Two movie titles in the one header? I’m really pulling out all the stops, today!
When all is said and done, there will be a strong argument that Max Gawn is the best ruckman to grace the AFL.
And here come the mob with the pitchforks.
Settle down, townspeople… allow me to explain.
I am a long-term fan of the NBA. Or perhaps I should say I am a lapsed fan of the NBA. I did love the game as it was before teams started firing up 40+ three point attempts per night, but hell… I can watch people shoot bricks at the local community centre.
Historically, people look at titles, statistics, and awards, as they attempt to decipher who the best players of all-time are. It isn’t really a fair way of doing it, especially when it comes to awards. Many will point to Michael Jordan’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, and his Finals MVP trophies as evidence of his greatness (amongst many other factors) but these awards were not around when other greats played the game.
So, automatically, those who came before are disadvantaged. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain (who got one Finals MVP in 1972), the Big O… they didn’t even get the chance at having those awards alongside their names.
It will be the same when people look at All-Australian selections in 20, or 30 years’ time. It will largely favour Gawn.
As it stands, Max Gawn has eight AA selections – more than any ruckman in history. A ninth, which is a very solid chance of occurring this coming season, will see him stand alone as the player with the most all-time selections. That’s how good he’s been!
On the flip side, Simon Madden has only three All-Australians and Polly Farmer has the same. They are victims of playing under a different system that did not reward players on an annual basis. That system only did so when State of Origin carnivals were held.
Numbers people care not for these semantics, though. Statisticians, and those who base their arguments on what figures tell them, will rattle off numbers and awards to justify their position. And they will with Gawn – mark my words.
What this does do, is shines a light on Gawn and his illustrious career. How does it really stack up to the greats that have gone before him? Is he simply a great ruck without the peers that others had in their time? Or is he the genuine standout in an era where rucks need to be more than just the bloke to whack the footy out of the air, and position themselves a kick behind the play?
Further, what is it that Gawn would have to do to convince naysayers that he is indeed right up there with the greatest big men to ever lace up their boots?
Let’s explore.
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