Readers pick their top VFL/AFL players of the past 50 years

READERS have had their say on our list of the top 25 VFL/AFL players of the past 50 years and Robbo says they got the top end right, but neglected past legends.

HERALD Sun readers have spoken and they’ve emphatically picked legendary Hawthorn star Leigh Matthews as the best VFL/AFL player of the past 50 years.

Three footy luminaries — Mick Malthouse, Dermott Brereton and David King — and six Herald Sun football writers — Mark Robinson, Jon Anderson, Glenn McFarlane, Jon Ralph, Scott Gullan and Sam Edmund — each embarked on the arduous task of selecting their best 25 players of the past half century.

Leigh Matthews was the readers’ consensus No.1 pick, but there was also plenty of love for James Hird.

We combined all of the lists to come up with the top 25 and then asked readers to vote for who they thought was the greatest player of the past 50 years.

Matthews topped the near 7000 votes with 24 per cent, ahead of North Melbourne superstar Wayne Carey, on 18 per cent.

Malthouse created controversy by leaving out his former protege Nathan Buckley, along with both Gary Ablett Snr and Jnr.

And readers disagreed, ranking Ablett Snr third, with 17 per cent of the vote and Jnr fourth at eight per cent, while Buckley was seventh, with five per cent.

Top 25 footballers

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Lethal and Bucks both featured prominently in the readers picks for best VFL/AFL players of the past 50 years.

James Hird received eight per cent of the vote, proving there is still plenty of love for the fallen Essendon great.

There were 12 absolute superstars of the game who did not even garner a single vote.

Robbo said the readers were pinpoint with their top three, but had forgotten about past greats.

“Clearly, and it’s not only football, but there’s a lack of appreciation for our history,” Robbo said.

Not a single vote for Richmond legend Royce Hart or Carlton superstar Alex Jesaulenko.

“It’s unfathomable that Jezza, Hart and Stewart, three official Legends of the AFL, did not receive one single vote.

“That said, Matthews, Carey and Ablett Snr filled the top three spots, which is pretty close to how the majority of the experts voted.”

Three of these legendary forwards received votes from the public as the best player of the past 50 years.

The readers’ list

1. Leigh Matthews 24 per cent

2. Wayne Carey 18 per cent

3. Gary Ablett Sr. 17 per cent

4. Gary Ablett Jr. 8 per cent

5. James Hird 8 per cent

6. Tony Lockett 7 per cent

7. Nathan Buckley 5 per cent

8. Chris Judd 4 per cent

9. Michael Voss 3 per cent

10. Greg Williams 2 per cent

11. Kevin Bartlett 2 per cent

12. Stephen Silvagni 1 per cent

13. Peter Hudson 1 per cent

No votes:

Jason Dunstall, Simon Madden, Royce Hart, Ian Stewart, Lance Franklin, Bruce Doull, Glen Jakovich, Alex Jesaulenko, Sam Mitchell, Malcolm Blight, Adam Goodes, Matthew Scarlett.

After much conjecture of Mick Malthouse top 25, I decided to do my own. Best 23 players of the last 23 years #AFL would love some feedback. pic.twitter.com/ymemA41wLg

— Brennan Gillam (@BrenGill4) March 13, 2017

I'm surprised Shane Woewodin didn't make Mick Malthouses top 25 players of all time!

— Max Blake (@MaxBlake9) March 13, 2017

I'm going to spend the rest of the day working on my top 25 players in the last 25 years - number 8 may surprise you! (It's Raph Clarke)

— Rebecca Hayne (@BeccaHayne) March 12, 2017

Originally published as Readers pick their top VFL/AFL players of the past 50 years