Top 25 recruits in last 5 decades | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Top 25 recruits in last 5 decades

Streak

Tiger Legend
Aug 31, 2007
37,211
6,215
Western Australia
I was a sucker for Stafford - don't know where he fits in this list. But I thought he was too smart for the players that surrounded him. I loved when he went forward - the perfect foil for Richo - but no one would ever kick it to him. Even when he was standing there all alone in front of goal - which was a lot. And as a ruck he was punishing.

I liked him to.

A lot of Neil Balme in the way Stafford played.
 
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taztiger4

Shovelheads- Keeping hipsters off Harley's
Jul 13, 2005
7,814
6,445
Richmond Victoria
6 Tasmanians in the top 25

Add Benny, Royce, Richo, Jack, Disco, Cam Clayton, Tassie Nichols , Noel Carter ,Derek Peardon et al

No wonder our club is wanting Tassie to finally get a team
 
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Brodders17

Tiger Legend
Mar 21, 2008
17,658
11,691
6 Tasmanians in the top 25

Add Benny, Royce, Richo, Jack, Disco, Cam Clayton, Tassie Nichols , Noel Carter ,Derek Peardon et al

No wonder our club is wanting Tassie to finally get a team
Isn't that a reason to not support a team!
 
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Scoop

Tiger Legend
Dec 8, 2004
24,930
13,970
Ahead of Lynch? Gaspar was a very good player and unfairly maligned, but that can't be right.
The Gas was a great recruit and he should be on the list but not this high.

Question, peak Gas or peak Robbie Tarrant ( at his best at North)?
 

Streak

Tiger Legend
Aug 31, 2007
37,211
6,215
Western Australia
The Gas was a great recruit and he should be on the list but not this high.

Question, peak Gas or peak Robbie Tarrant ( at his best at North)?

I'd go with Gas. Quicker player and his athleticism made him more versatile. Gas was an early model of the intercept defender so popular these days.

And he supported the Tigers as a kid, let's not forget that! And he shares a birthday with me, another very important consideration. And finally, he is a West Aussie, so there you have a fine trifecta IMO.
 
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Streak

Tiger Legend
Aug 31, 2007
37,211
6,215
Western Australia
I don't disagree with the top 3, but my order would be

1. Prestia
2. Houli
3. Stewart

I guess people are going to think I am trying to be cute not nominating Stewart as No.1 but my reasoning is below.

The impact that Prestia had on us winning the three flags is immense. If we don't get him, we don't win them, pure and simple! I truly believe this. He didn't do it singlehandedly, but his efforts delivered on the belief of Peggy and the board that we were on the right track, and showed us the way for ensuring we don't return to the 'Lost Years". His recruitment was an absoloute masterstroke. Easily the best use of a Pick No.6 in AFL history

Houli has been a great player, not in the league of Prestia or Stewart, but great nonetheless. But his impact on our club culture has, I believe, set us up for a much brighter future than any other player I can remember. There is true resilience in diversity, and I personally believe that Bachar has driven both a massive injection of diversity, but also assimilation, into our club. He is off-field leadership has enabled the club to adapt and respond to many issues that other clubs have failed to deal with effectively.

Stewart won a Brownlow, which is why no doubt he got the number one gong. Anytime you can recruit a Brownlow medalist and he wins another at your club, you are talking a serious footballer. He was the best footballer of the three no doubt, and has been recognised by both Richmond and St Kilda (in the Team of the Century at both clubs), and AFL Hall of Famer and AFL Legend. But he did join a team that was already full of champions, and though the case might be made that he was very influential in us winning the 1973 flag, I don't think it is clear cut that we don't win that flag if he didn't play. I could be a very harsh judge on this, but I am not sure he had the impact on either our culture or off-field success that the other two had.
 
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Puntrd64

Tiger Superstar
Apr 2, 2005
2,014
662
if inferred influence is a measurement taken into account, as you do with Dion, surely Jordan McMahon ( ex Western Bulldogs) with that kick after the siren against Melbourne, that secured the draft pick for one Dustin Martin would have to qualify highly??
 
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Bernie

Tiger Superstar
Aug 19, 2008
1,787
977
Tura Beach
I'd go with Gas. Quicker player and his athleticism made him more versatile. Gas was an early model of the intercept defender so popular these days.

And he supported the Tigers as a kid, let's not forget that! And he shares a birthday with me, another very important consideration. And finally, he is a West Aussie, so there you have a fine trifecta IMO.
Streak, your first para is convincing enough.

Your second stanza provides incontrovertible and compelling arguments.
 

Streak

Tiger Legend
Aug 31, 2007
37,211
6,215
Western Australia
if inferred influence is a measurement taken into account, as you do with Dion, surely Jordan McMahon ( ex Western Bulldogs) with that kick after the siren against Melbourne, that secured the draft pick for one Dustin Martin would have to qualify highly??

:ROFLMAO:

Some validity to that point, although I guess the first criteria to make the list is there football skills.
 

The Big Richo

Tiger Champion
Aug 19, 2010
3,154
5,024
The home of Dusty
These are the times when premierships are given far too much weight I think.

Of the players I've seen it would be Houli v Gaspar for 1 and 2.

Gaspar was a serious footballer, matching it with some of the best forwards the game has ever seen every single week. Bonus points for hating Wayne Campbell's guts as well.

I'd have both Prestia and Lynch a rung below Gaspar on pure football ability, I don't reckon Lynch would have kicked many if they were matched up.
 

Scoop

Tiger Legend
Dec 8, 2004
24,930
13,970
Lynch is 9cm taller and 10kgs heavier and a better athlete than Gaspar.

Would blow him up quick smart.
 
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The Big Richo

Tiger Champion
Aug 19, 2010
3,154
5,024
The home of Dusty
Lynch is 9cm taller and 10kgs heavier and a better athlete than Gaspar.

Would blow him up quick smart.

Lynch is under 2 metres isn't he? I thought Gaspar was about Richo's height, low 190s. I thought it would be more like 5 or 6 cm.

Regardless, I'm not worried about the physical dimensions because Gaspar was incredibly strong, capable of playing on Carey and Lockett, but also incredibly fast on a leader like Dunstall.

I reckon Lynch would know he couldn't get away on the lead and Gaspar would be happy to sit two steps off and body spoil him all day.
 

Stackey

Tiger Rookie
Jan 13, 2022
492
630
71
Yeah but gas was a slow sheet kick for an intercepting, rebounding key defender ala Rance!
 

Streak

Tiger Legend
Aug 31, 2007
37,211
6,215
Western Australia
Bonus points for hating Wayne Campbell's guts as well.

I never knew that. Was it common knowledge?

I saw Gas walking towards Swan St after the 2017 GF.

His body shape looked exactly the same as when he was playing. It struck me that he looked like he was still easily fit enough to be out there.
 

The Big Richo

Tiger Champion
Aug 19, 2010
3,154
5,024
The home of Dusty
I never knew that. Was it common knowledge?

I've heard a couple of stories about them but nothing from a source that would make me comfortable sharing on a forum.

I'm sure some of the long term insiders will know about it though.

Don't think the Gas was a big fan of one T Zantuck either.