TOPIC:

In the spirit of the other thread (who did you idolise as a kid) thought it might be fun to nominate who you believe to be the softest player and hardest player each of us have witnessed play the game at the various clubs we support. Be brutal, it's more fun this way

Softest for me at my own club SD is by far is Andy Holmes. Was quicker to get outta the way than any other player I've seen and at his best would jump at a shadow before it was born. Kicked goals consistently though when he wasn't busy trying to bum a few chips on the far side flank so was still appreciated by the members.

Hardest was a toss up between Brad Shine & Danny Penny for me. Forced to choose I have to go with Danny Penny. If ever there was a footballer I would have hated to run in to it was this bloke. The King of the Shitmixer in my books. As solid as they come and used to split blokes down the middle on a weekly basis. The best executioner of the bump I've seen and did it with little or no emotion at times, cold & ruthless like....someone at the club should show young Rudy some footage of Danny, a watch & learn session, would be just brilliant to see another enforcer the likes of Danny Penny back on Basso Oval.

All time biggest softcock from the other clubs for me is from non other than the Handbaggers Football Club. The softest man I've seen play the game, Warren Ralph. I'm amazed he didn't play in a skirt. I've heard rumours he had to change his jocks at every change of ends such was the fear. The fact he kicked so many goals is absolute proof that all types can succeed at footy, also the player I hated the most as a kid. The first swear words i ever spoke as a kid were "Bloody Fairy" aimed at Ralph which I only learnt because Dad told me I couldn't call him a 'Bloody Poofter' ....well not in front of Mum anyway. No prize for guessing where I learnt those naughty words in the first place hey old man.

Hardest player from outside of Swans, well I just don't recall one

Dargie & shawcross Subi although ironically some joondy supporters would say bill monaghan woo hoo...so I'll give him a close 2nd to shawcross. Honourable hard mentions to Ray Reeves Jeff Murray & Ali Pickett. Other clubs TI Basil Rioli Shine roo Dale Reeves Nowotney & the fag list bushell mifka bradmore beas ralph

Brad Smith for one of the hardest from EP, Graham Moss because he did not go in for the histrionics just kept on playing when getting belted, Brian France was a truly hard footballer.

Softest Max van Helden, they called him foot steps for obvious reasons, Phil Haughan and all yhose ciurrent players who stand on the outside and appeal for free kicks rather than get in and do the work.

Someone mentioned Dale Reeves mmmm dirty not tough!

Haha good work DW.
You are dead right about Shine & Penny both being as a hard as any player as I have seen in the WAFL.
Must give special mention to a few other Swannies boys from the 80's era in Solin, Fogarty, Skwirowski, Nowotny, Boucher, Baker, Neesham, Melrose & more recently Beros & Roberts as all were as hard as a cat's head.
From the opposition team's Michael, Campbell, Otway, Magro, Worthington, Blackwell, Duckworth spring to mind.
As for the softest let me just preface this by saying it takes courage just to run over the white line but Barich was one who was built like Tarzan but played more like Jane!

Good thread DW...hardest for mine at Subi was Dargie and Kevin Sparks...honourable mention to Mark Haynes as well. Softest is hard to say as usually you're pretty tough to play WAFL footy at all..but Paul Vines didn't get too many hard balls....very skillful but an outside player nonetheless. From other clubs I'd agree with Shine and Beros..the latter had some great battles with Phil Read also Craig Wulfe from the current crop were/are very hard at it. Softest for mine was Alan Daniels aka pate and David Bushell.

Ron Webster lived in a cage and was feed raw meat, I have never seen a scarier player. Dev Perry was a very tough player too never took a backward step. Aaron Sweet at EP liked to avoid contact, and Bill Monahagn was a softy and a coward.

“Dinny Barron was a fearsome character, and never pulled out of a contest, but the head on clash between him and John Watts one day was awesome. And they both dusted themselves and went on playing as if nothing had happened.”

Those were the words of Subiaco star Kevin Merifield.

There were a few more around in those days, notably Hayden Bunton jnr,who exemplified the word “tough". One of the most memorable photos of a WANFL grand final is the one of him being chaired off Subiaco Oval by his team mates with blood pouring down his cheek.

There is also the story of Bunton receiving a torn scrotum during a league match against East Fremantle and having it sewn up at a break, playing out the match with his customary thirty plus possessions.

There have been many more from all clubs,including Basil Campbell, Noel Carter, Stan Magro, Brad Shine, Fred Castledine, Stan Nowotny, Gary Gillespie, Butch Baroni, Ken Hunter, Leon O'Dwyer, Kevin Clune, and not to forget the man the Vics feared, Malcolm Atwell.

DW: i think there is a perception about full forwards fullstop --

I have heard people criticise Austin Robertson

What about your mate Beasley? He did not play some weeks for Footscray?

BUT I agree anybody whom steps on a football field anywhere has courage -- that is, a lot more than me.

Ron Webster lived in a cage and was feed raw meat, I have never seen a scarier player. Dev Perry was a very tough player too never took a backward step. Aaron Sweet at EP liked to avoid contact, and Bill Monahagn was a softy and a coward.


Gather you never saw "Jacko" then, especially without his teeth!

Jacko may be the craziest for sure