Sorry I did not extrapolate on my comment earlier... but -

I still wholeheartedly disagree.

French, not effective at centre bounces? I hold French in much higher stead than that. His stoppage work was the reason he was chosen week in, week out over 4 years of service at Carlton... yes, I agree that Porter was an all-round better ruck option on the basis that he contributed more around the ground than Bananaby - but French, although only a centimetre taller than Porter, played and ruck a lot taller than Porter ever did. And yes, I definitely remember Porters first match against Essendon* - without cheating didn't we beat them by about 10 goals? (it was my cousin engagement and I remember listening to the game while I was working bar/in the kitchen - someone kicked an absurd amount of goals and Porter was 1st or 2nd BOG)

It is opinion versus opinion I guess, but...

From the tomes of Blueseum:

"Some good performances earlier in the season, and as always with Frenchy, some tireless efforts throughout, saw him pull in 20 games in 2006, with 346 hit-outs and 59 tackles - all his best season records whilst at Carlton."

That's just under 18 tapouts in an otherwise shithouse year.

Once again, I guess we beg to differ - but I'm backin French.

Matty Allan traded off his one good season in '99.

He wasn't worthy of carrying Porter's boots IMO.

Porter should NEVER have been traded, especially for perennial hack Corey McKernan, who is battling it out with Cain Ackland for worst player ever to have worn the navy blue.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

You know which one was French and which one was Porter, don't you?

I think French had Porter covered around the ground. Porter was far more effective at centre bounces. You seem to be saying the opposite.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Except McKernan one a best and fairest, oh yeah, and Lance!!!!!

Anyhow, we're losing the point of the thread, I wasn't comparing Bananaby to Allen or Porter, just simply asking how much better would we have been last year with him and not Ackland? Thus the comparison is Ackland and French - French wins hands down, I'm sure we all agree.

We would've than had the opportunity to pick up Mal Michael and sure'd up our defences.

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."

I'm glad we got games in Setanta and Jamieson at Full-Back, rather than having Mal Michael. He's gone.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

I am definitely saying the opposite! Porter was much better around the ground for mine, though Bananaby did do rather well floating around in defence... whereas IMO French was a much better tap ruckman, perhaps not shown to be as effective since by the time he was playing with us - our midfield was pretty dysfunctional.

Look, my judgment may be clouded by the fact that I've always been a French fan and defended him as such on TC quite a lot when he was playing, but like I said - it's opinion versus opinion, and we obviously beg to differ... is that so hard to believe??

You're right, it is a matter of opinion.

I just find it hard to believe we could be so opposite on this one

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

And therein lies the beauty of TC



At least we can both agree on French > Ackland.

TBB - Hey may well be, but he wouldn't have been bad around the kids especially for the development of blokes like Jamison. He's been well beaten by the faster forwards, but one-on-one in the square he still has power. It's fair to say he'd have much more of an impact than Saddington over 22 rounds, and I think we all agree....

French>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Ackland.

I'm not focusing on the past, just discussing how we may not realise how much more French contributed to the team than Ackland. Basically watch any game and see his work around the ground. At least he provided a contest, chased, dived on the ball. He had some intensity.

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."