A show of appreciation for some of the greatest AFL players of all-time
Australians are a competitive bunch, which is precisely why our sporting prowess over the years is highly respected and, certainly in some parts of the world, feared.
Sledging in cricket, for example, has enabled the Baggy Greens to gain an advantage over their rivals (see numerous Ashes series against England) and given the cricket side an edge over many of their competitors at the top.
Pretty much any sport; be it a physical sport like rugby, athletics, or even virtual ones like video games or online casino games NZ, we know Aussies will be competitive. But there’s one other sport, alongside rugby, cricket and the like, where Australians have also covered themselves in glory and continue to shine at - Aussie rules football.
If you travel to Australia, it’s worth checking out some of the AFL matches. Any other country, you can check out popular Aussie sports like rugby and cricket. But AFL is all Aussie.
Below, we are going to look at some of the best players to have graced the game. Ultimately it’s subjective as to which players have been the best to grace our beloved sport, but we’re going to at least attempt to name a few and hopefully keep the peace in the process.
Leigh Matthews
The sort of player you’d hate to come against, Leigh Matthews instilled fear into the opposition and was known as being one of the most brutal players to have ever played the game at the highest level. Obviously, you need a bit of grit and steel in any side, and Matthews certainly provided that for Hawthorn on numerous occasions. Regarded by many as the best small forward in AFL history, Matthews also picked up the official AFL award as the 20th century’s best player. Fair enough, really.
Gary Ablett Senior
His highlight reel is spectacular and his nickname of ‘God’ is highly justified, as Gary Ablett Senior had a remarkable career for Hawthorn and Geelong. Similar to the Leigh mentioned above Matthews in terms of mental toughness and style of play, Ablett Senior also possessed superb flair and skill to compliment it. Scoring bucketloads of goals and picking up endless player of the match accolades, Ablett had to make this list. With 248 games and 1030 goals, it was a no brainer—what a player.
Wayne Carey
Wayne Carey is viewed as one of the top centre half forwards in AFL history, and it’s understandable as to why. Quick and strong, Carey was virtually impossible to stop once he got into his stride, with his wrecking-ball style striking fear into opponents regularly. Throw in his robust marking and Carey really was a player you’d simply love to have on your team. Despite gaining somewhat of a bad boy reputation since retiring from the sport, Wayne Carey still goes down as one of the most talented footballers to have played the game, surely?
John Coleman
Persistent issues with his knee eventually put an end to John Coleman’s career, but there’s no doubting that when he was in his prime, Coleman was a real talent. Scoring 537 goals in 98 games is certainly not to be sniffed at, as Coleman’s Essendon side became increasingly reliant on their star man. He has the second-highest goal kicking average, and the AFL’s goal kicking award is named after him. Speaks for itself really, doesn’t it?
Honourable mentions to the likes of Graham “Polly” Farmer, Haydn Bunton, Gary Ablett Junior, Ian Stewart, Dick Reynolds and Ted Whitten too.
