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DG -- a very good tribute to Buckenara indeed. Your right about the drop in standard in Aussie Rules, it has been quite stark in recent times. Put simply, Footscray's win was a fluke, one which would not have occurred had Hawthorn not lost Roughead.

Isn't a fluke a one off?....considering WBD won all those one off finals in 2016 they were all practically mini GF before beating SS in the decider, can't see how it was a fluke.....kinda devaluing their feat some what there Ark.....yeah they haven't reproduced the goods since, but then again one could look at it as though the WBD won 4 GF in a very short space of time....

As for the Hawthorn side during Buckenara's era....mate they would of beaten the likes of WBD, Richmond, Geelong, SS and the 3 peat Hawthorn side....the likes of Langford up back would of easily nullified Roughead, Dunstall, Brereton, Buckenara's would of kicked a swag v the likes of Lake, Frawley and Gibson....whilst Platten, Tuck et al would of won the midfield battle v Mitchell, Lewis et al....both great teams but that Hawthorn side played in how many GF in an era of a shed load more champions and very good Essendon, Geelong and Carlton sides....reckon all of those 3 sides in that era would of beaten the likes of WBD, Richmond, SS, Geelong and the 3peat Hawthorn side..... Baker, Madden, Watson, Kernahan, Bradley, Silvagni, Doull, Ablett, Bairstow, Couch, Brownless et al would of been just as good today as they were back then...great era of footy that 80s decade....not only in Victoria but also WA too.....that SD or SF side of the 80' s could of beaten a few of those recent AFL premiers for sure.
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Interesting comments re the Hawthorn side of the 80s.

As Subi nearly knocked them off in a post-season exhibition game (of the respective premiers) in 1986, I wonder what that says about Subi, and Hawthorn.

From the bit of footage in the video linked below, both teams seemed to be taking it pretty seriously.



My own view is that any of the sides (VFL or WAFL) of the 80s would struggle against the top teams of today, purely in terms of fitness, and being able to run games out. And of course, they would not be able to regularly go the biff as they did in those days.

ps hopefully this post gets through Southener's critical and highly entertaining evaluation.

Freezin wrote: Isn't a fluke a one off?....considering WBD won all those one off finals in 2016 they were all practically mini GF before beating SS in the decider, can't see how it was a fluke.....kinda devaluing their feat some what there Ark.....yeah they haven't reproduced the goods since, but then again one could look at it as though the WBD won 4 GF in a very short space of time....

As for the Hawthorn side during Buckenara's era....mate they would of beaten the likes of WBD, Richmond, Geelong, SS and the 3 peat Hawthorn side....the likes of Langford up back would of easily nullified Roughead, Dunstall, Brereton, Buckenara's would of kicked a swag v the likes of Lake, Frawley and Gibson....whilst Platten, Tuck et al would of won the midfield battle v Mitchell, Lewis et al....both great teams but that Hawthorn side played in how many GF in an era of a shed load more champions and very good Essendon, Geelong and Carlton sides....reckon all of those 3 sides in that era would of beaten the likes of WBD, Richmond, SS, Geelong and the 3peat Hawthorn side..... Baker, Madden, Watson, Kernahan, Bradley, Silvagni, Doull, Ablett, Bairstow, Couch, Brownless et al would of been just as good today as they were back then...great era of footy that 80s decade....not only in Victoria but also WA too.....that SD or SF side of the 80' s could of beaten a few of those recent AFL premiers for sure.
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agree with your first comment on WBD freez...you don't win AFL flags by sheer luck or a fluke....you work bloody hard and sure you might hope a few things go your way but it's more about effort than good fortune.

Jack....do you reckon if Subi had played Hawthorn over in Melbourne they wouldn't of got as close?...Don't get me wrong that Subi side in 86 was a beauty....but year in year out that Hawthorn side made the big dance and successful consistency is a good yard stick for greatness....

As for fitness...yes always hard to compare, but on pure ability alone that Hawthorn side had it all across every line....the likes of Brereton, Dunstall, Platten, Buckenara, Tuck and Langford we're match winners and surely would of been in this era of fitness

ArkRoyal wrote: Let us start with the following :

Heady
Buckenara
Young
Sells
Headland
Schultz

I thought Schultz was an out and out rover, changing in the forward pocket.



Can we rank them please?

Yes I agree Cesspit...and George Young also played off a wing and was full forward at St Kilda.

it was a fluke because they only scrapped into the finals -- where did they finish last season? That is the give away. Some of you people on here can be a bit precious at times. Subi's 1973 premiership was a fluke, not just in view of the 49 year thing, but, equally in view of the fact that we only beat WP once in the whole year.

the thread says half-forward types: Are you going to exclude Buckanara because he played in the middle most of the time? The same goes for Schultz? As for Young, he was nammed on a half-forward-flank in our best ever team.

Ark not being precious mate....a fluke is a one off isn't?..WBD won 4 sudden death finals on the trot...perhaps I will meet you half way and say it was a well earned fluke mate....LOL

ArkRoyal wrote: it was a fluke because they only scrapped into the finals -- where did they finish last season? That is the give away. Some of you people on here can be a bit precious at times. Subi's 1973 premiership was a fluke, not just in view of the 49 year thing, but, equally in view of the fact that we only beat WP once in the whole year.

the thread says half-forward types: Are you going to exclude Buckanara because he played in the middle most of the time? The same goes for Schultz? As for Young, he was nammed on a half-forward-flank in our best ever team.

Where did EF finish in the previous season before 1979 & the ensuing years after (1980-1982) would suggest you are spot on the mark about 1979 being a fluke AR!
Their coach from that fluke year didnt last long in the job either!