Mark Robinson ranks his top 50 AFL players of the decade

Chris Judd played 101 games this decade and won a Brownlow Medal, but was that enough to make Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson’s top 10? Robbo and the fans don’t meet eye-to-eye on this one. VOTE

There’s never been a player like Lance Franklin in the history of Australian rules.

Players standing 199cm have been better marks, but not better on the deck, have had the strength, but not the speed and athleticism.

They could kick goals, but not consistently from 55m, or from the boundary line, or from taking the ball off the pack, jumping an opponent, and kicking a 70m drop punt from the middle of the MCG.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ROBBO’S FULL TOP 50

Lance Franklin started the decade in brown and gold.

But he ended it as a Swan. Picture: Phil Hillyard

And run?

No one at 199cm could run like Buddy, play like Buddy, and exhilarate like Buddy.

It’s why he’s been named the No.1 player of the past decade — 2010-19.

The decade included the last of Geelong’s flags, featured three premierships to the dominant Hawthorn and finished with a golden period for Richmond.

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Wayne Carey, who was the No.1 player of the 1990s, says it’s difficult to disagree with Franklin’s place in this top 50.

“He would be hard to beat. There would be him and Gary Ablett,’’ Carey said.

“I don’t think you’d get an argument from the majority of people. He’s been a consistently brilliant player.

“He doesn’t necessarily play like a key forward.

“He’s a very different type of player for his size.’’

The masters, little and big, had brilliant decades in the AFL.

The greats of the game are rarely wowed by those who come after them, but it’s not true for Carey.

“I’ve always felt his ability to win a game in the space 10, 15, 20 minutes, I rate that more highly than accumulating 30, 40 or 50 possessions,’’ Carey said.

“That’s like killing a team with a thousand cuts. Buddy can kill a team in 15 minutes. He’s unique and that’s what makes him as good as he is.

“His deficiency is his marking, and his greatest strength is when the ball hits the ground and his recovery for a guy of his size is unbelievable.

“I’ve always said, as a forward, if they put someone on him who recovers as well as him, he can mark it.

“If they put someone on him who is remotely tall enough, he beats them on the deck.

“And his ability to kick goals. His length and running ability would wow anyone.

“He makes defenders nervous because he can kick them from so far out.”

Franklin began the decade at Hawthorn, and finished it with Sydney, and returned to pre-season training a fortnight ago in tremendous nick.

Chris Judd doing what he did best in the first half of the decade, find a ton of the footy.

Rising 33, Franklin kicked 639 goals (198 games) in the decade, the most ahead of Jack Riewoldt (574 in 216 games) and Josh Kennedy (562 in 198 games).

Only Franklin of those three makes the top 10.

Asked for his views on the top 10, Carey was largely in agreement.

“To be honest, you can’t argue with that group,’’ he said,

But with 11-20, he said: “That 10 is way more argumentative than your top 10.’’

The criteria for selection in the top 50 was simple enough: Play at least 100 games and play great footy.

Some truly great players make the list, including Chris Judd, Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel, Matthew Pavlich and Nick Riewoldt, although most of them played their best football pre-2010. They were ranked lower because pre-2010 was not a consideration.

Still, their football in this decade made them worthy.

Others were unlucky, including Adam Goodes, Brendon Goddard, Bob Murphy and Nick Dal Santo — again their best footy was played before 2010.

The best team of the decade, Hawthorn, has 11 representatives — Franklin, Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli, Josh Gibson, Shaun Burgoyne, Jarryd Roughead, Brian Lake, Jordan Lewis, Jack Gunston and Luke Breust.

I make no apologies for this large group of Hawks because three successive flags deserves individual recognition.

Hawthorn claimed three flags in the decade, for some that made it four in their career. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

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There is an explanation for each of the 50 players and there were 75 players vying for a spot in the 50.

Team and individual success were taken into account, of course, but part of it was the sheer skill of the players, hence Franklin’s No.1 standing.

Hodge (No.6) would agree he didn’t have the skill and class of others in the top 10, maybe even in the top 50, but Hodge’s leadership and big-game mentality could never be ignored.

The same could be written about Joel Selwood (No.8).

Try having a discussion about who was better, Scott Pendlebury (No.9) or Mitchell (No.10)?

Or Cyril (No.16) or Eddie Betts (No.19)?

Or Corey Enright (No.17) or Trent Cotchin (No.23)?

Or Marcus Bontempelli (No.31) or Patrick Cripps (No.34)?

It’s not easy.

Nothing about this assignment was easy.

Just consider Matt Priddis, David Mundy, Travis Boak, Brodie Grundy, Matty Boyd, Travis Cloke, Dane Rampe, Jack Darling and Jeremy Cameron didn’t make the final cut.

Originally published as Mark Robinson ranks his top 50 AFL players of the decade