Many years ago, back when the internet was still fun and not filled with whiny bitches (for the most part), I used to frequent a wrestling message board called The Sell. Good blokes talking wrestling, not a lot of bullshit, and people knew what they were talking about.
One of the blokes who was heavily involved used to post a simple voting format he called “This or That?” And you basically were given two or three options and had to choose one, and justify your answer. The choices were usually a between two or three performers, tag teams, or a certain couple of matches, and you simply picked the one you preferred.
So simple that even a Collingwood supporter could do it… which has led me to try it here.
Below, there are five choices to make. Some are historic, some are featuring current players, and some are likely to cause debate about who was genuinely better.
That’s the hope, anyway.
So, in honour of the long-gone website, The Sell (I still have a t-shirt that fits… yay me for not becoming too much of a fatty!) let’s jump into HB’s AFL This or That?
HARLEY REID OR JASON HORNE-FRANCIS?
Starting with a modern one.
Two number one picks, both absolute bulls, and each bloke has a massive upside.
Horne-Francis has the advantage of two extra years in the system on Reid, but the young West Coast talent has demonstrated that he not only has the skills to back up his reputation, but has just as much mongrel as his Port Adelaide counterpart.
Both are potential match winners. Both are going to be dominant fixtures in the league for the next ten years. But the question is – who do you take?
GARY DEMPSEY, SIMON MADDEN, DEAN COX, OR MAX GAWN?
A mix of old and new, and one that may very well be decided by how old you are.
Gary Dempsey was an incredible player, even in his waning years at North Melbourne. For 30 years, he held the record for most marks in the history of the game, before being topped by Nick Riewoldt, and he also had the record for most career Brownlow votes. He’s still third, behind only Gary Ablett Junior, and Patrick Dangerfield.
Simon Madden was a big man that used to confuse and confound opponents. Why?
He could jump off either foot and tap perfectly with either hand. Add in the fact that he could play as a dominant forward, and you have a bloke who changed the questions when many thought they had the answers.
And then Dean Cox came along. Some think he redefined the role of the mobile ruck, but Peter Moore had done that 20 years earlier (and had two Brownlow Medals to show for it), but Cox’s all-day run, skill with the footy, and brilliant tap work has many rate him as the greatest of the modern big men.
But Max Gawn may have something to say about that. Perhaps on his way to a seventh All-Australian, he has been the best big man in the game for ten years, now, and also has the title of premiership captain to hang his hat on.
Your job is to choose one of them – who do you take?
1989 GRAND FINAL, OR 2018 GRAND FINAL?
2018 was a modern classic.
The Eagles with that amazing end-to-end play, culminating with the Dom Sheed dagger from the pocket, the Liam Ryan bump splitting Brayden Maynard down the middle, the grandstand finish, and Luke Shuey cementing his place as a big-game player, winning the Norm Smith.
But does it compare to the battle of 89? The carnage, the violence, the brilliance of Gary Ablett, and the wounded Hawks hanging on to turn back the challenge of the charging Cats.
One was a classic game of footy – both, actually, but one was an absolute war. Which one tickles your fancy?
GLENN JAKOVICH OR STEPHEN SILVAGNI?
The argument for Glen Jakovich is that he was the only bloke that was able to keep Wayne Carey under wraps.
But have you checked Silvagni’s record against the best centre-half-forward the game has seen?
Carey got off the chain several times against Jakovich (including one game where he had ten contested marks against the Eagles champ), but I am not sure he ever did the same against SoS.
Jakovich was built like a brick shithouse, and would challenge Carey to beat him, physically. Silvagni played Carey straight-up, and took whatever the North forward gave him.
The question here is, if you were playing against peak Wayne Carey, who would you prefer was playing in your defence – Glen Jakovich, or Stephen Silvagni?
DUNSTALL, LOCKETT, ABLETT, OR BUDDY?
Last one, and it ain’t a small one.
Four 1000-goal-kickers. Four vastly different talents. No real wrong answer.
Dunstall was the workmanlike full forward, delivering year after year in a Hawthorn team that knew where and when to deliver the footy to him.
Lockett was the man mountain, muscling his opponents out of the way and kicking with deadly precision. He’d also cave your head in if you decided to drop into the hole in his leading lane.
Ablett would do that, as well, but he added the spectacular element to his game, and we have to remember he only played the back half of his career as a permanent forward.
And then there is Buddy – the last of the freaks. That he was able to kick a thousand in the game where big forwards were no longer kicking huge bags is testament to how good he was.
Gun to your head – which one do you take.
So, there we go for a start – plenty to keep the tongues wagging and plenty to debate. I am happy to chime in and add mine on our socials, but for the time being, the floor is yours.
This? Or That?
As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. It is a labour of love for me, and having you guys as members of the site basically keeps me going. So sincerely… thank you – HB
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