Experts rank the top 10 players for games played in VFL-AFL history

Shaun Burgoyne will join elite company this week when he becomes equal 10th on the list of most games played in VFL-AFL history. Who is the best player in the top 10? We asked a panel of experts.

Shaun Burgoyne of the Hawks.

Shaun Burgoyne will join football royalty on Saturday when he moves into the top 10 for AFL games played, but just where does the Hawthorn jack of all trades sit when comparing these longevity legends?

Burgoyne will sit on 364 games, equal 10th with Brad Johnson and with the capacity to claim a few scalps yet given his form shows no obvious signs of slipping.

WHO IS THE BEST LONGEVITY LEGEND? SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW OUR EXPERTS VOTED AND LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW

It’s a top 10 of players that just kept playing high-level football rather than producing two or three breathtaking seasons, and when measuring the greats in any sport it always comes down to longevity — think of Roger Federer, Muhammad Ali and Jack Nicklaus.

So how to separate their on-field deeds, in an exercise that is all about positives given the 10th-ranked player would be an automatic start for his side’s Team of the Century?

Paul Roos spent 11 years coaching against Burgoyne, beginning back in 2002: “We spent countless hours trying to work out how to counter the combination of Brendon Lade in the ruck and Shaun Burgoyne,” said Roos, 55.

“When Hawthorn recruited him I think most of us thought, ‘Not a bad pick-up’. But as good as he was at Port, he’s actually become a better player at Hawthorn, just bobbing up at crucial moments.”

Simon Madden currently has 14 games more to his name than Burgoyne, but has no doubt he will be passed soon enough: “If he’s playing at the end of this year like he is now, he plays again. Is there someone who can take his place and deliver the ball so calmly and effectively in today’s ever increasing AFL traffic world?” said Madden, 61.

Craig Bradley, 55, sits on 375 games — although he played 501 in total when you include 98 at Port Adelaide, 19 for South Australia and nine international rules matches: “Ask anyone about Burgoyne and they will say the same thing, just a troubleshooter who can play equally well in most parts of the ground. At one stage with Port he was probably the best stoppage player in the game. In what part of his game does he lack because I can’t think of one?”

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For the final word we go to Hawthorn goalkicking legend Peter Hudson, whose AFL career was cut short by injury but was someone who through his employment with Hawthorn has witnessed the second stage of Burgoyne’s career at close quarters.

“His nickname of ‘Silk’ is perhaps the most appropriate in AFL history. It doesn’t matter how hectic a game gets, he always seems to have plenty of time,” Hudson said.

“Everyone else is going like a bull at a gate and he has this rare ability to steady things down, which helps relax his teammates.”

HOW WE RATED AFL LONGEVITY SUPERSTARS

1. Kevin Bartlett (Richmond, 403 games): “I played against him for seven years and it wasn’t that hard to choose him at No.1 because he was an absolute freak” — Doug Hawkins

2. Simon Madden (Essendon, 378): “He was an unbelievable player. I played state footy with Simon and was in awe of him. The best ruckman of his era who also kicked 575 goals” — Paul Roos

3. Bernie Quinlan (Footscray, Fitzroy, 366): “Bernie won a Brownlow Medal as a midfielder and kicked 100 goals twice at full-forward and that’s why he’s my No.1, an even better version of Adam Goodes” — Paul Roos

4. Michael Tuck (Hawthorn, 426): “Seven premierships yet Tuck still gets undersold because he was around superstars in Leigh Matthews and Peter Knights. Extraordinarily consistent to his last game” — Mark Robinson

5. Adam Goodes (Sydney, 372): “Goodes was the modern-day player: Tall, athletic, could play wing, on ball, could ruck at times, play forward at times ... he was a giant in more ways than playing football”

Kevin Bartlett celebrates one of his 778 career goals.

Adam Goodes could play just about anywhere.

Equal 6. Craig Bradley (Carlton): “When he first came over from Adelaide, we decided to get right into him. But he couldn’t give a s---. In fact, the harder you whacked him, the better he played” — Doug Hawkins

Equal 6. Robert Harvey (St Kilda, 383): “Harvey actually got better as he got holder because he improved his kicking. In terms of hard running, you talk Harvey, Shane Crawford and Craig Bradley” — Doug Hawkins

8. Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, 364): “Total superstar and I can tell you this, there won’t be a better kick in that group. And when you talk about cool, no player is cooler than Silk” — Doug Hawkins.

Equal 9. Brent Harvey (North Melbourne, 432): “Of this group, I’m confident that none was playing better than Boomer in their final year. In fact, he should nominate for Monday’s mid-season draft” — Jon Anderson

Equal 9. Dustin Fletcher (Essendon, 400): “People forget Fletcher was able to play on talls and smalls and became an attacking weapon for the Bombers post 26 years of age” — Mark Robinson

Brent Harvey is the AFL games record-holder.

Dustin Fletcher in action for the Bombers.

HOW OUR EXPERT PANEL VOTED

Paul Roos

1: Bernie Quinlan

2: Kevin Bartlett

3: Adam Goodes

4: Michael Tuck

5: Simon Madden

6: Robert Harvey

7: Shaun Burgoyne

8: Craig Bradley

9: Dustin Fletcher

10: Brent Harvey

Doug Hawkins

1: Kevin Bartlett

2: Simon Madden

3: Bernie Quinlan

4: Robert Harvey

5: Adam Goodes

6: Craig Bradley

7: Shaun Burgoyne

8: Michael Tuck

9: Brent Harvey

10: Dustin Fletcher

TEAMS: ALL THE INS AND OUTS FOR ROUND 10

EXPERT TIPS: WHO’S BACKING THE BLUES?

McGUANE: WHY BOMBERS NEED A TAGGER

Mark Robinson

1: Kevin Bartlett

2: Simon Madden

3: Michael Tuck

4: Craig Bradley

5: Robert Harvey

6: Adam Goodes

7: Bernie Quinlan

8: Dustin Fletcher

9: Brent Harvey

10: Shaun Burgoyne

Jon Anderson

1: Simon Madden

2: Kevin Bartlett

3: Bernie Quinlan

4: Michael Tuck

5: Craig Bradley

6: Adam Goodes

7: Robert Harvey

8: Shaun Burgoyne

9: Brent Harvey

10: Dustin Fletcher