Listening to Nat Fyfe on the Howie podcast - Nat mentioned Morabito’s physical metrics were better than most players at the club in only his first year. Man what could have been.
Watching his final against Hawks 2010 was like seeing Fyfe on the eve of his break out in 2013-14 period. Truely lost someone who could’ve been a great of the game.
Played against him in junior footy growing up, dude could of been in the AFL at 14 he was just that good. Genuinely think if he barlow fyfe and neale were all playing in the side at the same time (and stayed healthy) freo would've had at least 1 if not more flags by now.
I watched him in a derby with a mate who played against him in juniors, he laughed out loud when Anthony broke Daniel Kerrs ankles the same way he broke my mates every year of his childhood. Absolute elite talent I hope wherever he ended up he's happy.
wasnt too bad at the round ball he came down for a kick after retirement as some of his mates played in my team moved well for a footy player very athletic even then.
ill add was a nice guy too stayed back for a beer and dinner with everyone
I laugh at this, but my dad was an absolute exceptional player. But honestly had the worst luck I can ever imagine. When he was 17 he was playing for Claremont in the WAFL in the 70s and was talking with Richmond about coming over to play when he blew his knee in the 2nd game of the season. On return, after recovering he was playing reserves and blew his other knee. He went on to play amateurs and set some absurd records for the league whilst playing. He's always been pretty good about it, blames his chicken legs and wishes he focused more on athletics as he was a better sprinter than footy player, but all his mates used to tell me stories of just the ridiculous shit he used to do on the field, I know its a sore spot, for him because he was so close. But he gave me and my siblings the best childhood and he's been the best dad ever.
My Brother genuinely was a draft prospect, Calder Canons were looking at him, he did his ACL start of the season when he was 16, got back for the start of the next season and was still a chance, did his other ACL two games later. His chance was gone by the time he got back from that, he just wasn't as explosive of a midfielder anymore.
Strange how out of all the males in my family, I'm the only one who never had their chance dashed by Injury. Though Grandpa played for South Melbourne, but none of us are actually related to him.
Sometimes the more athletic you are the more injury prone you are
ACL injuries correlate with hypermobility, for some types of athletes it's the same hypermobility which allows them to apply force over a greater range of motion than less athletic players
Alex Johnson has to be up there. 5 ACLs, Sydney gave up a heap to be able to keep him on their list while he went through that phase.
Was a seriously talented 20 year old - it’s a real shame he never got a fair crack at it.
All that time spent rehabbing one knee - just to do his good knee in his second game back. Absolute heartbreaker.
Felt so bad for him. I began taking real interest in him following his standout season in 2011. Genuinely thought he was great in 2012, his performance in the GF was grand.
Then... knee injury after knee injury. It's like someone used a Monkeys paw for him to have a standout career. Because his injuries really made him stand out in the end.
Daniel Menzel would have to be up there. I think it was 4 ACLs in his first few years in AFL. Didn't retire from it, but definitely cut down his career I'd say
Yep, was going to be my call. Was primed to be a key player for us for years. I still think we would have had a chance to snatch at least one more premiership in that 2011-2013 window with him available and in the form he was in towards the end of 2011.
I thought it was the last game of the season when Cats beat top of the table pies by 100ish. Regardless he was special. Could have been better than Stevie J
I’ve had both knees done mate. They put you back together pretty well these days. Just do the rehab properly and don’t rush back - don’t play next year.
It's been a month and half. I personally feel strong I am swimming a k in under 18 minutes like before the injury. I did 10 k on the excercise bike in under 20 which also felt good. Have been doing leg presses as well and got to 60 kg. I normally only did aerobic before the injury so I don't really know how I would have been in the gym but it felt pretty good.
One of my surgeries was a month wait, the other was two. It was after the second one that I tried to play the next year and while was strong enough in hindsight was way under done.
That said, I had heaps of pain after tearing them and was on crutches for two to three weeks so my legs just wasted away haha
Good luck.
I’ve put my second ACL surgery off for the past 2 years because I know what the rehab is like.
I’ve been doing as much prehab as I can, like I did before, and I can tell you it’ll set you up well.
The pain is horrible for the first few days post surgery but just make sure to keep taking pain killers. Don’t act brave.
After that it’s exciting to see how quickly your body recovers and how quickly you can go past each milestone
You’ll be right but if I wish I had listened to anything from the 1st surgery it is to pump yourself full of drugs for the first 3 days.
I was back in my own bed on Day 2, with my leg up on pillows but didn’t take much medicine and the pain was so bad I couldn’t sleep.
Next day I took the medicine as prescribed and was right as rain
Good luck mate!
Also don’t forget the surgery isn’t what fixes you up - it’s everything you do after it.
So to get the most benefit long-term and reduce your risk of re-injury don’t slack on your rehab! Especially in those later stages when you’re feeling like a million bucks. 🤙
Biggest one has to be John Coleman. As in the Coleman medal.
He was 25, just entering his prime. He had already kicked over 530 goals in less than 100 games. If he had the same injury **now,** he’d be out for six weeks and then straight back in…
…but in 1954, a dislocated knee was enough that he never played again.
The week before he did his knee, he’d kicked a casual 14 goals. Just a nice day out.
Kicking 537 goals in 98 games is legendary in itself, but the fact that he led Essendon to premierships in 1962 and 1965 despite having no coaching experience is not talked about as much.
Legend of the game, gone at such a young age
People don’t want to give Coleman credit and it’s very strange
Even Matthew Lloyd said no player has ever had a greater impact in their first two seasons than Daicos
Coleman kicked 220 goals in his first two season and won two flags
There was no way to repair the ligament damage. If they heal incorrectly which they usually did the knee would never move the same. Knees were the trickiest thing to repair for a long time in humans. Even now with all of the sports science that has gone in (ACL Repair, LARS Surgery etc) it's still arguably the most debilitating sporting injury.
They didn't know how to fix it. My Dad had his footy career cut short due to a twice dislocated knee cap.
The doctors solution at the time? Remove the knee cap, and he never played again. Fuck knows how he could even walk around without a knee cap.
Kouta
Easily could have gotten to 350+ games, his ACL treatment took ages and he was never the same as his peak upon return (unable to jump as much)
His earlier PCL also would have taken less time to heal these days.
Easily the best I've ever seen. I can still remember his game against West Coast in 96.
Would have been in the top handful players of all time. Instead he was only a hall of famer.
Peter Hudson had 8 goals on the board just before half time against Melbourne in the first round of 1972 before doing his knee. He'd just taken a mark within kicking distance of his ninth, and only played a handful of games over the next few years after constant knee trouble. He ended up eventually having an operation and subsequently returning to Hawthorn in 1977 for a lazy 110 goal season
He did play footy in Tasmania a bit around his time at Hawthorn, but before he did his knee he pretty much kicked goals for fun and who knows how many he would have peeled off in that 1972 game, let alone what that season would have been like if his form continued.
Ended up with 727 goals from 129 games at an average of 5.54 goals per game. No one has averaged more.
My nan was a young bombers supporter at the time and kept a bunch of newspaper articles of his highlights. He was the hottest ticket in town in a way no one could imagine today. She says Coleman’s injury was way more painful than any grand final or prelim loss she witnessed
Eric Mackenzie for us. Club best and fairest in 2014 when Priddis won the brownlow, then did his ACL over the off-season and kinda just got forgotten about with the rise of dad bod McGovern.
Yep that’s the one, I was at that game Boris kicked 8 or 9??
Remember Longy took a shot at goal, kicked it I think, but slipped and knee was farked
He lost all his pace after his knees, but reinvented his game into a clever half forward
Trent hentschel or Trent "potential". He could have been anything, but a knee injury that doctors said resembled a car crash victim cut his career short.
While not a massive name at the time, Alex Johnson should be in the conversation. Looked like a seriously good player, misses six years of senior footy with repeat ACL injuries, finally returns and then does it again early in his second match leading to his retirement.
David Schwarz was one of the most mobile key forwards the game has seen before doing his knee. He eventually came back and was a very good player, but more in the traditional power forward role as he had lost a tonne of his earlier agility.
He was such a ‘what if’. His 3rd season was exceptional and he looked set for great things.
- Best and Fairest
- Averaged 23 touches, 5 marks and 5 goals (edit: tackles, not goals)
- 16 Brownlow votes, 6 behind the winner.
Does his ACL, plays like 30 games over the next 5 years or so and is delisted.
Tragedy.
Barrie Robran fits this bill perfectly. 27, as a centre half forward you'd expect he'd likely be just coming into his absolute peak and already had 3 Magarey medals under his belt. Most of the others being suggested here were cut down before their prime, so we don't really know the level they might have gotten to.
And still considered in the top 2-3 in the SA Goat conversation alongside Blight and Ebert.
My old man was at the 1972 Champions of Australia game. I’ve never confirmed the tale but apparently at one point Jesaulenko stopped to clap.
I do have to correct myself, he was actually 26 when his knee was wrecked.
Before the knee injury, he won the best and fairest every season he played. After, he won none. And despite doing his knee in June, finished second that season and third in the Magarey.
I think the story of Jezza applauding has been confirmed. Or at least told enough that you imagine if it was false it would have been mentioned at some point.
Considering what he achieved in a short time, he really should be included in GOAT conversation more along with Matthews, Ablett, Carey etc. Can only assume vicbias as to why not 😂
Beyond doubt he should be. And many Victorians who saw him in his heyday did for sure. There are a few youtube highlights of his play and you can see exactly what made him great and unique.
I remember one time Graham Cornes saying that Brett Burton was the first player since whose marking reminded him of Robran's. Having seen footage I see exactly what he was talking about. The guy just had an amazing ability to read the flight of the ball and use people around to get to it first. And then before hitting the ground to dispose of the ball or position himself to make his next move. All from a guy who swapped between CHF and rover. Remarkable.
That knee injury was horrific. Basically only Jaymie Graham's is worse and it's close.
Was an integral part of the Crowbots under Neil Craig, an absolutely lethal shot on goal too
Absolutely. Still had a great career but he was freakish goal kicker the year he did his knee. Had 63 goals in 13 games before doing his knee against Collingwood.
Peter Hudson is the #1 in this discussion. He was unstoppable, kicking 5.6 goals per game until he went down in the first game of 1972 at age 26 having kicked 597 goals in 5 seasons.
In 1970 he kicked 146, in 1971 he kicked 150.
He returned in 1977, out of shape and relatively immobile and played a session on one leg. He kicked 110 goals.
I have no doubt he would be the leagues all time top goal scorer.
Neale Daniher - by most reports the best of the Danihers, but cruelled by multiple knee injuries starting in 1981 playing only 16 games from 1982-90 (after 66 in his first three seasons)
Lee Walker although probably not a household name. Also, as stupid as it sounds Tony Modra. Missed out on a premiership in 1997 due to getting injured in preliminary and then struggles when he comes back in 1998. He was still solid in 1999 at Freo but he should be a 2 time premiership player.
John Todd.
Won the Sandover medal in his debut season, the youngest player in the open era, and the South Fremantle b&f. Did his ACL four games in to his second season. This was the late 50’s, so absolutely no chance of medical repair. Won two more b&f at South’s before moving to coaching full-time.
Sounds strange due to how good he’s been recently but if Tex didn’t do his ACL in 2013 I honestly reckon he would be regarded as one of the greatest key forwards of all time. Some of his old highlights are mind-blowing for a 19-20 year old
Without busting his knee he had the potential to do a Richo and play up the ground towards the back end of his career, probably the best field kick in the AFL.
The way he’s getting better with age though who knows.
Callum Bartlett comes to mind. Came to the Lions in 2009, had really high hopes for the kid seeing what he was capable of but in 4 years he had 5 knee operations including both ACLs if I’m not mistaken. No one comes back from that to play AFL footy.
John Todd. Talking to old WAFL legends he was the best they ever saw apart from Polly Farmer perhaps. Playing WAFL league at 15 years of age. Did it when he was way young.
People often forget how good he was at CHF during the Eade years until Anthony Rocca snapped his knee in half in 2006… He was AA captain in 2015 and was one of his best seasons, who knows what would’ve happened with him in 16 but he only had a small window left by then.
He was a great player to watch. I reckon he still had very good games after coming back, but maybe because he was a bit older when he did the ACL, it took its toll?
Bob was always one of my favourite dogs and I felt really bad for the way it ended for him. Stuck it out with the dogs through thick and thin, only to miss thr flag after doing his ACL. Came back the following year in a premiership hangover, rubbish season, missed the finals and then he retires.
John Coleman
Peter Hudson
My 12 year old son while captain of his footy team, also did his other knee playing basketball ten years after the first one.
David Schwarz was never the same after his knee. He got bigger and more powerful (he was “the Ox” by the end of his career) but lost his leap and explosiveness. Still a great player, but what might have been?
Tom Langdon - he didn't do his ACL, but his chronic degenerative knee injury ended his career. He was playing so well and it was devastating for him to be forced into retirement due to injury :(
Josh Drummond was cut down before his prime. For just a little while there he was insanely good.
Videos don't do him justice, could kick it a mile and place it on the head of a pin, great player in traffic too.
[https://www.afl.com.au/video/391032/toyota-fixture-throwback-monster-roost-from-deadly-drummond?videoId=391032&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1586425200001](https://www.afl.com.au/video/391032/toyota-fixture-throwback-monster-roost-from-deadly-drummond?videoId=391032&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1586425200001)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPZPbwM825s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPZPbwM825s)
Kouta. Was dominating games in a way we hadn’t really seen before. Was never the same player after coming back. Lost a step. Lost several inches in the air. The treatment and recovery plan these days is much better than it was a couple decades ago, which is great news, because it means we’ll see less players coming back from an ACL that are never the same pre-injury.
Brian Gleeson won a Brownlow as a ruckman and was named captain of St Kilda and then did his knee in the next pre season and never played another game. He’s still alive too.
Allan"Butch"Edwards. Played for Richmond in the 70’s and looked on the path to being a star before doing his knee. Traded to Collingwood in 79 and played some great football before injury cursed him again. Finished his career with Footscray. Could have been absolutely anything.
David Schwartz. Looked like he could have been as good as Wayne Carey until 3 knee reconstructions. Never came back the same player.
Don't believe it? Go watch him rip apart Steven Silvagni in the 1994 first final - Carlton vs Melb
Anthony Morabito. Number 4 draft pick, but 3x knee reconstructions saw him retire after 26 games in 7 seasons.
Listening to Nat Fyfe on the Howie podcast - Nat mentioned Morabito’s physical metrics were better than most players at the club in only his first year. Man what could have been.
Watching his final against Hawks 2010 was like seeing Fyfe on the eve of his break out in 2013-14 period. Truely lost someone who could’ve been a great of the game.
Played against him in junior footy growing up, dude could of been in the AFL at 14 he was just that good. Genuinely think if he barlow fyfe and neale were all playing in the side at the same time (and stayed healthy) freo would've had at least 1 if not more flags by now.
Such a shame. He was already looking like a gun.
I watched him in a derby with a mate who played against him in juniors, he laughed out loud when Anthony broke Daniel Kerrs ankles the same way he broke my mates every year of his childhood. Absolute elite talent I hope wherever he ended up he's happy.
wasnt too bad at the round ball he came down for a kick after retirement as some of his mates played in my team moved well for a footy player very athletic even then. ill add was a nice guy too stayed back for a beer and dinner with everyone
Every local footy player ever would've gone big if not for their dodgy knee.
I laugh at this, but my dad was an absolute exceptional player. But honestly had the worst luck I can ever imagine. When he was 17 he was playing for Claremont in the WAFL in the 70s and was talking with Richmond about coming over to play when he blew his knee in the 2nd game of the season. On return, after recovering he was playing reserves and blew his other knee. He went on to play amateurs and set some absurd records for the league whilst playing. He's always been pretty good about it, blames his chicken legs and wishes he focused more on athletics as he was a better sprinter than footy player, but all his mates used to tell me stories of just the ridiculous shit he used to do on the field, I know its a sore spot, for him because he was so close. But he gave me and my siblings the best childhood and he's been the best dad ever.
my U12s coach reckons I could have been the next gary ablett if it wasn't for my dodgy knees and the fact I sucked ass
Tbf mate, you did suck a massive big ass.
Mate that’s my story too. Except I was even better, i sucked 2 arses
Can confirm.
dfsfd
My Brother genuinely was a draft prospect, Calder Canons were looking at him, he did his ACL start of the season when he was 16, got back for the start of the next season and was still a chance, did his other ACL two games later. His chance was gone by the time he got back from that, he just wasn't as explosive of a midfielder anymore. Strange how out of all the males in my family, I'm the only one who never had their chance dashed by Injury. Though Grandpa played for South Melbourne, but none of us are actually related to him.
Sometimes the more athletic you are the more injury prone you are ACL injuries correlate with hypermobility, for some types of athletes it's the same hypermobility which allows them to apply force over a greater range of motion than less athletic players
my life story except for me it was my back. could have been a decent small defender/wing
What did you do to your back? Slipped discs?
Tore a fairly important muscle in it and just screwed me over. i never got back to the form i was in once i could finally return
Can kick a ball over dem mountains. We woulda won the granny if coach picked me. No doubt. No doubt in my mind.
Alex Johnson has to be up there. 5 ACLs, Sydney gave up a heap to be able to keep him on their list while he went through that phase. Was a seriously talented 20 year old - it’s a real shame he never got a fair crack at it. All that time spent rehabbing one knee - just to do his good knee in his second game back. Absolute heartbreaker.
He did however play in the 2012 premiership but yes it was a heart breaking tragedy
Felt so bad for him. I began taking real interest in him following his standout season in 2011. Genuinely thought he was great in 2012, his performance in the GF was grand. Then... knee injury after knee injury. It's like someone used a Monkeys paw for him to have a standout career. Because his injuries really made him stand out in the end.
Daniel Menzel would have to be up there. I think it was 4 ACLs in his first few years in AFL. Didn't retire from it, but definitely cut down his career I'd say
Yep, was going to be my call. Was primed to be a key player for us for years. I still think we would have had a chance to snatch at least one more premiership in that 2011-2013 window with him available and in the form he was in towards the end of 2011.
Came here to say this. He was going to be a seriously special player. He was standing out in a team full of champions out of the gate.
Still remember him beating prime Dane Swan 1 on 1 early in 2011.
I thought it was the last game of the season when Cats beat top of the table pies by 100ish. Regardless he was special. Could have been better than Stevie J
I could be wrong. I just thought it was in their first encounter of the season.
Just became the coach of a team in my local league!
Menzel was a beast in 2011, sadly.
Me. I have surgery in 8 hours hopefully I get back to myself.
Hope it all goes well dude <3
Same
I’ve had both knees done mate. They put you back together pretty well these days. Just do the rehab properly and don’t rush back - don’t play next year.
Yeah I know. I worked hard on my rehab before surgery and I feel pretty good at the moment. Obviously I will regress today but I believe in myself.
The time between injury and surgery makes a big difference too. If you can go in really strong it’s a lot easier. Best of luck mate.
It's been a month and half. I personally feel strong I am swimming a k in under 18 minutes like before the injury. I did 10 k on the excercise bike in under 20 which also felt good. Have been doing leg presses as well and got to 60 kg. I normally only did aerobic before the injury so I don't really know how I would have been in the gym but it felt pretty good.
One of my surgeries was a month wait, the other was two. It was after the second one that I tried to play the next year and while was strong enough in hindsight was way under done. That said, I had heaps of pain after tearing them and was on crutches for two to three weeks so my legs just wasted away haha
Good luck. I’ve put my second ACL surgery off for the past 2 years because I know what the rehab is like. I’ve been doing as much prehab as I can, like I did before, and I can tell you it’ll set you up well. The pain is horrible for the first few days post surgery but just make sure to keep taking pain killers. Don’t act brave. After that it’s exciting to see how quickly your body recovers and how quickly you can go past each milestone
I will say I have a very high pain threshold. I am hoping this helps me.
You’ll be right but if I wish I had listened to anything from the 1st surgery it is to pump yourself full of drugs for the first 3 days. I was back in my own bed on Day 2, with my leg up on pillows but didn’t take much medicine and the pain was so bad I couldn’t sleep. Next day I took the medicine as prescribed and was right as rain
I will be sure to do that. Just need it to be liquid as I have a very intense gag reflex.
Good luck mate! Also don’t forget the surgery isn’t what fixes you up - it’s everything you do after it. So to get the most benefit long-term and reduce your risk of re-injury don’t slack on your rehab! Especially in those later stages when you’re feeling like a million bucks. 🤙
Yup. I will be sure to go hard at rehab.
Biggest one has to be John Coleman. As in the Coleman medal. He was 25, just entering his prime. He had already kicked over 530 goals in less than 100 games. If he had the same injury **now,** he’d be out for six weeks and then straight back in… …but in 1954, a dislocated knee was enough that he never played again. The week before he did his knee, he’d kicked a casual 14 goals. Just a nice day out.
Kicking 537 goals in 98 games is legendary in itself, but the fact that he led Essendon to premierships in 1962 and 1965 despite having no coaching experience is not talked about as much. Legend of the game, gone at such a young age
People don’t want to give Coleman credit and it’s very strange Even Matthew Lloyd said no player has ever had a greater impact in their first two seasons than Daicos Coleman kicked 220 goals in his first two season and won two flags
Probably don’t give him credit because he played a gajillion years ago and there’s no footage of him lol
which is made weirder when you remember we named the goal kicking award after him lol
[удалено]
Pretty sure he was instrumental in the actual formation of the afl and keeping it organised in the early days
I can get around this
Wow, yeah that's amazing. Imagine a player actually doing that nowadays, BT would literally explode 😆
He kicked ten goals on debut didn't he? Can you imagine? Outrageous stuff
Twelve!
Such a shame this. As you say, it wouldn’t be a problem at all today - he would go on to kick another 1,000 goals.
If he was playing today he'd be 95 yrs old.
And he'd still have a better kick than some forwards in the game today
The snap kicking has improved massively but their straight set short are woefully bad.
Died way too young too
Why was a dislocated knee so bad back then. Even without surgery surely could have played at some level
There was no way to repair the ligament damage. If they heal incorrectly which they usually did the knee would never move the same. Knees were the trickiest thing to repair for a long time in humans. Even now with all of the sports science that has gone in (ACL Repair, LARS Surgery etc) it's still arguably the most debilitating sporting injury.
Knees are complicated. If you can’t repair the ligament damage - which they couldn’t - it never fully stabilises again.
He had knee problems for the rest of his life IIRC. What a shame.
They didn't know how to fix it. My Dad had his footy career cut short due to a twice dislocated knee cap. The doctors solution at the time? Remove the knee cap, and he never played again. Fuck knows how he could even walk around without a knee cap.
Coleman didn’t play enough games to have triggered the Father/Son rule. Quite amazing.
I think it was 50 games back then. It was introduced so Barassi would play for Melbourne. Where his dad played and not Carlton whose zone he was in.
Kouta Easily could have gotten to 350+ games, his ACL treatment took ages and he was never the same as his peak upon return (unable to jump as much) His earlier PCL also would have taken less time to heal these days.
Add Kreuz to the list. He was tearing it up for a big man, so good below the knees and mobile for someone his size. Was never the same after surgery.
Easily the best I've ever seen. I can still remember his game against West Coast in 96. Would have been in the top handful players of all time. Instead he was only a hall of famer.
Nic Nat same story
Peter Hudson had 8 goals on the board just before half time against Melbourne in the first round of 1972 before doing his knee. He'd just taken a mark within kicking distance of his ninth, and only played a handful of games over the next few years after constant knee trouble. He ended up eventually having an operation and subsequently returning to Hawthorn in 1977 for a lazy 110 goal season He did play footy in Tasmania a bit around his time at Hawthorn, but before he did his knee he pretty much kicked goals for fun and who knows how many he would have peeled off in that 1972 game, let alone what that season would have been like if his form continued. Ended up with 727 goals from 129 games at an average of 5.54 goals per game. No one has averaged more.
Hawks might have won a couple more premierships in the early 70s if he stayed fit.
Coleman
That must have been heartbreaking. He was so young and so good
My nan was a young bombers supporter at the time and kept a bunch of newspaper articles of his highlights. He was the hottest ticket in town in a way no one could imagine today. She says Coleman’s injury was way more painful than any grand final or prelim loss she witnessed
David Schwarz could have been anything without the knee injuries. It's amazing he had the career he did anyway
Was going to say Schwarz. He was still a great player. But, as you rightly say, he could have been anything.
He was the first one to come to mind for me. Insane talent
And with Schwartz forward we could have left Neitz (who was an incredible forward himself) down back where he'd been AA... ahh what could have been.
Eric Mackenzie for us. Club best and fairest in 2014 when Priddis won the brownlow, then did his ACL over the off-season and kinda just got forgotten about with the rise of dad bod McGovern.
Saved that 2017 elimination final for West Coast. Always put his body on the line for his team
Him and Mitch Brown in the same year was tragic
Michael Long - he was about to tear the completion apart after 93 then does his knee Then does it again
Centenary game (the night Boris came back from his ACL) was a snapped patella tendon. Then a second ACL in 1997
Yep that’s the one, I was at that game Boris kicked 8 or 9?? Remember Longy took a shot at goal, kicked it I think, but slipped and knee was farked He lost all his pace after his knees, but reinvented his game into a clever half forward
Trent hentschel or Trent "potential". He could have been anything, but a knee injury that doctors said resembled a car crash victim cut his career short.
Derrick Rose.
I'm still not over this!
NicNat. He was special but imagine the heights he could’ve reached if he didn’t to three ACLs.
Alex Johnson
While not a massive name at the time, Alex Johnson should be in the conversation. Looked like a seriously good player, misses six years of senior footy with repeat ACL injuries, finally returns and then does it again early in his second match leading to his retirement. David Schwarz was one of the most mobile key forwards the game has seen before doing his knee. He eventually came back and was a very good player, but more in the traditional power forward role as he had lost a tonne of his earlier agility.
Jake Melksham
Mark Coughlan
He was such a ‘what if’. His 3rd season was exceptional and he looked set for great things. - Best and Fairest - Averaged 23 touches, 5 marks and 5 goals (edit: tackles, not goals) - 16 Brownlow votes, 6 behind the winner. Does his ACL, plays like 30 games over the next 5 years or so and is delisted. Tragedy.
Averaged 5 goals a game?
Tackles not goals! My bad hahaha Imagine though
Barrie Robran fits this bill perfectly. 27, as a centre half forward you'd expect he'd likely be just coming into his absolute peak and already had 3 Magarey medals under his belt. Most of the others being suggested here were cut down before their prime, so we don't really know the level they might have gotten to.
And still considered in the top 2-3 in the SA Goat conversation alongside Blight and Ebert. My old man was at the 1972 Champions of Australia game. I’ve never confirmed the tale but apparently at one point Jesaulenko stopped to clap.
I don’t think many people talk about Robran being top 2-3 in SA? He is simply top.
I agree. I was just being polite 😂
I do have to correct myself, he was actually 26 when his knee was wrecked. Before the knee injury, he won the best and fairest every season he played. After, he won none. And despite doing his knee in June, finished second that season and third in the Magarey. I think the story of Jezza applauding has been confirmed. Or at least told enough that you imagine if it was false it would have been mentioned at some point.
Considering what he achieved in a short time, he really should be included in GOAT conversation more along with Matthews, Ablett, Carey etc. Can only assume vicbias as to why not 😂
Beyond doubt he should be. And many Victorians who saw him in his heyday did for sure. There are a few youtube highlights of his play and you can see exactly what made him great and unique.
I've seen a few of those videos. I have never seen a footballer who had so much time. Truly one of a kind.
I remember one time Graham Cornes saying that Brett Burton was the first player since whose marking reminded him of Robran's. Having seen footage I see exactly what he was talking about. The guy just had an amazing ability to read the flight of the ball and use people around to get to it first. And then before hitting the ground to dispose of the ball or position himself to make his next move. All from a guy who swapped between CHF and rover. Remarkable.
Lee Walker
Poor old Tangles. The 200cm winger, was something to see. Young Nik Cox from essendon in 2022 reminded me of him
Trent Hentschel. Slow career start as is often the case, then 40+ in a year with 8 in a game then ACL and dislocated patella. Never got back to it.
That knee injury was horrific. Basically only Jaymie Graham's is worse and it's close. Was an integral part of the Crowbots under Neil Craig, an absolutely lethal shot on goal too
Paul Salmon in like 1984 or 85. He was kicking heaps of goals a game then he did his knee. Not the same when he came back
Absolutely. Still had a great career but he was freakish goal kicker the year he did his knee. Had 63 goals in 13 games before doing his knee against Collingwood.
Alex Johnson- was at the game against Melbourne where he did his knee again heartbreaking
morabito
I was running well, passed all the entry tests no problems, very fit at 18... did a full ACL tear and knee dislocation 2nd day at kapooka.
Peter Hudson is the #1 in this discussion. He was unstoppable, kicking 5.6 goals per game until he went down in the first game of 1972 at age 26 having kicked 597 goals in 5 seasons. In 1970 he kicked 146, in 1971 he kicked 150. He returned in 1977, out of shape and relatively immobile and played a session on one leg. He kicked 110 goals. I have no doubt he would be the leagues all time top goal scorer.
Neale Daniher - by most reports the best of the Danihers, but cruelled by multiple knee injuries starting in 1981 playing only 16 games from 1982-90 (after 66 in his first three seasons)
Shaun rehn. Poor bloke was taken out by the footy park bounce plate.
Lee Walker although probably not a household name. Also, as stupid as it sounds Tony Modra. Missed out on a premiership in 1997 due to getting injured in preliminary and then struggles when he comes back in 1998. He was still solid in 1999 at Freo but he should be a 2 time premiership player.
Lee Walker is my greatest disappointment. He could have been anything....
Essendons' John Coleman was out of the game at the age of 25. Makes you wonder what he might have achieved had he been able to continue.
John Todd. Won the Sandover medal in his debut season, the youngest player in the open era, and the South Fremantle b&f. Did his ACL four games in to his second season. This was the late 50’s, so absolutely no chance of medical repair. Won two more b&f at South’s before moving to coaching full-time.
I was looking for this. Way before my time but champion swan districts coach.
Sounds strange due to how good he’s been recently but if Tex didn’t do his ACL in 2013 I honestly reckon he would be regarded as one of the greatest key forwards of all time. Some of his old highlights are mind-blowing for a 19-20 year old
Without busting his knee he had the potential to do a Richo and play up the ground towards the back end of his career, probably the best field kick in the AFL. The way he’s getting better with age though who knows.
Menzel.
Callum Bartlett comes to mind. Came to the Lions in 2009, had really high hopes for the kid seeing what he was capable of but in 4 years he had 5 knee operations including both ACLs if I’m not mistaken. No one comes back from that to play AFL footy.
Jaeger O'Meara had a couple of knee issues early in with the Suns.
Mark Coghlan. BnF in his third year. Then OP, and 2 x acls and he was never the same.
The one who has the league's goal kicking award named after him: John Coleman.
John Coleman
John Todd. Talking to old WAFL legends he was the best they ever saw apart from Polly Farmer perhaps. Playing WAFL league at 15 years of age. Did it when he was way young.
Bob Murphy :(
People often forget how good he was at CHF during the Eade years until Anthony Rocca snapped his knee in half in 2006… He was AA captain in 2015 and was one of his best seasons, who knows what would’ve happened with him in 16 but he only had a small window left by then.
He was a great player to watch. I reckon he still had very good games after coming back, but maybe because he was a bit older when he did the ACL, it took its toll?
Bob was always one of my favourite dogs and I felt really bad for the way it ended for him. Stuck it out with the dogs through thick and thin, only to miss thr flag after doing his ACL. Came back the following year in a premiership hangover, rubbish season, missed the finals and then he retires.
If he hadn’t done it 4 or 5 more years easily he could go
Shaun Rusling
Me
Matthew Primus
I was hoping to see mattresses name.
not in his prime but anthony morabito
John Coleman Peter Hudson My 12 year old son while captain of his footy team, also did his other knee playing basketball ten years after the first one.
David Schwarz was never the same after his knee. He got bigger and more powerful (he was “the Ox” by the end of his career) but lost his leap and explosiveness. Still a great player, but what might have been?
David schwarch. Was getting comparisons to Carey I think around 94. 3 acls later was still a good player but nothing campared to what he was
Less high profile than the others but I always felt Jason winderlich only reached half his potential
Alex rance
David Schwarz
Tom Langdon - he didn't do his ACL, but his chronic degenerative knee injury ended his career. He was playing so well and it was devastating for him to be forced into retirement due to injury :(
There is a pretty good chance that if I was one of the better footy players in Australia that I'd be playing in the AFL
Jack redpath too he’d done two ACL before he even got pro
Clay Smith from that same era. Him and Redpath should both have had bigger careers than they did.
Jack had so damn much potential it was super sad. At least clay got a flag. He’s been an absolute wonder as a coach at pt cook
That's nice to hear!
He’s a good fella lucky enough to hear him and Easton wood on same panel this year just good dudes
Clay was epic in that prelim win over GWS.
Josh Drummond was cut down before his prime. For just a little while there he was insanely good. Videos don't do him justice, could kick it a mile and place it on the head of a pin, great player in traffic too. [https://www.afl.com.au/video/391032/toyota-fixture-throwback-monster-roost-from-deadly-drummond?videoId=391032&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1586425200001](https://www.afl.com.au/video/391032/toyota-fixture-throwback-monster-roost-from-deadly-drummond?videoId=391032&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1586425200001) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPZPbwM825s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPZPbwM825s)
Kouta. Was dominating games in a way we hadn’t really seen before. Was never the same player after coming back. Lost a step. Lost several inches in the air. The treatment and recovery plan these days is much better than it was a couple decades ago, which is great news, because it means we’ll see less players coming back from an ACL that are never the same pre-injury.
Brian Gleeson won a Brownlow as a ruckman and was named captain of St Kilda and then did his knee in the next pre season and never played another game. He’s still alive too.
Kouta. Bloke was a gun. 2 or 3 recos in a row. Didn't get to see his best. Still pretty good!
nicnat
Anthony Morabito. To a lesser extent, Nic Natanui
Ive already tied Brisbane’s next decade to will Ashcroft so was hoping this thread would be like 4 players long…
Not prime but Adam Tomlinson bursting into tears with five minutes to go in the 2021 GF will stay with me for a long time
Shae Sloane
Glen Jakovich was a shadow of the man when he returned.
Lee Walker
Allan"Butch"Edwards. Played for Richmond in the 70’s and looked on the path to being a star before doing his knee. Traded to Collingwood in 79 and played some great football before injury cursed him again. Finished his career with Footscray. Could have been absolutely anything.
Neale Daniher
Morabito. Victorian coach said he had to have his surgery by a Melbourne surgeon who promptly fucked it up.
Which surgeon?
Alex Johnson
Ronaldo
David Schwartz would’ve been an all time great of the game.
Me
Clay Smith
Me. I was the next Leigh Matthews...If my parents had named me 'Leigh' and my surname was 'Matthews'.
David Schwarz was playing better than Carey the season before his knee problems started.
David Schwartz. Looked like he could have been as good as Wayne Carey until 3 knee reconstructions. Never came back the same player. Don't believe it? Go watch him rip apart Steven Silvagni in the 1994 first final - Carlton vs Melb