whos SA's best footballer

[the joker]

For more than 30 years, “ football greatness “ in this state has been defined by two men - Russell Ebert and Barrie Robran.

But the game has changed and two other men must now be considered when discussing the GREATEST EVER South Aussie to pull on the boots.

It’s always been a contest between Russelll Ebert and Barrie Robran for the mantle of the best player South Australia has ever produced.
Rightly so.
Their individual records speak for themselves.

Ebert: 451 games, 4 Magarey Medals, 6 best and fairests, 3 Premierships
Robran: 201 games, 3 Magarey Medals, 7 best and fairests, 2 Premierships.

With the game now totally different than that of the bygone era, Stephen Kernahan and Mark Ricciuto have strong claims as the best we’ve ever seen.

Kernahan’s record is just as impressive, but it was his presence and influence on the men around him that truly defined the man.
He reamins the most capped AFL skipper in history

His playing record isn’t half bad either: 403 games, robbed of a Magarey Medal in the early ‘80s, 6 best and fairests, 3 premierships, 8 times All Australian.

Crows skipper Mark Ricciuto’s claims are just as strong and he’s not finished yet.
The Roo’s played 303 games for his beloved Crows, has a Brownlow Medal, 3 Best and fairests, a premeirship is also an eight-time All Australian (twice as captain).

All four are champions in the true sense of an overused tag.

Not ONE is clearly the best the game has produced, unlike cricket’s master, Sir Donald Bradman. There is no debate with the Don.

Club loyalties make this topic a difficult one.

Sturt supporters will sing the praises of Len Fitzgerald and the Jumbo Prince.
Woodville fans will say, “what about Malcolm?”
Gary McIntosh, Jimmy Deane and Lindsay Head will all get support.
There is a big cast lining up for the minor placings , but the four true champs mentioned are, for mine, the best we have ever seen.

Having grown up with Kernahan, I was always too close to truly assess his greatness.
When David Parkin says he is clearly the best captain he’s been associated with, that says it all for me.

If I had to choose one , Robran gets the nod.

Let the debate begin.

this is an article from the advertiser which was written by Chris mcdermott and would just like to get all your thaughts

[Rik E Boy]

I'd rate McLeod ahead of the Roo and neither in the class of Kernahan, Platten, Blight, Robran or Ebert. Very tough to chose number one so I'll go with Brenton Klaebe.

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

Mate try this thread: http://safootycentral.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6040&start=0

Any player worth mentioning from the past got a run here....

for mine the great man himself Graham Cornes

[Blue Boy]

Very good post joker

For me growin up it was the Jumbo Prince - very biased I know. I still watch the 76 premiership every now and then he was just awesome - He was All Australian Captain in an era that had plenty of champions from SA.

Another biased one for every one is Peter Motley had champion footballer written all over him - one of the sadest days of my life when I found out about his car accident, but it is just awesome to see him every now and then smilin always and supporting our Double Blues.

I always liked the way Wayne Carey played and considered him a South Australian - but many will differ from this. In that same era I can not leave out Darren Jarman - just awesome on both sides and unlucky not to have a Brownlow and Norm Smith Medal

These days it is the Roo but as he is comin to the end of his career its time to start lookin for our next champion.

FWIW - I didnt see Robran and Ebert play all that much but there records are outstanding and are both exceptionally humble men - the work that they still carry out for there football clubs today is outstanding as well. Legends I think.

[scoob]

I dont think you can even mention Roo in the same sentence as Robran/Ebert...

[schimma]

robran, ebert, hank, head, blight


and later day players

pavlich
tredrea
rooooooooooo
bradley
modra
sticks

[PortAdelaideProud]

No love for Gavin Wanganeen?

[Armytank]

No not really

[redden whites]

I believe there was a player called Ken Farmer that may have a fairly respectable record .He may have even been a touch better than Modra even

[RoosterMarty]

I believe there was a player called Ken Farmer that may have a fairly respectable record .He may have even been a touch better than Modra even

Yeah I've heard he kicked a few goals in his time.....

[brod]

Farmer must have done okay, they even named a medal after him. REB Im guessing youre talking about McLeod as a Crows player as he is a Territorian.

[am Bays]

robran, ebert, hank, head, blight


and later day players

pavlich
tredrea
rooooooooooo
bradley
modra
sticks

I hope that is in no particular order Schimma, I wouldn't even mention Tredrea in the same breath as those blokes....

Put Hodges, Wanganeen, Granger and Evans in front of him of players coming from Port

[scoob]

robran, ebert, hank, head, blight


and later day players

pavlich
tredrea
rooooooooooo
bradley
modra
sticks

I hope that is in no particular order Schimma, I wouldn't even mention Tredrea in the same breath as those blokes....

Put Hodges, Wanganeen, Granger and Evans in front of him of players coming from Port

can see where you are coming from with hodges but what would tredrea have done if he played all his career in sanfl?

[PortAdelaideProud]

robran, ebert, hank, head, blight


and later day players

pavlich
tredrea
rooooooooooo
bradley
modra
sticks

I hope that is in no particular order Schimma, I wouldn't even mention Tredrea in the same breath as those blokes....

Put Hodges, Wanganeen, Granger and Evans in front of him of players coming from Port

How could you not consider Warren Tredrea one of the best players SA has produced? The guy has dominated the AFL more than what Pavlich and Modra did. Geez, Tredrea has probably dominated it more than Ricciuto.

Tredrea was considered the best player in the AFL for quiet a while, so how you don't rate him as one of SA's best is beyond me. I think you should take those Glenelg glasses off.

[Rik E Boy]

Farmer must have done okay, they even named a medal after him. REB Im guessing youre talking about McLeod as a Crows player as he is a Territorian.

Ack. Thank you linesmen. Thank you ballboys! I forgot that the Cows were the team for all Northern Territorians! BTW, PAVLICH?? The guy is seriously overrated. We had a guy who played TENNIS until about three years ago tear him a new one and that was wasn't the first time he's done it either. Give me Wanganeen over Pavlich any day of the week.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

[

How could you not consider Warren Tredrea one of the best players SA has produced? The guy has dominated the AFL more than what Pavlich and Modra did. Geez, Tredrea has probably dominated it more than Ricciuto.

Tredrea was considered the best player in the AFL for quiet a while, so how you don't rate him as one of SA's best is beyond me. I think you should take those Glenelg glasses off.

While you're taking off the glasses I reckon you could do so as well. Tredrea has been a fine player and at his peak a great but to say he's dominated the AFL more than Ruccuito is typing with one hand my friend. The Roo has more games, the same amount of flags and a Charlie that you'll find that Tredders doesn't have. Agree about Pavlich and Mods though.

regards,

REB

[smac]

Joker, unless you are Chris McDermott, I suggest you credit his work...

[Sojourner]

Garry Macintosh will always be one of my favorite players I will always admire the old school courageous way that he played, I admired him for sticking with Norwood and resisting the temptation to join the VFL.

Michael Aish is another Norwood player I admired.

Rick Davies was one of the best goal kickers I have ever seen play footy, I remember all to well Jumbo kicking a bag of 12, most from outside of the 50, I have commented before that you dont see goal kicking to that standard from outside of 50 in many AFL games today.

For my own club, Peter Darley and Lindsay Backman were before my time so I cant comment. Mark Naley however was the best rover I ever saw and very much a worth recipient of Carlton team of the century award.

The circumstances that led John Schnebichler to go from South to Glenelg were not great, yet as a kid I recall only to well Sneezer being the best most reliable South Adelaide player that gave it all for four quarters, not unlike another SANFL ledgend, Centrals Wilbur Wilson. Sneezer was and probably always will be my most admired South Adelaide player.

Johnny the Rat Platten, is another great player to come out of the SANFL that I dont think anyone has mentioned as yet. Mark Bickely would have to rate a mention for leading the Crows to two premierships! I hope Roo does the same before he calls it a day!

[brod]

smac there is a huge difference between legend (robran, ebert ect) and a good player in their own time (mcdermott). His best work has been done for charity and even that is a partnership, just like his footy. Great team player, but never the individual star of these other players.

[Ian]

Ebert: 451 games, 4 Magarey Medals, 6 best and fairests, 3 Premierships
Robran: 201 games, 3 Magarey Medals, 7 best and fairests, 2 Premierships.

Considering Robran's carreer was cut short, does that mean if he had played the same number of games as Ebert he could have won 7 Magareys, 18 B&F's, and 5 Flags