TOPIC:

Now that Tallen's career is over, I am wondering how people view him in the list of Swans greats? I think he compares favourably with other champion backmen in the club such as Nowotny, Langsford, Mullooly, Solin, Rance and Stephen O'Reilly. Probably guys like Walker, Baker, Mike Richardson,Beasley, the Narkle brothers and Bunton would be ahead of him as far as the club legends that I have observed but Tallen would rank as one of the best backmen to have represented the club IMO. He was very rarely beaten and he was versatile enough to pinch hit in the ruck and up forward. His enthusiasm was infectious and it was fitting that he played in a premiership team.
Hopefully the club will give him a role of some description next year if he wishes to stay involved.

As an oppo supporter Mike I rate him very highly if for nothing else his determination to do whatever was needed for the team. It's hard to compare different eras but he's a champion of the WAFL without doubt.

Jees Mike ........... dunno when you started watching WAFL footy, but how you could leave Joe Lawson en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lawson_(footballer) and Ken Bagley en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Bagley off your list of bloody good Swannies defenders mystefies me.

jackspratt wrote: Jees Mike ........... dunno when you started watching WAFL footy, but how you could leave Joe Lawson and Ken Bagley off your list of bloody good Swannies defenders mystefies me.

I was aware of their pedigree Jack but I never saw them playing so felt unqualified to rate them. I was hoping older Swans fans could educate me, but you will do I suppose.

I am equally unqualified to comment on Mr Ames - but, believe me, Joe and Ken were very, very good (coming from a Subi supporter).

He was a good footballer -- I would have him in 'best of team ' in the back pocket. Over his career, I often thought that he was wastted at full back, particularly in some of SD's weaker sides, where he might of played up the ground a wee bit; but as I say, that only enhances the man's football pedigree at full-back.

mikeh, where did Stan play his best football?

Always a thorn in our side, not as much as others such as Gary Sidebottom for example, but tbh I can't remember a time when he was beaten

jackspratt wrote: Jees Mike ........... dunno when you started watching WAFL footy, but how you could leave Joe Lawson en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lawson_(footballer) and Ken Bagley en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Bagley off your list of bloody good Swannies defenders mystefies me.

Perhaps we can mention Tim Barker as well. No I didn't see him play.

One thing we have always had through the decades is very good local key defenders from the early days of Tim Barker, Jack Murray, Duggan Anderson, Joe Lawson, Fred Castledine, Ken Bagley, Tom Mullooly, Steve Gillespie, Murray Rance, Rod O'Neill, Paul Gow, Stephen O'Reilly, Clint Hampson, Tony Notte, Justin Simpson, Alex Howard and of course Tallan Ames and not forgetting the current All-Australian Captain Alex Rance.
Maybe that could be attributed to the ball spending far too much time in our defence than we would otherwise like.

Beasley Hutton wrote: One thing we have always had through the decades is very good local key defenders from the early days of Tim Barker, Jack Murray, Duggan Anderson, Joe Lawson, Fred Castledine, Ken Bagley, Tom Mullooly, Steve Gillespie, Murray Rance, Rod O'Neill, Paul Gow, Stephen O'Reilly, Clint Hampson, Tony Notte, Justin Simpson, Alex Howard and of course Tallan Ames and not forgetting the current All-Australian Captain Alex Rance.
Maybe that could be attributed to the ball spending far too much time in our defence than we would otherwise like.

Johnny Laurito had a bit of work to do at times as well