated for him, he absolutely dominated all year until that point. (Was that the same year he polled really well in the Brownlow?)