That's been the case with Franklin for much of his career, too. He also kicked the longest field goal in league history when he connected on a 55-yarder against the San Diego Chargers in 1961. The product improved noticeably. With an NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Award already under his belt, the fifth year pro is the future of the NFL at the quarterback position. AFL HOF Photos HONESTLY HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF, Gary ablett jr is number 1 by a country mile. bobby skilton a champion in the worst side ever . Holub (Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs), George Webster (Houston Oilers), Statistics/14 games: 6.0 interceptions, 100.5.0 yards, 0.7 touchdowns, All-Star Games: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969. It wasnt until decades later that the organization finally afforded him Wall of Fame status. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. nospam.RemembertheAFL@aol.com. Namath, who became the first QB ever to pass for 4,000 yards in a season, also guaranteed the unlikely Super Bowl III upset of the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Ian Stewart Whether it is high flying marks, bone jarring tackles or freakish goals, Australian Rules has it all. Instead of worrying solely about his opponent with a see-ball-punch-ball attitude, Scarlett left his man to neutralise contests, intercepted the footy and launched attacking forays from the backline with beautiful ball use. 22. Wilson passed away on April 9, 2005. Theres no doubt that Leigh Matthews deserve to be number one. Gordon Coventry 10. A very hard job everyone will have a different opinion ???? I guess everyone has their favourites. New customers only. 3. Was forced to move to Adelaide following the turmoil at North Melbourne. GARY ABLETT JR IS THE MOST SKILLED PLAYER OF ALL TIME. named on this page. All-star Game selections, and their star quality when you saw them play. After decades of dominance from the magical men in the goalsquare, midfielders have emerged as the best players of the modern era. All-Star Games: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969. Other runners who garnered consideration were Mike Garrett, Jim Nance, and Matt Snell. Canton, Ohio 44708 10 greatest AFL players of all time. Check their MOST CONSIDER HIM TO BE THE BEST! Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide) 17. It wasn't just aerial ability with "The Duck", it was that combined with mobility and sheer physical presence, an arrogant swagger which intimidated opponents. Honorable mention: Brown (Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders), Tony Banfield (Houston Oilers), Miller Farr (Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers), Statistics/14 games: 4.4 interceptions, 54.9 yards, 0.1 touchdowns. Honorable mention: Speedy Duncan (San Diego Chargers), Dave Grayson (Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders), Abner Haynes (Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets), Teams: San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, All-Star Games: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 65. Another crop of honours to go with his existing "Charlie", three premiership medallions, a record three Norm Smith Medals, four All-Australian gongs and two Tiger best and fairests would absolutely see Martin rightly enter discussions about greatest players of all time. They are all goalkickers. He amassed 1,000 or more yards in seven consecutive seasons and 10 or more touchdowns in four in a row. Your cooked! Reynolds captain coached Essendon to two premierships and, at the time, was called the greatest player of all time. Lindsay Head Duncan also was a lethal kickoff return man. Superb athleticism and a thumping kick have taken "Buddy" to within touching distance of the magical 1000-goal landmark. Ladainian Tomlinson had over 18,000 all-purpose yards in his career, and finished with over 150 all-purpose touchdowns. AFL Guest Book. The 82-year-old football icon captured major silverware during a legendary playing . the 60th Anniversary Season of the American Football League? One of the most important moments in the AFLs history came when the New York Jets outbid the NFLs St. Louis Cardinals and signed Joe Namath to a historic $400,000 contract. AFL Hall of Fame Bottom line: The, um, Hall of Fame experts who left Faison off its All-Time AFL first team have lots of explaining to do. The Top Ten 1 Leigh Matthews Leigh Mathew's is definitely a top 5 player and arguably the greatest. Garry McIntosh RICHMOND'S 29-POINT win against Hawthorn last Sunday at the MCG was a relatively mundane affair, the Hawks giving a decent account of themselves before, not for the first or last time of late, the Tigers flexed a little more muscle and put the result to bed. A two-time time AFL All-Star, he was named to the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1979. Bottom line: The Dallas native balked at the franchise move to Kansas City initially. ", Honorable mention: Dan Conners (Oakland Raiders), Sherrill Headrick (Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals), Archie Matsos (Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers). Russell Ebert Thats why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert Harvey arent on the list. GETON is not a bonus code and does not grant access to additional offers. Honorable mention: Houston Antwine (Boston Patriots), Jim Dunaway (Buffalo Bills), Ed Husmann (Houston Oilers), Ernie Ladd (San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers, Kansas City Chiefs), Bud McFadin (Denver Broncos), All-Star Games: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969. Hird lifted for the big moments and games, epitomised by his three Anzac Day medals in five years. Not long after Jerry Mays switched from tackle to end, teammate Bobby Bell came into his own at linebacker. 9. Three brownlows , no ruckman ,kick either foot ; bashed from head to toe easily the best on baller. Bottom line: The Bills' mini-dynasty revolved around a robust defense and ground-and-pound attack. For excellence over an extended period, Jim Turner was the surest foot around. 8. Shaw, a two-way player in college, became the anchor of the Bills offensive line that won back-to-back AFL titles in the mid-1960s. After a one-year hiatus, he became the first player signed by the New York Titans in 1960. They're not limited to AFL players, and different observers may have subjective, conflicting opinions about their worthiness. His 546 catches ranked second all-time in AFL history. The Lockett we saw play for the Swans over the last third of his career was a goalkicking guru. . New UK & Ireland customers only. Impressively, Jones missed just six games over the course . David Beckham is one of the best midfielders and one of the greatest footballers of all time. The Cleveland Browns castoff won nearly two of every three starts (66.3 percent) and was the only signal-caller to lead his team to as many as three league titles. | Arbanas player page on NFL.com>>>. New customers only. Pro Football Hall of Fame, versus the number of nfl players there. Every one of the 10 AFL teams (the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals were the others) made the cut. In his second season, he put up numbers that were off the charts in the pre-merger era 82 catches, 1,746 yards and 12 touchdowns in 14 games. If they The son of God came to Geelong as the saviour and he lived up to the hype, taking his club to two premierships, an achievement his superstar father was never able to fulfil. 11. It led to his coach, Damien Hardwick, declaring after the 2019 flag that Martin will go down now as one of the all-time greats. AFL Debate Club: What is Gillon McLachlan's defining achievement as AFL CEO? It's a measuring stick accorded very few players in the game's history. Catch up and settle in with no installation & no lock-in contract. Whos in your ultimate team? Nat Fyfe might catch him one day, but he still has ample ground to make. Jim Ottos jersey number 00 was a familiar site in the AFL. Slattery Images. Will any player in football history have as spectacular a highlights reel? Buzz: Marshall is firmly in the discussion of UCF's best NFL alumni of all-time; he's made more Pro Bowls (six . With 700 goals and eight club leading goalkicker awards, its easy to look at Pavlichs numbers and think he was just a champion forward. Ranking the 30 greatest players in Australian Rules history is no easy task. First deposit matched up to 30. He played one last season of football with the 1971 Oakland Raiders. Namaths flair off the field was as important as his strong arm on it during his career that spanned from 1965-1976 with the Jets and one last year with the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. join now and Get on ! But rugbys loss is Aussie Rules gain and he started his career in the best way possible, winning two Brownlows in his first two seasons. Hird finished on a high, too, winning the 2007 Essendon best and fairest just weeks after playing his final game. Honorable mention: Stenerud (Kansas City Chiefs); George Blanda (Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders), Gino Cappelletti (Boston Patriots), Statistics/14 games: 27.3 returns, 26.5 yards/attempt, 0.0 touchdowns. He also added more than 3,300 yards via 201 pass receptions during his AFL years. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1980); 5-time First-Team All-Pro (1965-1969); 3-time second-team All-Pro (1964, 1970, 1972); 8 Pro Bowls; 2-time NFL. Drafted: 119th overall (Round 4) by the Denver Broncos in 2006. Robran better than Ebert? Joe Namath - Jets He carted back five of his AFL-record 47 interceptions for touchdowns. Yet he wasnt. He has the second highest goal kicking average and the AFLs goal kicking award is named after him. It's all wrapped up in one magical package, one which is just as lethal around the ground as it is close to goal. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Sign up to all of Foxtel Now with a 10-day free trial. Nick Riewoldt and Matthew Scarlett are among the top 10 players of the past 20 years. A multi million dollar move to the fledgling Gold Coast left a sour taste in some mouths, but a second Brownlow in 2013 only enhanced his legend. Now riddle me this: Why is Sestak the only non-Hall of Famer of the bunch? of three-dozen-plus American Football League stars. "He was a franchise player before they talked about franchise players," his coach Hank Stram once said. You'd go to hit him, and it was like hitting a ghost.". He was the AFLs only all-league center earning that honor in each of the 10 seasons he competed in the AFL. Yet Pavlichs versatility, particularly early in his career, for a man who stood 192cm set him apart from most of his peers. New customers only. of Fame President C. David Baker Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (right) are two of the greatest . HE IS FIRST ON ALMOST EVERY LIST AND YOU DONT HAVE HIM IN THE TOP TEN? 2121 George Halas Drive NW The former Georgia Tech star was equally adept at pass or run blocking. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) 19. But in todays edition of the Top 20 of the Past 20, the tall men shine. Cookie Gilchrist was to the AFL what Jim Brown was to the other league, a 251-pound brute who wore out everyone from opponents to his own coaches and team owner. GETON is not a bonus code and does not grant access to additional offers. Tobias has made a masterful analysis of the number of AFL players in the 25. The decision turned out to be a stroke of genius. Bottom line: Dave Grayson was as dominant a shutdown cornerback as there was in the AFL, a game-changer who thrived on speed and instincts. Would you believe it didnt allow a rushing touchdown in 17 consecutive games, a pro football record? Lance Franklin. Gordon Coventry New UK & Ireland customers only. Matthew Pavlich is Fremantles best ever player. Tomlinson was one of the best to do it. I can't think of another player who was as capable as often of turning a game on his own when required. While there was no set formula to rank them, career statistics and achievements as well as Approximate Value (courtesy of Pro Football Reference) were heavily considered. Blanda, a veteran of four AFL All-Star Games was named first- or second-team All-AFL twice as a kicker and three times at quarterback. The Richmond champion's ascent over the past five years truly has been stunning. 1. That's when that audible buzz seems to reach its crescendo, as was the case against Hawthorn when even a player as good and as feted as Shaun Burgoyne was made at times to look like meat about to be fed to the lions, the pair jostling for position before Martin inevitably used his strength and judgement to get the better of his opponent and take the grab. Groundhog Day: Why should we care about the Suns? Lowe also ranked second behind only the Patriots Jim Nance in career 100-yard games with 15. Bottom line: If Jan Stenerud had played more than the final three seasons of the AFL, he would have been the pick. The big point of difference between Martin and the other players on this list is obvious. Here are the top 10 all-time NFL players who played at Michigan State, . If there is any current AFL player that could reasonably be described as one of the GOATs, then it's Lance Franklin. inducted when others whom they believe deserving have not been. Lance Alworth was the most dominant offensive player in AFL history. Thirty-four members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were associated with the American Football League from 1960 to 1969. already in the Pro Football But it could also be the one-on-one marking duel with a hapless opponent who knows his demise is imminent well before the ball arrives. Min bet 2/5 or more. Arbanas was named to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1973. Only the All-America Football Conference had been able to compete with the NFL for any length of time to that point. In his five All-Pro seasons, Robinson accounted for a staggering 39 turnovers, or slightly more than one every other game. Moore finished behind Charlton in second place, while United legend David Beckham and Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard finished third and fourth respectively. Get AFL news and more in your inbox He was a versatile back, and we look back to 2006 when he had 30 total touchdowns and 2,000 yards. Like Matthews, Ablett was as tough and uncompromising as he was skilled. | Blandas HOF Bio>>>. Todd has made a case that as many as thirty-four He. 6-time All-AFL, 6-time AFL-All Star 1971 All-Pro, 2-time Pro Bowler 2-time AFL Champion (1966, '69) Super Bowl IV champion Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1990 NFL 100. | Lowes player page on NFL.com>>>. Had he done his knee in 2016, he would have been back playing football in six weeks. Good enough to be named All-Pro in all except the final one. | Maynards HOF Bio>>>. Talk Wilson was named All-AFL in 1968 and also earned second-team All-AFL recognition in 1966. James Hird Honourable mentions: Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall, Stephen Silvagni, John Nicholls, Royce Hart, Alex Jesaulenko, Bob Skilton, Ron Barassi, Jack Dyer, Greg Williams, Nathan Buckley, Chris Judd, Kevin Murray, Darrel Baldock. Min deposit requirement. His 74-yard punt return was the dagger against the San Diego Chargers in the 1965 title game. I decided after last Sunday's game to put together a list of the five most watchable players I've seen in 50-odd years of watching Australian football. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Is it Carlton's year? Chris Judd Reynolds was the antithesis of Matthews in that he was unshakeably fair on the football ground. Peter Hudson 7. Comparing different eras in football is a thankless task, but somebody has got to be willing to put their neck out to begin the discussion, so without further procrastination I present our 10 greatest AFL players of all time. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. | Shaws HOF Bio>>>. Not in my opinion. Willie Davis, Deacon Jones, Bob Lilly, Gino Marchetti and Merlin Olsen were the others. "A unique person and wonderful leader," team owner Lamar Hunt called him. Beckham is the first English player to win league titles in four different countries - Spain, England, France, and the United States.. Perhaps they never wouldve emerged like they have if it wasnt for Scarletts influence. The 82-year-old football icon captured major silverware during a legendary playing career for both club and country. Three times he led the AFL in receiving (1966, 1968, and 1969). 12. Hall Tom Brady Best NFL Players. The longtime college assistant was equal parts mentor and mad scientist. (Mind you, those 2017 and 2019 campaigns that netted him two flags, two Norm Smiths and a Brownlow were darn handy.). Known as "Tank" for his 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Turner owned the league record for most field goals in one season (34, twice) and most consecutive games (18). To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-1diosym{color:black;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-1diosym{color:#fff;}}Published20:33,02 September 2020 BST. revision: When Fox Footy experts were doing their 2020 pre-season predictions, former Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon said Martin could win both the Coleman and Brownlow Medals if he spent more time forward. From the moment he stepped foot onto an AFL field in 2010, Martin has been one of the most durable, dangerous, influential and entertaining players of the past 10 years. 15. Period. to Ange Coniglio at Bottom line: Forget the position. | Tyrers player page on NFL.com>>>. How about inducting AT LEAST the most deserving from this list in honor of This week, the team fiercely discuss concussion, and Christian brings in a new segment looking at every team's telling stat . He was named full-back in the 2002 All-Australian team then won a spot on the half-forward flank 12 months later after starring as a big-bodied midfielder. Why St Kilda's second appointment of Ross Lyon is a massive gamble. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. They may not all Fame. John Nicholls His quick feet translated well in bump-and-run coverage at cornerback, where he picked off 21 passes. One of the most prolific punters in pro football history, Wilson finished as the AFLs all-time leader with a 43.9-yard per punt average that came on 422 punts from 1963-69. "If he got his hands on you, more than likely, you were going to go down. | Daniels player page on NFL.com>>>. Charlton, who spent 17 years at Manchester United, won three league titles, an FA Cup, a European Cup and the Ballon d'Or during his illustrious time at Old Trafford. your comments And it continues. Yes, I'm talking about Lance Franklin, whose crowd-pleasing attributes need little detailing after having performed them for so long. New customers only. Watch Foxtel in an instant. Showing 1 to 1 of 1 entries. "You don't imagine a guy (of that size) being so quick. Follow Us. The Get On Club is your direct line to latest greyhound and horse racing news, betting tips, odds& bookmajer promotions. The Sydney Swans full forward has the most career goals of any current AFL player, with a staggering 944 under his belt. Stranger things have happened. The honorary offensive team, that included a kicker and a punter, was determined by a vote of the AFL members of the Hall of Fames Board of Selectors. A starter in both of the Chiefs Super Bowls, Budde never missed a single game during his first nine seasons. He was voted unanimous first-team All-AFL seven consecutive seasons and also named to seven AFL All-Star Games. 24. 2. Ask him "Why aren't more AFL players in the http://www.remembertheafl.com Please credit/link to: Even then, only three of the nine AAFC teams were invited to join the established league. Whats more, the NFL was at the height of its popularity at the time. Seven of his eight career touchdowns were from 60-plus yards out. 5. He accounted for 24 turnovers in 98 games and scored touchdowns in five of his seven seasons. Teams: Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Statistics/14 games: 4.8 interceptions, 94.0 yards, 0.5 touchdowns, All-Star Games: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969. Australian users can personalise their ESPN experience by downloading the App. Leave a comment in the box below. LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE DEBATE DAVID KING, DERMOTT BRERETON AND TOM MORRIS ON WHETHER CUTTING LIST SIZES WILL BE GOOD OR BAD FOR FOOTY, IF YOURE ON A MOBILE, TAP HERE TO LISTEN, 15. Theres no doubt about it: Pavlich is Fremantles greatest ever player. Football Hall of Michael . But Matthews wouldve faced a stern challenge from Wayne Carey and Gary Ablett for the top spot. Tom Sestak was a primary reason for it. Stroud goes No. It might be one of those bullet-like kicks to Richmond's advantage after Martin bulldozes his way through traffic with a "don't argue" and swivel of the hips and sends a rocket by foot spearing on to the chest of another yellow-and-black jumper. Sir Stanley Matthews is the godfather of English football and, in Pele's words, the man who 'taught us the way football should be played'. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound road grater helped pave the way for three league championship teams. Of last year's top 10 players, six fell out of the group in 2021. Russell Ebert 8. Yet his trademark athleticism and bravery quickly flipped the expectations of that position. James Hird lifted for the big games during the early 2000s. statistics and playoff appearances, their leadership qualities, their number of MVP and Zindine Zidane. Honorable mention: George Blanda (Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders), Jack Kemp (Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills), Joe Namath (New York Jets), Teams: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Statistics/14 games: 1,169.1 yards/scrimmage, 4.8 yards/touch, 9.3 touchdowns. But there was still one factor which made it impossible to look away. Download ESPN from iTunes App Store You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. But it's the St Kilda version of "Plugger" I remember most vividly, a player with deceptive agility for his burly frame, but most memorably, an air of physical menace about him which genuinely scared opponents (and nearly killed Essendon's Brad Fox). Small wonder that "Double O" was the third AFL player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and it happened in his first year of eligibility. "Sometimes, you've just got to take your hat off and say: 'too good'.". 2014-2023 Bettingsite.com.au published by Race Media. 12. Bottom line: It was easier to surf Niagra Falls than to run the ball against the Bills' defense in its heyday. better than others at their positions who are already in the Plus, he had more quality seasons as a core member of two championship teams. And he did them repeatedly. Perhaps the greatest indication of Scarletts legacy is how the best key defenders of today go about their business on the field. about their worthiness. 16. 2 to the Texans. Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. "I just thought I was the best. Leigh Matthews: 8 (Hawthorn) 3. Brandon Marshall. Not only is that a testament to his almost sickening work ethic, but also to his contested marking ability and courage to back into packs. The offense ranked either first or second in yards per rush in seven of his nine seasons. Daniels spent eight of his nine pro seasons in the AFL with the Dallas Texans (1960) and Oakland Raiders (1961-67) before playing one final year in the NFL with the 1968 San Francisco 49ers. American Football League (AFL) All-Time Second Team Q: What do Fred Arbanas, Ed Budde, Clem Daniels, Paul Lowe, Jerry Mays, Gerry Philbin, Houston Antwine, Tom Sestak, Jim Tyrer, George Webster, Dave Grayson, George Saimes, and Jerrell Wilson have in common? He was the all-time AFL leader in average for a season (45.4, 1965) and a career (43.9). 3 days ago. Attendance spiked. Daniels was named to four straight AFL All-Star Games. 8. Ted Whitten Snr 5. Named All-AFL in each of the eight seasons he played in the league, Tyrer also was selected to seven AFL All-Star Games and two AFC-NFC Pro Bowls. Possesses a resume the envy of most players in history. Yet years before Hird made the leap to coaching, he was in the prime of his footy career as a player. At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, "The Tree" was a member of the original "Fearsome Foursome" and the first dominant edge rusher in the league. Budde deserves to be in Canton with them. AFLW 2023: ESPN's way-too-early predictions - North's time to shine? Picture: David Caird. limited to AFL players, and different observers may have subjective, conflicting opinions As Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson once said, "If you are lucky enough to knock [Buoniconti] down, you have to lay on him, or hell get right back into the play. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide/Geelong) 16. NSW pokies profits soaring in line with Bennett continues to build on NRL legacy Pointsbet to stop North American operations. 2000-2020 stats: 353 games, 700 goals, 126 Brownlow votes, averaged 17.3 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Six-time All-Australian, six-time best and fairest, eight-time club leading goalkicker.
