TOPIC:

for those whom can re-call can you do a comparison of keith watt and Dean Kemp? thank you ladies and gentlemen

Keith Watt had much more hair!
But I was a bit too young to properly compare. Old Pococko used to know a lot about Keith Watt

I saw most of Keith's short but mercurial career, possibly the most naturally gifted player I've seen pull on the maroon and gold, big call i know but unless you saw what he could do on a footy field it's a bit hard to argue. He was about 4 cream bottles high and built like a twig with a massive afro on top, he was equally skilled both sides, was a better instinctive snap shot than a set shot, had the best step i've seen and was recklessly courageous. Off the field he was an enigma, strange fellow at times and liked his own company. Sadly he badly injured his leg in a motorcycle prang and was never able to reach the same level. Always remembered for his brilliant 4 goal effort in the drought breaking '73 flag. he's never to my knowledge come back to the club for reunions which is a shame but thats the man.
So many others that deserve the tag great, obviously the best FF in WAFL history Austin Robertson, at the other end Brian Sarre had the biggest drop kick i ever saw, regularly landed in centreman Cam Blakemores hands before he turned and hit up Ocker on the lead. Wally martin was silky smooth on a wing, Mike Fitzpatrick was a new age ruckman, huge leap, quick across the grass and skilled by hand and foot, went on to be a Blues champion. Reggie Hampson cut up opposition defences with speed and brute force, his stab passes were legendary, Brian Sierakowski who came over from the saints was the team enforcer, quite brutal at times but made space for the small brigade, awkward kick but could really take a grab, i have mentioned Blakemore, another slightly built bloke with pace skills and courage to burn, have to include Bunts jnr who set up the team for Ross Smith to add the finishing touches for the '73 GF, probably the most courageous player I have seen, I'm sure the Swans boys will back that up, then came back in the 80's with a totally new game plan, chip and run, backwards sideways whatever to keep possession, took us to 4 GF"s and 2 flags. Buckanara was a rare talent and revelled in the big games particularly the state of origin. Of the Eagles era players, it's hard to go past Ali Pickett, despite his size would have made it at AFL, Brad Smith was the best FF in the post Eagles era big strong aggressive and converted at a rate of around 70%, would have made it at AFL if not for numerous knee injuries. Of the current group, Horse is streets ahead, how he hasn't won a couple of Sandovers is a mystery, maybe he chats the umps a bit too much.
That will do for now, will think of plenty more now the topics up.

ss -- thanks for going to the trouble to write about Watt -- some have describbed him, both subi and other supporters as the best player they have seen; others, as you can imagine, don't have any memory of him. For me, in any case, he made the difference in 1973, with all his goals against EP and WP in the finals.

ny uncle suggested that he was forced out of the game because he was 'too alternativve' Do you think it cost him the simpson medal?

his best three subi players -- he is an SD supporter

Blackemore
kettlewell
Watt

Hey Ark I went to Hollywood High School for the one year in 1968 and played in the same footy team as Keith Watt & Neil Balme!

That team would probably have beaten any of the PSA schools at the time. Keith was a very single minded individual and Neil apart from being an outstanding footy player also had a cracking personality!

Balmy was also a terrific baseball player. He could have played at the highest level back then and maybe got a scholarship to the USA if he had taken that path.

However they both ended up playing league for Subi and the rest is History!

Then to run salt in the wound I had to endure 1973!!

Dempsey: thanks for the great post mate, it must bring back some memories, I am sure.

Try not to worry about 1973, you lost Phil Smith, as you would remember, and you helped us break a long premiership drought. As I said on another thread the other day, although it was not done against Subi, the great 'cardies' side of that era took their revenge against the entire WAFL in the 1975 grand final.

Thanks again for the post
PS I have a Richmond friend whom adores Balme -- he also supports WP so we have good chats.

An interesting comparison AR between Watt and Kemp. Both silky smooth and very gifted but I think Kemp fulfilled his full potential whereas Watt didn't. I recall Watt showing up for a post season trip in the early 1970's in his thongs and got sent home to get changed...that just about summed him up.

Yes very individual fella and seemed not to buy into the whole team off field camraderie thing, but I was privelidged to see him play non the less.

And how remiss of me not to list Laurie Kettlewell, a brilliant utility type who could play pretty much in every position, not all that tall just 1.8m I think but easily held down key positions at CHF & CHB, raking dropkick and one of the old era players that would easily succeed in the modern game, skill will always win out over the pure athletes that the AFL seem so enamoured with.

Speaking of size...it's funny how AFL players have just gotten bigger over time. I recall Dermott Brereton played CHF through the brilliant Hawks era of the 80's and he was 186cms. He'd be a mid sized forward these days when you consider even midfielders are bigger with Fyfe at 194 and Cripps at 195....go figure.

Senior Seagull wrote: I saw most of Keith's short but mercurial career, possibly the most naturally gifted player I've seen pull on the maroon and gold, big call i know but unless you saw what he could do on a footy field it's a bit hard to argue. He was about 4 cream bottles high and built like a twig with a massive afro on top, he was equally skilled both sides, was a better instinctive snap shot than a set shot, had the best step i've seen and was recklessly courageous. Off the field he was an enigma, strange fellow at times and liked his own company. Sadly he badly injured his leg in a motorcycle prang and was never able to reach the same level. Always remembered for his brilliant 4 goal effort in the drought breaking '73 flag. he's never to my knowledge come back to the club for reunions which is a shame but thats the man.
So many others that deserve the tag great, obviously the best FF in WAFL history Austin Robertson, at the other end Brian Sarre had the biggest drop kick i ever saw, regularly landed in centreman Cam Blakemores hands before he turned and hit up Ocker on the lead. Wally martin was silky smooth on a wing, Mike Fitzpatrick was a new age ruckman, huge leap, quick across the grass and skilled by hand and foot, went on to be a Blues champion. Reggie Hampson cut up opposition defences with speed and brute force, his stab passes were legendary, Brian Sierakowski who came over from the saints was the team enforcer, quite brutal at times but made space for the small brigade, awkward kick but could really take a grab, i have mentioned Blakemore, another slightly built bloke with pace skills and courage to burn, have to include Bunts jnr who set up the team for Ross Smith to add the finishing touches for the '73 GF, probably the most courageous player I have seen, I'm sure the Swans boys will back that up, then came back in the 80's with a totally new game plan, chip and run, backwards sideways whatever to keep possession, took us to 4 GF"s and 2 flags. Buckanara was a rare talent and revelled in the big games particularly the state of origin. Of the Eagles era players, it's hard to go past Ali Pickett, despite his size would have made it at AFL, Brad Smith was the best FF in the post Eagles era big strong aggressive and converted at a rate of around 70%, would have made it at AFL if not for numerous knee injuries. Of the current group, Horse is streets ahead, how he hasn't won a couple of Sandovers is a mystery, maybe he chats the umps a bit too much.
That will do for now, will think of plenty more now the topics up.

yes...this is a great topic AR and hope you don't mind if I hijack it a bit by reflecting on other players I've seen over the journey as well as Watt and Kemp. Peter Featherby was another favourite of mine...he couldn't kick it more than about 20 meters but when you got it 40 times a game it didn't really matter. Brad Smith would have been a terrific AFL player I'm sure if not for those bloody knee injuries. Another one I really enjoyed watching was Shaun Hildebrant...one of the most courageous players I've ever seen and that's saying something as I've seen plenty in my 60 odd years. Some greats from that magical 73 flag year were Ian Cunningham....missed the GF through injury but was a brilliant CHB...Dennis Blair won a Simpson Medal on the back flank, Ron Bayens, Alan Shepherd, Col Williams...all fantastic to watch. But I've gotta agree...my two most favourite players would have to be Ocker and Ali Pickett....Horse is up there but he hasn't finished yet so I'll wait until he retires before making judgement.