AGRO wrote:
If Woewodin did the honourable thing and gave it back - there really would be nothing separating Voss, Buckley, Hird & Koutoufides as giants of the modern game.
Voss, Buckley and Hird are all a fair way in front of Kouta. Then again I rate Ratts career higher than Kouta's. I look how often they were elite, and Kouta in 2000 was probably better than Voss, Buckley or Hird's best seasons.
The bottom line is this Kouta was very good in 1995, pretty good in 1996, had rubbish 1997 & 98, even at one stage was going to be dropped. It was a move into defence which got him going again. He had a good/solid 1999 in defence, until he exploded in the last quarter of the Prelim moved into the middle.
2000 he was at his spectacular best, in 2001 he was more workmanlike but still elite, then he did his knee, he was never the same, merely good for the rest of his career.
That is basically 2 elite years, the rest of them would number at least 8-10 when they were consistently excellent, week in week out. Take away your club bias, and you will see Kouta was a club champion but not a hall of famer.
Watching the Blues my memory goes back 1990 or so (pretty much week in week out since 95) the best Carlton players ive seen (in order) Williams, Silvagni, Bradley and Kernahan. Those 4 are hall of famers (Juddy will get in when he retires and could move to 1 or 2 depending on what he achieves in coming years). I would put Ratts, Kouta, McKay & Peter Dean in the next rung down.