where would Royce play in today’s game, I don’t think he would be a chf and vice versa where would dusty play in Royces time? For mine Royce just
-
IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
Dusty or Royce?
- Thread starter vernissage
- Start date
That’s a much better comparison - and I’d have to put KB ahead. KB would be an even bigger star in our system today - given the emphasis on speed and skill.
KB was in 5 flag winning teams and played 400 games, Dusty has a way to go to get to that level although doesn't need to match flags and games.
Quite different players but I'd say KB ahead at the moment, Dusty should get more opportunities although missing this year is terrible given his age and form.
Royce was ahead of the game. You can say the same about Dusty too, the way he can just impose himself on a game with sheer brute force and amazing skill puts him amongst those rare players who can turn a game.
DS
I watched the 67 GF yesterday on the MeTubes. Roycey Baby was well held by West early but Tommy swung him out to CHF and his elite ground ball game set up many many Tiger attacks. Just an absolute terrier when the ball hit the deck. Consummate big moment player, and none bigger than one of the greatest high marks ever taken late in the final Q. John Ronaldson's TWO 50m+ bombs in the last Q are shockingly rarely mentioned in discussion of general GF lore. Name another player who booted 2 monster Q4 goals in a tight GF to win the game! Wouldn't be a lot! Oh yeah, Polly Farmer, some player.
and they were both drop kicks from the boundary either side of the city end!!
Drop Kicks could be very accurate and they go a mile. Trouble is the failure rate is a bit high, although when you watch some of its great exponents you wouldn't know it.
1967 is a Grand Final for the ages, cracking game, and great result.
DS
I’ve said it before on this site that if we were picking richmond’s best finals player ever then KB would be the one. His finals record is incredible over about 15 seasons.
Not sure if it is common knowledge, but Farmer had agreed to join Richmond when he was 20.
Just imagine.
This debate, including the likes of a number of other great Tigers like Bartlett and Bourke, will go on for ever.
But if you look at the team of the 20th century, 3 one club Tigers made it along with Ian Stewart.
Jack Dyer on interchange
Francis Bourke on a wing
Royce Hart at CHF
Regardless of what other Richmond players have achieved, to be named at CHF in that team, in what is I think still regarded as the toughest position to play, speaks volumes about how good Hart was.
But if you look at the team of the 20th century, 3 one club Tigers made it along with Ian Stewart.
Jack Dyer on interchange
Francis Bourke on a wing
Royce Hart at CHF
Regardless of what other Richmond players have achieved, to be named at CHF in that team, in what is I think still regarded as the toughest position to play, speaks volumes about how good Hart was.
Only glimpses of Royce and he was struggling by then
Raines showed heaps and Bartlett of course
Also a drop kick by a Hawthorn player - and surely they were well on the way out by then.
As someone unfamiliar with Royce’s career, I watched the above along with a couple of YouTube highlights videos and then compared that limited viewing to everything I know about Dusty...
For me, I saw a lot more Tom Lynch in him than Dusty.
I say that while thinking of height as relative to the competition at the time and not as an absolute number (a z-score if you will).
From what I just saw, my main takeaway is that players back then had incredible mental courage, mental toughness, and physical toughness compared to players today. It’s a similar feeling I would get watching a UFC fight.
They could also be more specialised (with a couple of elite traits) compared to the wider skill set demands of players today. It’s hard to ignore differences in training standards etc though.
Bartlett looks incredibly mentally tough. He looks so stubborn that if you told him there was a brick wall in front of him, he would try to run through it to prove you wrong. Like those karate experts who have the mental toughness to chop bricks.
That type of mindset was on display in the highlights I saw, and Royce looked to be on that level. His finesse was above those around him too.
But I walk away from this heavily biased viewing without feeling pressured to change my mind that any of these players were better than Dusty. I could see a possibility that more footage of KB might increase that pressure, though.
Royce's Leo Barry type marks where he floated in from the side were my favourite part of his game.............champion.
Hmmm,
On the back of a Premiership win on a weight for age championship day,Dusty is making claims...
3 Norm Smiths; 3 Gary Ayres; a Brownlow; 4 All-Australians Dusty has a nice collection. Heart says Hart, Head says Dusty. I saw just about every Royce and Dusty game.
On the back of a Premiership win on a weight for age championship day,Dusty is making claims...
3 Norm Smiths; 3 Gary Ayres; a Brownlow; 4 All-Australians Dusty has a nice collection. Heart says Hart, Head says Dusty. I saw just about every Royce and Dusty game.
Last edited:
I can't really comment as i never have seen Royce play. But as it stands i think Dusty is exceptionally close to being the GOAT. His 2nd half tonight will go down in folklore. I can't even engage in an argument to if he is our best player of all time right now, as after tonights performance i honestly wonder if he is the best of all time, period.
I have a mate who is in his 60's and has seen a lot of football. He is a Carlton supporter who even before tonight has been saying that Dusty is the GOAT. Not just greatest Richmond player but greatest player of any team. He sent me a message tonight saying that this Grand Final cements this claim.
