Current day superstars

[GVGjr]

It's an expression often used to refer to very good players as superstars but I wonder which players currently on playing lists are genuine superstars of the game?

Nick Dal Santo recently said there are 5 players that are genuine superstars
Nat Fyffe, Lance Franklin, Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett Jnr and Dusty Martin are the names he offered up.
I don't think anyone could really argue against those players.

Is that light on or around the mark? Are there any glaring omissions?
Please provide some reasons if you want to nominate some other players

[Twodogs]

It's an expression often used to refer to very good players as superstars but I wonder which players currently on playing lists are genuine superstars of the game?

Nick Dal Santo recently said there are 5 players that are genuine superstars
Nat Fyffe, Lance Franklin, Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett Jnr and Dusty Martin are the names he offered up.
I don't think anyone could really argue against those players.

Is that light on or around the mark? Are there any glaring omissions?
Please provide some reasons if you want to nominate some other players

I'd argue Franklyn no longer deserves to be on the list. He's barely played a game in 3 years-we may as well have Adam Goodes because he's played as much good footy in the last 3 years as Franklyn has. Fyffe limps through games, Dangerfield's best footy is in the rear view mirror and GAJ? You know my opinion-If his name was Gary Smith and not Ablett we wouldn't make half the fuss we make about him-and that fuss was back when? He has NO business being on a list of current day superstars.

My current day list would start with Martin and pretty much end right there.

[bornadog]

The Bont has to be up there, he is a match winner and hard to stop in the midfield because of his size. Gary Jnr was a superstar, but he is cooked.

[GVGjr]

I'd argue Franklyn no longer deserves to be on the list. He's barely played a game in 3 years-we may as well have Adam Goodes because he's played as much good footy in the last 3 years as Franklyn has. Fyffe limps through games, Dangerfield's best footy is in the rear view mirror and GAJ? You know my opinion-If his name was Gary Smith and not Ablett we wouldn't make half the fuss we make about him-and that fuss was back when? He has NO business being on a list of current day superstars.

My current day list would start with Martin and pretty much end right there.
You might have missed the intention of the thread.
Current day players (ie still playing) who have been regarded as superstars or should be in the list Dal Santo nominated and it doesn't mean they are at their prime now

[divvydan]

Based on the criteria used I think all 5 are correct and I don't see any glaring omissions. I think there's a decent gap to the next level to warrant the term, including Bont, Cripps, Gawn and a small number of others. Were Bont to win a Brownlow, he could cross that gap.

[GVGjr]

Should Jack Riewoldt be in the mix as being regarded as a superstar? His stats are impressive

[azabob]

Should Jack Riewoldt be in the mix as being regarded as a superstar? His stats are impressive

Good call. I actually looked at his stats mid last year compared to Nick Riewoldt. I’d say Jack’s career will end up better than Nicks.
I don’t think anyone would’ve entertained that when Nick retired.

[AshMac]

If it’s based on their peak, I don’t think anyone can argue with that list - I’d also add Pendlebury.

It’s tough to work out the yard stick, it looks like players that can turn a game on their own boot and have done it over an extended period.

In that ilk, agree w comments that the next wave of Bont, Cripps, Grundy etc. all have the former, but not the tenure under their belt.

[GVGjr]

If it’s based on their peak, I don’t think anyone can argue with that list - I’d also add Pendlebury.

It’s tough to work out the yard stick, it looks like players that can turn a game on their own boot and have done it over an extended period.

In that ilk, agree w comments that the next wave of Bont, Cripps, Grundy etc. all have the former, but not the tenure under their belt.

I tend to agree that Pendlebury should be in the mix, he's been impressive for a long period of time and he might have been one of the reasons we see vastly bigger midfielders in the competition.

[Bulldog4life]

I tend to agree that Pendlebury should be in the mix, he's been impressive for a long period of time and he might have been one of the reasons we see vastly bigger midfielders in the competition.

According to Plough he is the best player to have ever played with Collingwood. A huge statement.

[ledge]

According to Plough he is the best player to have ever played with Collingwood. A huge statement.

Did he say that he has seen ?
Because that wouldn’t surprise me at all, he is the Bont of the past , he is smooth, everyone slows down and he just walks around players like they are still.
As for highlights not a lot but his football nous, vision and delivery would be up with the superstars.
He was the barometer of Collingwood for a long time and could pull them over the line in 5 minutes of footy.

[Bulldog4life]

Did he say that he has seen ?
Because that wouldn’t surprise me at all, he is the Bont of the past , he is smooth, everyone slows down and he just walks around players like they are still.
As for highlights not a lot but his football nous, vision and delivery would be up with the superstars.
He was the barometer of Collingwood for a long time and could pull them over the line in 5 minutes of footy.


Don't think so.He was going through all teams. Had EJ for us.

[Bulldog4life]

Don't think so.He was going through all teams. Had EJ for us.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-terry-wallace-names-best-player-from-every-afl-team/news-story/d6f54d30862a0ce0f5c06efae5881213

[Bulldog4life]

Don't think so.He was going through all teams. Had EJ for us.

No he hasn't seen them all. ;)...Dick Reynolds I don't think so.

[ledge]

Don't think so.He was going through all teams. Had EJ for us.

He would have seen EJ in his last few years.

[Twodogs]

You might have missed the intention of the thread.
Current day players (ie still playing) who have been regarded as superstars or should be in the list Dal Santo nominated and it doesn't mean they are at their prime now

Oh OK. You're right I missed the point


According to Plough he is the best player to have ever played with Collingwood. A huge statement.

Wouldn't be in the top ten of Collingwood players over history I reckon. The Colliers and the Coventrys would have him in 5th place for a start then there is Bob Rose who a lot of old timers say is the best they have seen.

Probably just makes the top five Collingwood players I have seen play myself. Peter McKenna, Peter Moore, Nathan Buckley, Tony Shaw and Pendlebury.

[Bulldog4life]

Oh OK. You're right I missed the point



Wouldn't be in the top ten of Collingwood players over history I reckon. The Colliers and the Coventrys would have him in 5th place for a start then there is Bob Rose who a lot of old timers say is the best they have seen.

Probably just makes the top five Collingwood players I have seen play myself. Peter McKenna, Peter Moore, Nathan Buckley, Tony Shaw and Pendlebury.

Peter Daicos wasn't a slouch either.

[Twodogs]

Peter Daicos wasn't a slouch either.

Oh yeah. Just about my favorite player to watch from another club. Some of the goals he kicked were amazing.

Darren Millane could play a bit too. Len Thompson and Max and Wayne Richardson could all play. No-one beat Des Tuddenham while he stayed upright

[Bulldog4life]

Oh yeah. Just about my favorite player to watch from another club. Some of the goals he kicked were amazing.

Darren Millane could play a bit too. Len Thompson and Max and Wayne Richardson could all play. No-one beat Des Tuddenham while he stayed upright

I remember when Tuddy coached the Bummers. Once at training he made all the players crawl around the ground on their hands and knees! Hard bastard too.

[Twodogs]

I remember when Tuddy coached the Bummers. Once at training he made all the players crawl around the ground on their hands and knees! Hard bastard too.

That's what I meant about not beating him while he was upright. Just about the most competitive player I have seen.

[GVGjr]

I've being giving this subject a bit more thought, should handing out the superstar label to a player only happen if you have been regarded as the best player or two in the competition? If that stands up does it rule out Jack Riewoldt and maybe Scott Pendelbury?
They've had outstanding careers but were they ever regarded that highly?

[Ozza]

I'm onboard with this logic GVGjr - in terms of them being considered the best player in the competition at some stage (for at least a couple of years).

I wouldn't be adding any current names to Dal Santo's list at this stage.

Bontempelli is probably the one most capable of joining those names.
Cripps is right up there too - but perhaps doesn't have the hurt factor.
Brodie Grundy could be heading in the direction of superstar
Josh Kennedy has won a few Coleman's and is a star but never dominated finals and MCG games enough for me.

[Twodogs]

I've being giving this subject a bit more thought, should handing out the superstar label to a player only happen if you have been regarded as the best player or two in the competition? If that stands up does it rule out Jack Riewoldt and maybe Scott Pendelbury?
They've had outstanding careers but were they ever regarded that highly?


Is superstar the same thing as champion?


I think that the title we hand out far too often is champion-"he's a champion" "no he's not, he hasn't been playing at the top level for long enough" The title of champion should be earned and it should be reserved for only a very few.