DUCK'S OFF

Now that the hoo-haa's had a day to bed down, I'd just like to say that although Wayne Carey was a superstar -- Ain't that a butchered word? -- and ONE of the best players I've ever seen, I never liked him. Admired him, yes. Liked him, no.

That's just me.

Carey's almost universally admired within the footy fraternity -- obvious exceptions excepted -- and as far as they're concerned ...

"If you don't like duck ... you're rather stuck."

However, there's not too much been written or said that's particularly earth shattering, or even new. Yes, Carey was a great player. Yes, he had his problems off field. Yes, he was far from perfect. Yes, he walked funny, grabbed tits, had a mullet and is a far from convincing media performer. "Wooden" even.

I knew that.

There were also bound to be the usual comparisons with other great players, the one talked about most was Gary Ablett.

On the radio this morning Carey reckons the two best players going around at the moment are Chris Judd and Matthew Scarlett.

For the record, the best player I've ever seen is ... TRUMPETS ... Leigh Matthews.

King the greatest

In all the idolatry expressed for Wayne Carey the footballer this week, one fundamental principle has been underplayed.

The greatness of Wayne Carey as a player was more than his own contribution in terms of marks, kicks and goals, considerable as they were. It was what he did to people around him.

It is a team game created by individuals within, and for a decade, Carey was the consummate team man, aside from being the best individual player in the land.

He actually made the careers of at least two other players I can name, Brett Allison and Winston Abraham, who were employed by North Melbourne to play at Carey's feet.

Both were highly effective players in that role, sweeping away the morsels that Carey didn't take, surging into the gaps and spaces that he created for them and kicking goals. When he was not there, they were reduced to bit-part players, as evidenced by Allison's failure to make an impact when he moved to Sydney.

North employed the "paddock" created by coach Denis Pagan and in a small way changed the way the game was played. Fearless as he undoubtedly was, Carey would go back into that space and mark without apparent thought about the chance of a lone, oncoming defender taking him out.

Here was the individual greatness of a player without a weakness, able to back up his flagrant arrogance with action.

But just as often, he would lead up to take the mark, wheel around and place a perfectly-executed drop punt into the arms of a teammate who had run into that open space, setting up an easy North Melbourne goal.

This happened hundreds of times and I can't recall Carey ever failing to deliver to a teammate in a better position than him, no matter that they were not in his league as a player.

Carey didn't play the game like that; wouldn't have the team afflicted by the cancer of selfishness. He was the King who brought his subjects along with him, allowed them to express themselves and share the spoils.

At least until the events of 2002. It is an irony to end all cruel football ironies that his actions at the end of his time at North Melbourne tore the club apart when, in truth, he was foremost in creating and fostering that team along with Pagan.

But it is his ability to work within the team environment that separates Carey from Gary Ablett of modern players, in my mind. Ablett was more spectacular, and achieved heights of individual genius in certain moments and within certain games that not even Carey could reach.

Possibly no one has been better in that sense, although old-timers will push John Coleman's name forward.

But Ablett was a selfish player whose modus operandi consisted of getting his hands on the ball and belting it at the big sticks. He didn't share the football in the way that Carey did, didn't engage with teammates on or off the field to any great extent. It is part of the folklore that he didn't always know their names.

Even Tony Lockett, the player of modern times who some people inexplicably forget when these debates occur, gave the ball off from time to time.

Geelong's great forward got away with it because he was so good at it. His job was to kick goals and he did it. But we will always be wondering how much his egocentric method actually helped Geelong, even if it entertained the masses.

It is too simplistic to say that a great player needs to win premierships, for any great player needs help to win flags. But within a team game, any player needs to know how to work within the mix; acknowledge that others will have their turn.

This is the weak point in the argument that Ablett overshadows Carey as football's greatest player of modern times. Notwithstanding his off-field actions, no one questions Carey's commitment to the concept of team. To me, that makes it Game Over.

Comments

[Dirk Thruster]

'Rocket' Eade was on the wireless this morning(?), he agreed with you regarding Matthews, as do I. Haven't heard anybody putting forward Ablett and neither they should - apart from selfishness he was (very) slightly inconsistent. I never saw him play a really bad game, but some days were certainly better than others. He always seemed to turn up for the big ones, though. Personally, I put Lockett above him, although I saw Silvagni hold him scoreless once, without a stat to his name until the last few moments of the third quarter.
Funny how all the really "great" players seem to be forwards - is it because we notice them more, or does the nature of the game dictate it?

[Brett Pee]

Yeah... Tony Nugett Lockett was undeniably the greatest goalkicker who played the game. Pity the club he played for did'nt match his talent and goals, at the Bombers or Demons he would have been an even bigger God.

[ilibcc]

No he wouldn't, he would have been a lesser player.

That's exactly what lesser teams don't get about sport.

The greater the team, the lesser the player.

Who remembers engineroom drivers who won premierships?

No-one.

Who remembers prima donnas?

Everyone.

Tony Lockett? Which premiership team did he play in? (And to be sure, it's a shame he didn't.)

Matthews and Carey are the exceptions.

But then you look at those engineroom drivers.

Gary Foulds - Essendon. 300 games. Two premierships. Unflappable. Reliable. No dramas.

Players like that create premierships.

Not Abletts.

Not Locketts.

Give me the engineroom masters, the real experts, any day, over the prima donnas.

As with everything else on earth, they're too much trouble.

[Brett Pee]

Dare i even mention Glen Jakovic?

[Tony.T]

Leigh Matthews was a fantastic player who would do whatever it took to win. He was ruthless. Probably wouldn't have gotten away with it these days, but he played in a brutal era where all star players were remorselessly targeted and only the very very best came out on top. Leigh took all the shit that came his way and dished out even more. And with interest without ever (as far as I can remember) complaining about it. I believe he was the best of that era, and therefore my pick for the best player ever.

Ili, Gary Foulds was a fine player, but Essendon had a fantasic team at the time. Tough AND skilled. For my engineroom player, I'd pick Leon Baker who could shrug off any shit coming his way and was silky smooth to boot. But don't forget super players like Terry Daniher, Watson, Harvey and Simon Madden. I'm not an Essendon fan, but I'm sure there are plenty out there who could name other engine room guns.

[Brett Pee]

Talking of Essendon greats, i seem to remember Gary Wanganeen in the 90's coming off a Brownlow medal and having a huge impact. One of the best markers in the game-playing off the back line but when he moved forward to the front line his play led directly to more goals. I feel i should know more about the guy but can find no info on him.