Greatest BLUE of all time ... easy, the 1945 Bloodbath GF at Princes Park.

Oh the player...

John Nicholls
Harry 'Soapy' Vallence
Stephen Kernahan

Pick one of those three and you'll get pretty close.

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Kernahan for mine - easily the most underrated champion of the modern era.

some points to remember:

Captained a premiership team in his second year at the club, first as Captain.

Kicked the winning goal after the siren last round '87 to give us the double chance, and pole position in the race for the premiership.

Kicked seven goals in the losing '93 grand final side.

Captained the record breaking '95 premiership side.

Became the longest serving Captain in VFL/AFL history.

Displayed incredible loyalty under constant pressure from the Adelaide Crows, including constant pestering from lifelong friends Chris McDermott and Tony McGuiness

Week in, week out took two to three of the oppositions best defenders and was rarely beaten. For the majority of his career had very little key position support within the forward line (in comparison to the other great CHF's of the era, Carey had Longmire, Brereton had Dunstall, Loewe had Lockett etc etc)

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

Also kicked a bag of goals in that horrible Brisbane final in 99 - in fact I don't think he played many finals where he didn't kick at least five. Like Dominator always performed in the big games.

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"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." - Gene Hill

Yeah, I'm sure there are heaps of Kernahna moments that have skipped my memory - remember him getting ko'd by Frankie Langford, getting up, collecting his free kick and slotting the goal from the boundary line circa 92. Inspired the team to victory yet again.

And who could forget his goal vs St Kilda at Optus in 92 - collected the ball on the volley one handed, hand balled over Russel Morris' head, brushed him aside, collected the ball again on the volley one handed and then slotted a banana goal from forty out on the boundary.

Sticks was and is a constant inspiration.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

Gimme a W

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

On the old TBV I asked this question and no-one could help - can someone with a statistical bent find out how many goals Sticks averaged in finals?

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"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." - Gene Hill

Not to mention his contribution to the club during the recent dark ages...

I don't think as a club we need to individually name anyone our best player, but I wouldn't argue with any of

Big Nick
Jezza
Doull
Sticks
SOS

All for very different reasons.

Big Nick was a giant of a man, a great captain, captain coach of a premiership team and the standout ruckman of his time over a long period of time. Our games record holder until some bushy beard guy named Bruce Doull took it from him.

Jezza is our only ever 100 goal a season player, took a screamer in some game late in 1970, captain coach of a premiership, silky skills and if my Dad ever found out I didn't nominate him I'll be disowned.

Doull was a great defender will excellent disposal. In the early 80's Johnno and the Buzz used to fight over which HFF they'd play on to be on the receiving end of Doull's magnificent disposal. Our games record holder until some 58 year old freak named Craig Bradley broke it.

Sticks, see Deano's post, what more can I add?

SOS played on all the great forwards of his era, including 3 players who kicked over 1000 goals in their career and 3 of the best CHF's in Carey, Brereton and Loewe and had a fantastic record against all 3. Took a few screamers of his own and was a big game performer with an excellent record in finals. He's also responsible for great hope with 3 boys of his own.

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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

BB,from what i can see he kicked 65 goals in 18 appearances in finals..i.e 3.6 goals per game ...His career av was just short of 3...

The greatest blue I've ever SEEN is Bruce Doull.

Tough, dependable, consistent and oozed class.

Even opposition supporters loved the Flying Doormat.

Cheers Dom

I think that would be up there with the best - maybe Ablett averaged more?

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"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." - Gene Hill

Gimme an I

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

Nah, his average was brought down by failing to score a goal in the 1995 Grand Final

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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

think that Sticks would have to be in the front running, of course, along with

SOS
Doull
Jezza
Nick
Soapy
Diesel
Horrie Clover
Silver Caine
Rod MacGregor

and many more...

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Cer 'ch 'n alluog Blues

Any idea of his career average in State of Origin games?

My first experience of Sticks dominating a game was at Footy Park, he was still at Glenelg, and SA had a win over the Big V for the first time in years. There is a god!

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My favourite of all time is Wayne Harmes - just for his class, his freaky skills and his kicking/marking. all round excitement machine.

but i guess if rating on total career you would have to include
nicholls/kernahan or doull or jezza.

Out of that lot ... i would give it to nicholls and then jezza. or jezza and then nicholls.. .hard to choose.

Gimme a G-G-I

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

G-G-I

still don't know who the greatest Blue of all time is. I'll have to think about it some more.

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Cer 'ch 'n alluog Blues

Bruce Doull

13 State of Origin games for 47 goals....i.e 3.6 goals per game!

For what its worth my preference is and probably always "Big Nick" followed by Jessa and Doull......

Just on Jessa his versatility was unbelievable .His work in defence in the latter part of his career was fantastic.