My memory of John James in 1961 was that he played most of the year in the Back Pocket. Brilliant player, but his kicking was ordinary particularly when he was kicking for goal. I remember him butchering several shots for goal in the 1962 GF. Bruce Doull was equally brilliant and his disposal was elite. His balance was superb and if I remember correctly he took judo lessons early in his career to learn how to fall correctly. I agree with others here that that prior to Val Perovic joining Carlton, Doull primarily played at CHB and I will never forget his job on Hart in the '72 GF. There have been some peerless players who have made the HBF a position of strength, some of whom have been mentioned, but in my humble opinion Doull was and still is the very best.

Doull kicked 22.24 over his career.

Hard to believe he could miss really.

I've said this many times, but Fitzpatrick & Johnston have to be the unluckiest players to never win a Norm Smith.

Fitzy could have won in 79, 81 or 82. As dominant as he was in 81, I suspect he didn't get it that year because he was up against Collingwood's rookie ruckman (Moore being forced to play out of the goal square due to injury) and because Doull was something of a sentimental favourite. I don't think anyone begrudged Doull though, he thrashed Davis that day. Fitzpatrick's game in 82 is underestimated. He was hugely influential at CHF, especially in the premiership quarter. And in 79 he played a stellar game against the Brownlow medallist.

Johnno could easily have won the medal in 79, 82 or 87. Harmes was a worthy winner in 79, so I don't have a problem with that. Rhys-Jones got the job done in 87, but Dermie played injured and was impacted by Dunstall's absence. Then again, I guess Dermie was just about the number 1 player in the comp at the time. The real crime was Rioli being awarded it in 82. If you go back and watch that game, he was beaten soundly by Hunter. Rioli had a purple patch late first quarter/early second quarter, when Hunter was off concussed. Aside from that, Rioli had minimal impact on the match. He wasn't even Richmond's best player that day, let alone the best on ground. Johnno or Fitzy should have got it in 82, without a doubt.

I probably would have gone:
79- Harmes
81- Doull
82- Fitzpatrick
87- Johnston

Doull
Hunter
Enright
Hodge (of late a HBF ?)

in that order, but no doubt I've missed about 102 players

Brian Gill or was it his brother John ...

Great post. I agree, but FWIW, I would've gone:

79 - Francis
81 - Fitzpatrick
82 - Johnston
87 - Johnston
95 - Kouta

But, aside from 82, the actual winners were all worthy.

Was there a Barrie in amongst that lot Teddy ? you know,the one with the thinning thatch.

If Gibbs had of let himself settle there i reckon he would have been up there with Enright.

Speaking of defenders kicking for goal, didn't John James have a horrendous haul in his rookie season at HF, something to the tune of 10.40 in front of goal?

Here we go: 8.43! Banished to the back line forever.

When I was a boy, I used to walk past a photo every day of the 1951 St Pat's College Ballarat football team. Could have been 1952, it was a long time ago. John James was captain of that team and in the margin of the photo it had the record score kicked by the team against the hapless Ballarat High School: SPC 52 goals 51 behinds, BHS 0-1 John James, 35 goals from CHF.

There must be another SPC old boy on TC who can remember that photo... Just outside the boarders' dining room main entrance.

Ahhh ... memory of Ricky Barham running down the wing in the 81 GF and seeing Bruce Doull running towards him ....

Doully was the best HBF I've ever seen.