Top-20: The greatest Carlton players from 1987-2020
Recent years have been difficult to watch for Carlton fans but there has been plenty of talent walk through the door. Just how many current Blues feature in Jon Ralph’s top 20 of the modern era?
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Carlton fans have never been short of opinions, and when it comes to history they will go to war over Greg Williams’ place in the Navy Blue pecking order.
Survey the former stars of the generation post-1987 and some will tell you Williams is simply the club’s best player.
The 1995 premiership, a Brownlow, a Norm Smith, a best-and-fairest in that golden era — what more could he do despite a small sample size of 109 games at the Blues?
Others will tell you Carlton’s premierships were built on a whole-of-team ethos, which is why the likes of Craig Bradley, Peter Dean and Brett Ratten should never be underrated.
We settled on the great Stephen Kernahan as the club’s best player of the modern era — a colossus on-field plus long-time captain and president in a time of need.
Fans could and will make the case for any of Williams, Chris Judd or Anthony Koutoufides behind him but Steve Silvagni’s accolades stand alone.
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What is the weakness when you rate sheer brilliance, longevity, star power and quality in the big moments and finals for the Team of the Century full back?
Williams slots in behind no less than Craig Bradley, who stands the test of time across nearly two decades as a four-time All Australian who barely missed a game in a career spanning 500 total senior contests.
The head-scratchers in or out of this list?
Wayne “The Dominator” Johnson is in Carlton’s Team of the Century but played only four years under the eligible seasons.
Also hard done by are Heath Scotland, Jarrad Waite, Matthew Kreuzer, Mil Hannah, Ang Christou, Andrew Walker and David Rhys-Jones, who played only 90 games in this period.
TOP 20 PLAYERS AT CARLTON
1. STEPHEN KERNAHAN
Lured from SANFL club Glenelg and immediately sculpted the club in his image, kicking 62 goals in his first year and made captain the following season. A glittering resume including 11 years as captain, two premierships as skipper and three All-Australian trophies. Utterly dependable as an unyielding centre half-forward who kicked 738 majestic goals. Best-and-fairest in the 1987 premiership year, seven goals in the losing 1993 Grand Final and five goals in the triumphant 1995 Grand Final.
Stat: Kicked at least 57 goals in his first nine seasons at Carlton.
2. STEPHEN SILVAGNI
The perfect AFL defender, emerging from his father Serge’s shadow to become the Team of the Century full back restricting the best forwards of a golden generation including Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall and Gary Ablett. Not just a dour scragger, he was capable of marks like the one that won him the 1988 Mark of the Year as well as 202 AFL goals as an occasional swingman. Five-time All-Australian and dual best-and-fairest winner.
Stat: Kept Gary Ablett goalless in the 1995 Grand Final despite 122 goals that year for the Cats star.
3. CRAIG BRADLEY
So much more than an accumulator with silky skills, Bradley surged up and down the Princes Park wing as a game-changer who burnt off opponents then hit a generation of Carlton forwards with precision lace-out drop punts. Superhuman resilience that included 98 games for Glenelg, 375 for Carlton, nine for Australia and 15 for South Australia in an aggregate that might never be beaten.
Stat: In his first year at Carlton he peeled off a 601-disposal, 30-goal season he never eclipsed. Three time best and fairest, four time All Australian.
4. GREG WILLIAMS
Just 109 games from 1992-97 but what an impact.
The relentless ball-winner and born competitor won it all — the Brownlow, AFL MVP and best-and-fairest in 1994, the Norm Smith and premierships in 1995.
Transcendent vision made up for a lack of pace, with handball skills not seen since ‘Polly’ Farmer to release his dangerous teammates into space. Not since John Coleman has a footballer provided better bang-for-buck in a hundred-odd games with a club.
Stat: In the ‘95 flag he kicked 5.3 and had an astonishing 31 possessions — but just one tackle.
5. ANTHONY KOUTOUFIDES
The Greek God had the body of a gladiator and the athleticism of an Olympian, combining freak moments (the 1999 prelim) with longevity to play 278 games over 16 seasons. His best was sublime in that 1999-2001 purple patch, grasping the ball in a single hand from the turf then surging forward with brutish strength.
Stat: In the last quarter of the ‘99 prelim he amassed 12 possessions, took six marks, kicked two goals and had 127 Champion Data points.
6. CHRIS JUDD
If his most breathtaking footy was at West Coast he morphed into an inside beast and inspiring leader, one of the game’s most gifted stars winning a Brownlow Medal, three All-Australian nods and a trio of best-and-fairest trophies in his first three years at the Blues. You want big moments in those 145 games?
When the Blues slipped into the 2013 finals courtesy of Essendon’s ban, a hobbling Judd made sweet music in the third term as Carlton came from 33 points down against Richmond in an epic victory.
Stat: In 2011 Judd was such a short-priced favourite for the Brownlow bookies paid out by Round 20 but remarkably he finished only fifth.
7. BRENDAN FEVOLA
Thank goodness for the “Fevolution” in some of Carlton’s darkest times, as the enigmatic goalkicking star poured through 575 goals in 11 seasons from 1999-2009. He was tempestuous at times, but he was also glorious to watch, fully aware he could have been a 1000-goal AFL forward had his move to Brisbane not ended in him selfdestructing his career.
A superb set shot with lightning pace off the mark and a canny knack for seizing the biggest moments, he won two Coleman Medals, seven Blues goalkicking awards and was denied the ton only by Alastair Clarkson triple-teaming him in the last moments of the 2008 home-and-away season.
Stat: The only Carlton player to win the league’s goalkicking title twice.
8. PATRICK CRIPPS
Just 102 games for the Carlton co-captain so far but they are right from the top shelf, the WA recruit made for modern football as one of footy’s great clearance players as an unstinting, resolute matchwinner. Thrives on the workrate as a bandaged, banged-up warrior and after three John Nicholls trophies and dual All-Australian nods at only 25, could finish as one of this club’s most beloved champions.
Stat: At 195cm Cripps is 6cm taller than Carlton ruckman John Nicholls, named in the back pocket in the Team of the Century.
9. BRETT RATTEN
The tenacious schoolboy footballer who arrived at 16 became a Carlton legend and then its coach, mixing in-and-under gifts as a midfielder with superior playmaking skills. Criminally ignored by the umpires but never in the eyes of the Carlton faithful as a dual All-Australian and three-time John Nicholls winner in 255 games.
Stat: Ratten averaged 126 Champion Data ranking points across the 2000-09 decade, the highest of any player.
10. JUSTIN MADDEN
So much more than the gangly ruckman with the goofy grin, Madden established himself as one of footy’s most accomplished ruckmen across 287 games. Unconventional, no doubt, including that two-bounce goal on the run against Adelaide in the 1993 semi-final. But the superior tap ruckman was twice a Carlton best-and-fairest winner and a 1995 All-Australian as well as a dual premiership player in this period of qualification.
Stat: Ran second to Brad Hardie by a vote in the 1985 Brownlow Medal.
11. ANDREW MCKAY
From the moment the Glenelg defender arrived as a first-year All-Australian it was evident the Blues had found a future Hall of Famer, the flint-hard McKay unstoppable at half-back for a decade and 244 AFL games. From his magical play in the 1999 prelim to the four All-Australian jumpers, 2003 best-and-fairest and 1995 premiership, this was a career steeped in success and dependability.
Stat: It took until the 11th and final season of his career to win a best-and-fairest trophy in 2003.
12. MARC MURPHY
As a midfielder and captain Murphy has led the resistance in an era of struggle as an All-Australian and dual John Nicholls winner who also finished runner-up to Chris Judd twice. At just 180cm he has used his gifts as a ball winner with clinical disposal to cut rivals to ribbons. His quality across 268 games and 6600 disposals will be remembered but so will the loyalty to pass up chances to leave for clubs such as Geelong when the going got rough.
Stat: The only grandfather-father-son trio to play 100 games each along with grandad Leo and father John.
13. EDDIE BETTS
One of Carlton’s great cult heroes and for many years the one who got away, Betts was twice leading goalkicker at the Blues and while some will argue he could be higher on this list he was never an All-Australian (three times at Adelaide). A true freakish talent who conjured goals from any pocket and any angle, the former rookie escaped a troubled home life to kick 290 glorious goals in 184 games before his contentious move to Adelaide.
Stat: Has notched exactly 600 career goals — 310 at Adelaide and 290 at the Blues.
14. KADE SIMPSON
Drafted from the wreckage of the salary cap crisis at pick 45, the left-footed back flanker has grown to become one of Carlton’s most dependable and consistent players of the modern era. Across 325 games (and counting) the 2013 best-and-fairest winner can be relied upon to provide that surging run and pinpoint disposal without fail. A remarkable 12 seasons with 20 or more games. Just the fifth player to play 300 at Carlton.
Stat: Simpson played 158 consecutive games from 2005-2012 before a broken jaw stopped his run.
15. FRASER BROWN
Don’t judge Brown’s 177-game career in accolades, although the 1995 premiership and ‘98 best-and-fairest award sit comfortably around his shoulders. Judge it on the moments — such as THAT tackle on Dean Walls in the 1999 preliminary final. Brown was a creative and hard-as-nails midfielder who was often at the bottom of a pack or the middle of a skirmish.
Stat: Amassed his career-high of 42 touches in his best-and-fairest year of 1998.
16. PETER DEAN
A vital cog in Carlton’s backline across two premierships — including keeping Gary Buckenara goalless in the 1987 flag and a sublime effort in the 1995 decider. But Dean didn’t dine out on accolades or awards, happy to play his role on forwards of all sizes as a dashing defender known as The General.
Stat: Just 41 goals in his 248 games, including a season-high of seven in 1997.
17 SCOTT CAMPOREALE
Another dashing midfielder equally adept at breaking lines with his speed or hitting lead-up forwards with his raking right foot. All-Australian in 2000 as the club’s best-and-fairest that year. Superb in the 1999 Grand Final with 27 touches and two goals, then again the following year in the 2000 prelim with 35 possessions and two goals.
Stat: Just 12 games in his final season at Essendon after crossing because of a contract impasse at the Blues.
18. LANCE WHITNALL
Whitnall’s career at Carlton was never dull, the 348-goal forward possessing a whip-smart football brain and a gorgeous set shot routine but battled weight issues and a long-time knee issues across 216 games. At his best Big Red roamed across the forward line with clever body positioning and one-grab marking, kicking a career-best 9.4 in his All-Australian season of 2000. The second-youngest Carlton player behind Robert Walls to hit 200 games retired at 28 after a quality career that could have been so much more.
Stat: The most career contested marks at Carlton — 291.
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19. MICHAEL SEXTON
A dual All-Australian and 1995 premiership representative, Sexton was a clever and tough key defender in a career spanning an even 200 games from 1990-2000. Often playing wingman to star full back Steven Silvagni, he mixed stopping power with a poise that was infectious across the Carlton backline.
Stat: Kept Billy Brownless to three goals in the 1995 Grand Final alongside Silvagni, who kept Gary Ablett goalless.
20. BRYCE GIBBS
Toss a coin between Gibbs (231 games, the 2014 best-and-fairest) and Heath Scotland (215 games, a best-and-fairest and two other top-four finishes). Both are equally accomplished midfielders who provided excellent service. Gibbs was equally adept as an attacking mid, half forward or half back with silky foot skills, peeling 10 of 11 seasons with the Blues of 21 games or more before his eventual trade to Adelaide.
Stat: Seven seasons at the Blues with 13 or more goals from the midfield
Originally published as Top-20: The greatest Carlton players from 1987-2020
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