There was a time when our opinions of AFL players were based purely on their on-field performance. However throw in social media, off-field antics, million-dollar contracts and off-season transitions, and villains and heroes have never been more clear-cut.
Here are my top seven villains and heroes currently playing in the AFL (in no particular order).
Heroes
Luke Hodge
Hodge is a hero in the AFL because of his courage and his leadership. He is a one-club player, with two premierships and a North Smith medal to boot.
Hodge is not only the player, but also the captain every club would love to have.
Dustin Fletcher
I can’t think of one person who doesn’t respect Dustin Fletcher. He will break the 400-game milestone this season and is a much-loved player in the AFL.
Scott Pendlebury
Pendlebury is the most skilled player in the competition. He plays the game with flair and finesse and it is always fun to watch him weave in and out of traffic. It is very rare that he does not feature in Collingwood’s ‘best’ at the conclusion of a match.
Jimmy Bartel
Jimmy Bartel is the heart and soul of the Geelong Football Club. Another one-club player, he is a Brownlow medalist and three-time premiership winner. Jimmy is courageous, humble and a Geelong hero.
Gary Ablett Jr
Ablett could very easily have been put on the villains list after he switched from Geelong to Gold Coast at the end of the 2010 season. However, fans didn’t begrudge him for taking the money, and everyone seems to still love Gary. He’s the best player in the game and every fan knows it.
Adam Goodes
The Australian of the year is an incredible person both on and off the field. A two-time premiership player and two-time Brownlow medalist, he could very well be the most respected player in the AFL.
Nick Reiwoldt
Reiwoldt is the ultimate hero because of his loyalty. He could have left Saints for Collingwood a few seasons ago but didn’t because he loves his club. In 2010, almost every non-Collingwood supporter wanted the Saints to win the flag for their two heroes, Reiwoldt and Lenny Hayes (who would have been on this list if he hadn’t retired last year).
Honorary mentions: Chris Judd, Jobe Watson, Matthew Pavlich and Brett Harvey.
Villains
Lance Franklin
He may be $10 million richer, but Buddy’s hero status didn’t last as long as Ablett’s when he crossed to Sydney at the end of 2013. Buddy is an incredible player, but he also is the player you love to hate. He can destroy your team in a 10-minute burst if he likes.
Sorry Buddy, you’re a villain now.
Hayden Ballantyne
Ballantyne is annoying. He niggles. He talks. He gets under your skin. But he is a game winner, and for that he is definitely a villain.
Dale Thomas
Unfortunately for ‘Daisy’, his villain tagline went from bad to worse when he joined arch-rivals Carlton a season ago. Everyone knows that Collingwood and Carlton don’t like each other, and Daisy is no longer a favourite of Magpies’ fans now that he’s on the dark side.
Mitch Robinson
I’m not sure if Robinson will be a villain up at Brisbane, but he was definitely not liked when he was a Blue. Robinson is reckless. He’ll start a fight, he’ll get in your face, and he’s not the most skilled player we have ever seen. He has a bad record off-field and I can’t see him being a fan favourite anytime soon.
Ryan Griffen
This is new territory for Griffen but he is quite possibly the most villainous character we have in the AFL right now. Bulldogs fans won’t even utter the name of their former captain, who decided he wasn’t a fan of them this offseason and packed his bags for Greater Western Sydney. He will get booed profusely in Round 9.
Ryan Crowley
Even before Crowley tested positive to a banned substance, he was hated. Crowley is the AFL’s most effective tagger. His role is to stop the best midfielder on the other team; so of course he is a villain. Crowley’s battles with Steven Johnson and Gary Ablett have done nothing but increase his villain status.
Honorary mentions: Heath Shaw, Brian Lake, Brett Macaffer and Brendan Goddard
Top seven heroes in the last 10 years who are retired
Matthew Richardson
Mark Ricciuto
Michael Voss
Lenny Hayes
Dean Cox
Matthew Scarlett
Jonathon Brown
Top seven villains in the last 10 years who are retired
Stephen Milne
Brendan Fevola
Alan Didak
Campbell Brown
Jason Akermanis
Wayne Carey
Ben Cousins
Who are your picks for the greatest AFL heroes and villains of the past and the present?
Tiarne Swersky
Roar Guru
Murphy is a great addition. But I think the way Jobe spoke yesterday at the press conference exemplifies his good guy 'hero' status.
langou
Roar Guru
Interesting list. I agree with the heroes except for Adam Goodes who divides people for many reasons. I like him but many don't I disagree with your honourable mentions r. Chris Judd is disliked by many; chicken wings, pressure points, smashing Pavs face in ect...Jobe has been booed nearly every game for the past two years andBrett Harvey is not well liked Pav on the other hand is almost top of the list these days of people neutrals want to see win a flag. Bob Murphy is another player loved by neutrals.
Tiarne Swersky
Roar Guru
Thanks Gecko. I actually had Stevey J in mind when doing the villains but I couldn't justify his position there because of exactly what you said; is he a hero or a villain? I agree with you about Lake actually, but I guess his Norm Smith performance in 2013 swayed him from being in the top 7. Thanks for your feedback!
Gecko
Guest
Goodes has shown more leadership off the field than any other player since Jimmy Stynes. Definitely a hero.
Gecko
Guest
What a fun idea for an article. Thanks Tiarne. Gotta admit I enjoy watching those villains just as much as those heroes. One who could have made the list is Stevey J. I'm not sure whether he's a hero or villain, but he's certainly great to watch. Personally, I'd swap Brian Lake for Mitch Robinson as one of the villains. Lake's tangle with Petrie last year was just ugly, whereas Robinson's full-hearted attack on the ball is endearing.
Don Freo
Guest
I just can't see Goode's in the Heroes column. He won two Brownlows where he should have been rubbed out for the cheap elbow...both times. Then he became a public complainer...about everything. Nah.
Steve
Guest
Jobe Watson gets an honorary mention in the heroes section? Seriously?