The 90s was a time when big-pack marks, 10 goal hauls and 100 goal seasons were the norm. It was all about the goal kickers – they were the entertainers, the rock stars of our game and I for one miss them.
Lance Franklin was the last man to kick 100 goals in a season, in 2008 with Brendan Fevola ever-so-close behind him, and before that there was Fraser Gehrig and Matthew Lloyd.
That’s three men to do it in the last 15 years. And I have serious doubts if will ever happen again.
But between 1987 and 1996, 100 goals or more were kicked in a season 17 times, with Tony Lockett and Jason Dunstall both completing the task six times including a massive 145 by Dunstall in ’92.
It truly was the time of the full forward – or just the forward for that matter, Peter Daicos Kicked 97 in 1990, which is the equivalent of Steve Johnson doing it today.
Remember when crowds at Waverly used to follow the big forward from end-to-end too to either cheer them or to abuse them? It always seemed the most-hated opposition player was the full forward, because these men often won games off their own boot.
Jason Dunstall kicked 17 in one game against Richmond in 92. Collingwood kicked five against Fremantle two weeks ago. Yes, five.
It was all so simple, kick it to the big bloke who was one-on-one in the 50, he will mark it and kick a goal. They didn’t kick it backwards in those days, it was always attack. If someone like Travis Cloke could adhere to that style of play he could dominate like no other.
I know the game has changed since the days when games were played at suburban venues, but the fundamentals have not = goals win games. I’m sick of hearing about zones and structures, just kick the ball through the big sticks, always attack and stick on your man – it’s bloody simple. If you kick to a one-on-one in the 50, more times than not you will score a goal from it.
The fans loved it and it was a great way to market our game like Tony Locket is Sydney or even Mark Jackson in the States. I was there the day the crowd stormed the ground for Lockett’s 1300th goal at the SCG it was a truly amazing experience.
I have listed the 10 greatest forwards, not just full forwards, to have played the game between 1987 and 2000.
10. Stephen Kernahan 9. Peter Daicos 8. Paul Salmon 7. John Longmire 6. Stuart Lowe 5. Tony Modra 4. Gary Ablett Snr 3. Tony Lockett 2. Jason Dunstall 1. Wayne Carey
pope paul v11
Guest
great title!
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
"I have listed the 10 greatest forwards, not just full forwards" - You can't read... However, surely the greatest forward of all time was Lockett. You are talking about people kicking tonnes of goals to win the game yet compare Lockett and Carey. Lockett kicked on average 4.84 goals a game. Carey kicked 2.68 a game. Dunstall kicked 4.67 a game. Also Lockett had to do it off his own boot as the Swans were not good during those days. Dunstall had a greta team around him. How Gary Ablett Senior doesn't make the list is shocking also. He won games off his own boot and was highly accurate, its hard to believe the man missed while taking great marks He averaged 4.2 goals a game. Also there are few one on ones these days so getting back to this is highly unlikely. People are double teamed or in a pack situation where it is highly difficult to mark. In lower grade footballs, this is an easier thing to achieve.
Mango Jack
Guest
Warden of the Blonde Mullet. I like it.
nathan savino
Roar Pro
10. Stephen Kernahan 9. Peter Daicos 8. Paul Salmon 7. John Longmire 6. Stuart Loewe 5. Tony Modra 4. Gary Ablett Snr 3. Tony Lockett 2. Jason Dunstall 1. Wayne Carey. This is what the author said was his top 10 full forwards from 1987 to 2000. Loved his article and it has a lot of merit. But the list is flawed. A full forward to me spends most of the time in the forward 50. Wayne Carey was not a full forward he was a CENTRE HALF FORWARD. Jason Dunstall for mine is number 1 for sheer consistency. He booted 82 goals or better in the following years 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and also in 1996. Stuart Loewe was in no way better than the men behind him due to his shocking inaccuracy which reduced his effectiveness.
Philsport
Guest
Your article was a bit all over the place mate but interesting nonetheless. Can't believe you wouldn't include Gary Ablett Jnr in your top 10. That seriously needs reassessment! -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
No Dermott Brereton.........................................
John Ascenzo
Guest
Professional sport is a business.It's entertainment for spectators; amateur sport is for participants. Marketing is the way that all businesses attract sales Talking about rules, Peter Thomson once said that the only rule in golf should be to hit the ball from the tee and keep hitting it until you get it in the hole and count your shots. The number of free kicks should always be dropping as genuine attempts at getting the ball should be rewarded and not penalised e.g, dragging it in as part of trying to get the ball. Letting the game run as much as possible is a good goal that umpires seem to be following this season. Plenty of people north of the the drover's dog are watching AFL; just compare attendances at NRL with AFL. Soccer is more of a threat to AFL than NRL Aggressive attack on the ball (not the player) is a big part of the game and I hope that never changes; players like Selwood and others deserve credit for their style but also need protection although free kicks for sliding under tackles should apply.
Mango Jack
Guest
Fair enough, but extreme commercialisation is a reality for all professional sports now. Old time rugby fans say the same thing - "where is the free-spirited, daring, run-with-ball play we used to love? Now all the players are built the same, all too scared of making a mistake, so they just pass 1 out and take the ball up and play for a quick re-cycle and hope the other mob give away a penalty so we can kick another 3 points" . I don't know what the answer is, though.
Cunny Funts
Guest
True, but this isn't a code-war thing. I don’t usually read AFL stuff anymore but this article caught my attention… ‘Cos if we’re talking full forwards then the one I miss most (who was a very non-traditional one at that) is Micky O’Loughlin. In the space of 3 metres and 3 seconds he’d turn his defender inside-out twice backwards before hauling down a relatively uncontested mark in the goalsquare. Magic. What I’m saying is that the blatantly bullish commercial habits of the AFL have, over time, become increasingly unappealing and distasteful. Rule changes aimed at making the game more watchable have resulted in an increasingly mad seagulling style of play that’s only broken up by a metric xxxx-tonne of free kicks and the odd piece of riotous skill. So in an age where teams win by simply being “harder at the ball” than their oppenents, teams nowdays are filled with mindlessly obedient mercenaries who “bravely” “put their body on the line” and put their heads into places where heads were never supposed to go. But no worries, if people like me start switching off, the suits at AFL head office will succumb to temptation and change the rules yet again, ‘cos you can do that when hardly anybody in the whole world north of Gundagai cares a hoot about it… The best things in life don't need to be marketed; like a swim at the beach, or a walk with the dog. The more the AFL becomes a capitalist growth extravaganza, the more I'll resist.
IanW
Guest
When the ball is between wing and half forward, The Cannon is easily capable of dropping it into a one-on-one at the top of the square/
vocans
Guest
Have to agree about skill levels and so much more that's good about the current game, but the 'pressure game' has also added to prolonged periods of skill-less play. The chaos is so quick that umps are hard-pressed to adjudicate, and that adds to frustration and the loss of skills that used to be rewarded with free appropriately, and so players thought it good to practise them. I don't know what to do about it at this stage, but I think it's going nowhere good at the moment.
Axle an the guru
Guest
<Reply:Still stacks on now john. Theres more stopages now then in the gluepot days. If you like watching 36 players in one half of the ground then i can understand you think its a better game, but IMO a player running down the wing an having to stop flat an kick it backwards because theres no one to kick to up forward dose'nt look that flash to me. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
John Ascenzo
Guest
Disagree with most comments. The speed and skill level of players today is better than ever. Rule changes have mostly improved the game as a specatacle (remember "stacks on the mill"). You only have to watch local soccer compared to Euro to see what a difference improved fitness and athleticism can make to the entertainment value of a sport; why would it be any different in AFL? What I remember from the 50's and on is slow play; kicking to a contest and hoping for a teammate to get it; spiteful behind the play incidents; gluepots in the middle of the ground; and some overweight players that could barely break into a trot. About the only thing I miss is the range of kicks from stab passes to torps to drop kicks; all these skills have passed but needed to as the speed and accuracy needed by the modern game have seen these superseded.
Axle an the guru
Guest
<reply:Coventry was the first regular to kick the ton at VFL level pope. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
macca
Guest
He isn't altogether wrong at times though Gene, that the comparison can be made and everyone just accepts it and identifys with what he is saying is a little bit of a concern. But I think that just as under 9's players eventually found that sticking to the traditional structure somewhat lead to better outcomes so will AFL coaches eventually.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Rossy Lyon is one of the architects of the modern game and may well break his GF duck this year but to this point he hasn't quite mastered making all of his players goalkickers. Running all over the shop is not necessarily a modern thing. Melb won their last GF in 1964 when the back pocket, Neil Crompton, followed his opponent to other end of ground and snapped the winning goal. It was his first goal in five years. Anyway 100 kickers will emerge from time to time. It wasn't common until the 1930s and was not a regular event during the 40s 50s ( Coleman may have been the sole 100 man ) 60s. Late 60s and 70s emerged again. It's actually pretty hard to do. It was hard work too as the defensive work was brutal.
Cat
Roar Guru
That says more about the coach though doesn't it?
Axle an the guru
Guest
Ignor my 2.33pm comment macca. Thats my sis puttin in 2bobs worth ive let her know what i think bout her touchin my phone. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
macca
Guest
The frustration for me is also having a coach at the elite level comparing the AFL to a game of under 9's football quite happily.
macca
Guest
Nick - I think the frustration comes from seeing a bloke like Riewoldt who seems a natural full forward being required to play like a midfielder and then being criticied for having no impact on the game. Plus the fact that the players are more skilful yet we see more and more packs and stoppages and rolling mauls that deny us seeing that skill. And yes there are the Sandilands and Blairs but they are becoming fewer. I am not advocating rule changes and am happy to allow the game to evolve and at the end of the day still thoroughly enjoy watching the game - but I am simply making the observation.