Wayne Carey, Gary Ablett Jr, Matthew Scarlett and Buddy Franklin are the best I played with or against, writes Cam Mooney

When it comes to the greatest players of the modern era, two former Cats are up there with the retiring Lance “Buddy” Franklin, Cam Mooney writes.

We’re unlikely to see another Buddy Franklin ever again.

With the way the modern game is played, it’s hard to imagine somebody will kick 1000 goals in a career during my lifetime.

You have superstars in our game, but Buddy was a megastar.

Like another champion forward before Buddy’s generation, Wayne Carey, he was an absolute peacock.

He had the strut, the chest out and like that Cats genius of the 1980s and 90s, Gary Ablett Snr, the ability to do the unthinkable, the unobtainable.

I would marvel at Franklin’s running power, his athleticism, and it’ll take somebody extremely special to replicate what he’s achieved since being drafted way back in 2004.

Sydney superstar Lance Franklin’s last kick in AFL footy during the round 20 match between Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein.

During my playing days, we had the best defence going around, with the likes of Scarlett, Taylor and Lonergan.

I don’t think Buddy ever got hold of us, but you were petrified going into games about what he might be able to do.

His retirement has got me thinking about the true greats of the modern era; those in the upper echelon from my playing days until now.

The first name which comes to mind is, unsurprisingly, two-time premiership North Melbourne captain Wayne Carey.

He’s without question the greatest player I’ve seen.

He played the hardest position at centre half forward and turned games regularly.

He was consistently brave and skilful.

Glenn Archer and Wayne Carey at training in April, 1999.

You name it, the Duck had it.

In the same bracket is Gary Ablett Jr, who I was very fortunate to play alongside.

His CV – with two Brownlows, a pair of premierships and seven-time All Australian selections – will go up against anybody’s in the game.

While both were captains and utterly dominant in their respective positions, they were very different people with contrasting personalities.

Duck’s arrogance was one of his great weapons, while Gary was extremely humble and polite.

However, the “Little Master” was as ruthless and as competitive as anybody I’ve met

What Gary did in those first few years on the Gold Coast, where he had minimal support in the midfield, was unbelievable.

Gary Ablett Jr against the Western Bulldogs in September, 2009.

There was no Bartel, Ling, Johnson or Selwood to give him a hand.

Which takes me to another champion from that upper echelon who also wore the hoops: Matthew Scarlett.

He’s the greatest defender the game has seen, and like Carey and Ablett Jr, one of the most competitive humans on the planet.

He was rarely beaten and would often kickstart our attack with his dash and skill.

By the final years of his career, he was controlling the backline like a military general.

Back in 2007, when we turned everything around after the disaster that was the previous season, “Scarlo” was a huge agent of change.

He arguably had the biggest influence on the playing group.

So when we brought in Leading Teams to improve our culture, if he didn’t believe in it, few would have.

Matthew Scarlett celebrates a win over the Dogs in June, 2011.

But Scarlett was ready for success.

It also begs the question: are there any modern day players who might rival that quartet by the time their careers have run out?

Carey and Franklin are the best forwards I played with or against, so that conversation is settled.

You could throw a blanket over more than half a dozen of modern midfielders from the opposition who could rival Gaz, but Dustin Martin is above the rest.

Like Ablett Jr, he has a remarkable resume with three premierships and Norm Smiths, plus a Brownlow.

And when it comes to a defender who could match Scarlett, Collingwood’s Darcy Moore could be in the conversation by the time his career is over.

Like Carey, Ablett Jr, Scarlett, Martin and Franklin, winning multiple flags can lift you into the pantheon of the greatest of all time.

And premierships are not won without brilliance down back.

Originally published as Wayne Carey, Gary Ablett Jr, Matthew Scarlett and Buddy Franklin are the best I played with or against, writes Cam Mooney