General Bombers Talk Don The Stat: 100 Greatest Essendon Players Since 1980

[Blind Turn]

I’m not a fan of the Brownlow it has to be said, but it’s interesting to see the positioning of the names Neagle, Hawker, and… yes, Buhagiar… in this graphic of the highest Brownlow vote winners of the 80s (just to give some perspective of how eye-catching the Budgie was in his prime). Remembering too that Buhagiar only played for half the decade.

 

[windyhill]

Madden the best I've ever seen, Merv , all time favourite.

 

[Sporno 4 Pyros]

For more reference, here's everyone who played over 80 games that didn't make the list:

Laverde, Jayden

Howlett, Ben

Myers, David

Melksham, Jake

Dyson, Ricky

Symons, Michael

Guelfi, Matt

Hamilton, Paul

Gleeson, Martin

Slattery, Henry

Jetta, Leroy

Ambrose, Patrick

Colyer, Travis

Shiel, Dylan

Jacobs, Danny

Prior, Michael

Robins, Stephen

That’s a good list of our BF whipping boys over the last40 years
Big project putting it together and getting your special guests on to talk

 

[Sporno 4 Pyros]

Madden the best I've ever seen, Merv , all time favourite.

It will be really interesting to see where Merv comes in.
Two top 5 Brownlow performances and a fan favourite.
TD, Madden and Watson ahead of him in the 84-85 team, Hirdy, Wangers, Longy, Lloyd, Harvey, Salmon ahead from 93/00. Then it comes up to debate with all the other greats of that era (Baker, Vander,Mercuri, Merret) and then throw in some modern day hero’s like Jobe/Zerrett. It will be interesting to see where he lands.
Merv was a hero to many of us who were kids in the 80s

 

[Blind Turn]

It will be really interesting to see where Merv comes in.
Two top 5 Brownlow performances and a fan favourite.
TD, Madden and Watson ahead of him in the 84-85 team, Hirdy, Wangers, Longy, Lloyd, Harvey, Salmon ahead from 93/00. Then it comes up to debate with all the other greats of that era (Baker, Vander,Mercuri, Merret) and then throw in some modern day hero’s like Jobe/Zerrett. It will be interesting to see where he lands.
Merv was a hero to many of us who were kids in the 80s

We all love Baker but I think his career is pumped up a little due to some finals heroics. That counts for a lot but he wasn’t a dominant player throughout seasons and didn’t play many games for the club. Of that debatable grouping you mentioned I’d have Mercs, Merv, Zach, Jobe, Vander all ahead of him for overall careers. That will be an interesting placing for me. He kicked 10 goals in the last 2 finals of 84 and they were his best goal returns for the season. His 28 disposals in the 85 GF was the second most disposals for the whole season. That’s a tricky placing to make. Big game performances count for a lot yet someone like Jobe was capable of producing inspired performances consistently but never on the biggest stage.

Also, where does Neale Daniher fall in all of this?

 

[Squeaky]

Merv was a hero to many of us who were kids in the 80s

This!!

 

[NAB777]

We all love Baker but I think his career is pumped up a little due to some finals heroics. That counts for a lot but he wasn’t a dominant player throughout seasons and didn’t play many games for the club.

Also, where does Neale Daniher fall in all of this?

1) Tim Watson said in '87 that Leon Baker was as good as anyone he'd played with. And..I loved him, BTW

2) It's really hard to rank Neale, as its the best since 1980...and he only had 80 & 81 before his career was effectively over. That said, most considered him the best of the 4 brothers before he did his knee... so where does he rank? Tough one.

 

[Blind Turn]

1) Tim Watson said in '87 that Leon Baker was as good as anyone he'd played with. And..I loved him, BTW

2) It's really hard to rank Neale, as its the best since 1980...and he only had 80 & 81 before his career was effectively over. That said, most considered him the best of the 4 brothers before he did his knee... so where does he rank? Tough one.

Neale’s 81 season was up there as one of the better Bomber seasons I can remember. It was all composure, dash and flexibility.

 

[Kyptastic]

If anyone can guess the top 10 in order I’ll send them a Don The Stat T-Shirt.

Edit. Have to submit your guess by this time next week

 

[Blind Turn]

In order?

My choice would be;

1/ Hird
2/ T Watson
3/ S Madden
4/ Lloyd
5/ T Daniher
6/ Fletcher
7/ Long
8/ Wanganeen
9/ J Watson
10/ Mercuri Z Merrett

I reckon you might’ve snuck Zach Merrett in there instead of Mercs.
Hard to leave out Salmon and Mercuri. Salmon’s Hawthorn years included would make him top 6.
Mercuri’s fade-out probably costs him from a broader perspective of fans. His absolute best was better than most of the top 10.

I reckon there’s a chance Madden might nick Watson’s spot at 2 as well. If there’s no correct order can I claim this as a tie-breaker?

Harvey and Neagle also right in the mix.

…and Buhagiar of course!

 

[Sporno 4 Pyros]

Also, where does Neale Daniher fall in all of this?

Scotty Lucas will be an interesting one too. Scotty would be in my top ten of the last 25 years (possibly top5)

The show is called Don the Stat…and his stats are bloody good. 270games for 471 goals. Stacks up well against a legend like Vander (201games, 271 goals).
B&F at CHB and CHF for Scotty.

 

[Squeaky]

In order?

My choice would be;

1/ Hird
2/ T Watson
3/ S Madden
4/ Lloyd
5/ T Daniher
6/ Fletcher
7/ Long
8/ Wanganeen
9/ J Watson
10/ Mercuri Z Merrett

I reckon you might’ve snuck Zach Merrett in there instead of Mercs.
Hard to leave out Salmon and Mercuri. Salmon’s Hawthorn years included would make him top 6.
Mercuri’s fade-out probably costs him from a broader perspective of fans. His absolute best was better than most of the top 10.

I reckon there’s a chance Madden might nick Watson’s spot at 2 as well. If there’s no correct order can I claim this as a tie-breaker?

Harvey and Neagle also right in the mix.

…and Buhagiar of course!

Yep - very difficult.
I would nearly have Hird, Madden, Lloyd then Watson.
TD, Fletch, Long, Neagle, Wangers, Jobe in the top 10.

Next 10 -> Salmon, Mercs (rolls royce), Harvey, Zerrett, Baker, Lucas, Foulds, Misiti (legend), R Merrett, Vanders
unlucky - Hawker (also legend) G O'D, Budgie.

 

[Blind Turn]

Yep - very difficult.
I would nearly have Hird, Madden, Lloyd then Watson.
TD, Fletch, Long, Neagle, Wangers, Jobe in the top 10.

Next 10 -> Salmon, Mercs (rolls royce), Harvey, Zerrett, Baker, Lucas, Foulds, Misiti (legend), R Merrett, Vanders
unlucky - Hawker (also legend) G O'D, Budgie.

Oh you flirt, you mentioned the Budgie!

Madden was my favourite player but I always remember Timmy being the player you had to stop as he was Essendon’s talisman and the best midfielder in the comp for the first half of the 80s. After his knee injury he got back the level of being debated as being the best player in the comp again in 89 along with Ablett. Tim won that year’s MVP before Ablett stamped his authority with the greatest ever finals series. Tim was a lot better than perhaps people remember. He was the Dusty Martin, Danger, Petracca type of player decades before they became the ultimate player every team wants. Remembering all this, I had to place him ahead of big Si despite my bias towards Madden.

 

[Sporno 4 Pyros]

Yep - very difficult.
I would nearly have Hird, Madden, Lloyd then Watson.
TD, Fletch, Long, Neagle, Wangers, Jobe in the top 10.

Next 10 -> Salmon, Mercs (rolls royce), Harvey, Zerrett, Baker, Lucas, Foulds, Misiti (legend), R Merrett, Vanders
unlucky - Hawker (also legend) G O'D, Budgie.

That second group is bloody impressive. Hawker was ace, Foulds had an amazing career.
Some good players are going to miss out on top 20…I would have Bewick possibly in there, J.Johnson was a gun around 99-01 too.

Here’s my shot at the DTS merch

1. Hird
2. Madden
3. Timmy Watson
4. Lloyd (900+)
5. Fletcher
6. T.D. (Should be higher…top6 is pretty clear, had to do a different order from the rest of you)
7. Wangers
8. Scotty Lucas
9. Zerret
10. Jobe