SA Footy

Just been discussing something else on another thread when this question came up. Personally I'd have Rick Davies somewhere in my top ten full forwards of all time from anywhere in Australia. Top of the list would have to be Ken Farmer IMO. Others that would definitely make the cut would be (in no particular order): Tony Lockett, Gordon Coventry, Gary Ablett, Tim Evans, Coleman. There are a couple of others that I am hesitant to add, because I don't know their overall career tallies ie. Gary Ablett, Jason Dunstall among others. My reasoning for having the Jumbo Prince is that the few years he played full forward (about 4 in all, if my memory serves me right) he averaged over 100 goals. Broke the all time SANFL record for most goals in a season (in an era before the SANFL was decimated by Vic' pillaging). His ability to out-manouvre his immediate opponent, (sometimes two or three opponents) read the play and that huge boot of his was what earned him greatness as a goal scorer. That alone places him in great stead, but when you consider he was at the end of his career when he was moved up-field, makes you wonder what he would have done had he spent his entire career there, instead of dominating the rucks during his prime.

Fred Phillis and Scott Hodges would be the obvious South Aussies to add into the mix. Perhaps Hodges' case might be tempered by the knowledge that he generally failed to perform in the AFL.

If being a cult hero is a factor of greatness, then add Grenville Dietrich and John Fidge as well. Mark Jackson too.

Of late in AFL- Mathew Loyd would be one of best going around, followed by Jono bROWN, and Pavolich.

Evans, Hodges and Phillis in SANFL
Pratt, Lockett, Dunstall, Hudson and Coleman in VFL/AFL

Cult Hero: Grenville by far!

Not Lloyd because he doesn't stay on his feet often enough and gets many more frees than the above players (they received few gifts and fought hard - a number of times in a 1 on 2 contest). Lloyd also suffers from the fact that in this era, a lot of marks are uncontested and 1 on 1 means an after dark activity and not a contest on the footy field.

Rick Pearce or Des O'Dwyer, take ur pick

Ken Farmer, end of story.

Polly Farmer once said that Austin Robertson jr. was better than Peter Hudson

trb, Dunstall in there easily as well as Ablett. Dustall kicked 1254 goals in about 270 games. Also won 4 flags. Reasonable record i'd say.

TroyGFC wrote:Of late in AFL- Mathew Loyd would be one of best going around, followed by Jono bROWN, and Pavolich.

Pavlich and Brown aren't full forwards.

Ken Whelan - three years straight with 100 goals+ (if you include '73 I think in the reserves) and Ian Pfeiffer kicked 100 in the reserves when Whelan was in the seniors!

G.Ablett,Dunstall,Lockett,Lloyd,Hudson.

Hodges,Roberts,Phillis,Farmer,Evans.

Honourable mentions to Gavin Excel and Phil Smith.

Until some one beats, or at least equals this record, there is only one.

Ken Farmer
1929 (18 years old) 62 goals from 14 games in his debut season.
1930, first ever player to kick 100 goals in a SANFL season (105) , repeated for the next 11 seasons
1931 126 goals
1932 102 "
1933 112 "
1934 106 "
1935 128 "
1936 134 "
1937 108 "
1938 112 "
1939 113 "
1940 123 "
1941 86 "

In 13 seasons he kicked 1419 goals in 224 games (ave 6.33 goals per game)
He kicked 10 goals or more 35 times.
He was only ever held goal less in one game, he was injured after just 10 minutes of play.
His highest match score was 23.6 V West Torrens (out of North's 26.11), his highest scores against all SANFL Clubs is:

West Torrens 23
South Adelaide 16
Glenelg 15
Norwood 13
West Adelaide 13
Sturt 13
Port Adelaide 12

add to that:

Captain of North Adelaide, 5 years
Played 17 matches for South Australia
Coached South Australia in 1954
SANFL leading goal kicker 11 years
Coached North Adelaide, 4 seasons (premiers 1949, 1952)
Australian Football Hall of Fame (Inducted 1998)
SANFL Hall of Fame (Inducted 2002)

Ken Farmer.
Lets end this discussion NOW.

how about the 2nd best

godoubleblues wrote:how about the 2nd best

Fair enough, how about George Doig?

Well before my time but many seem to rate John Coleman as one of the best ever, during his relatively brief career.

Surely it's Farmer in the SANFL and Plugger in the VFL/AFL?

How many goals did Farmer kick in his 17 state matches ?

smithy wrote:How many goals did Farmer kick in his 17 state matches ?

81. He averaged 5 goals a game against Victoria.

MOST GOALS – ALL LEAGUES
2038 (approximately) by Peter Hudson (1962-1981). New Norfolk (378), Hawthorn (727 premiership & 70 night series), Glenorchy (616), Tasmania (92), Victoria (43) & Intrastate/other (112).
1500 by Ken Farmer (1929-41). North Adelaide (1419) & South Australia (81). Farmer was kept goalless only once.
1457 by Jason Dunstall (1984-1998). Coorparoo (73), Hawthorn (1254 premiership & 116 n/s), Victoria (4), Queensland (10). Dunstall kicked ten or more goals on 16 occasions.
1441 by Tony Lockett (1983-1999, 2002). St Kilda (898 premiership & 22 n/s), Sydney (462 premiership & 33 n/s), Port Melbourne (7) & Victoria (19). Lockett kicked ten or more goals on 22 occasions.
1405 by Fred Cook (1967-1987). Footscray (2), Yarraville (20), Port Melbourne (1289), Moorabbin (72), Victoria Association (22). Cook was kept goalless on only three occassions in the VFA.
1399 by Gordon Coventry (1920-1937). Collingwood (1399) & Victoria (100) Coventry kicked ten or more goals on 11 occasions.
1383 by Austin Robertson (1963-1974). Subiaco (1278), South Melbourne (57 premiership & 4 n/s) & Western Australia (44)
1216 by Ted Tyson (1930-1941, 1945). West Perth (1203) & Western Australia (13). Tyson was kept goalless once three times.
1213 by Peter McKenna (1965-1980). Collingwood (838), Carlton (35), Geelong West (67), Northcote (98), Devonport (113) & Victoria (42). McKenna also scored 20 night series goals.
1174 by George Doig (1933-1941, 1945-46). East Fremantle (1111) & Western Australia (63). Doig was kept scoreless only once in his career.
1166 by Harry Vallence (1926-46). Carlton (722), Williamstown (337), Brighton (88) & Victoria (19).
1155 by Jack Titus (1926-1946). Richmond (970), Coburg (139) & Victoria (46).
1133 by Stephen Kernahan (1981-1997). Glenelg 298, Carlton (738 premiership + 39 n/s) & South Australia (58).
1111 by Tim Evans (1971-86). Geelong (26), Port Adelaide (1044) & South Australia (41).
1098 by Doug Wade (1962-1975). Geelong (834), North Melbourne (223) & Victoria (31). Wade also scored 10 night series goals.
1092 by Gary Ablett (1982, 1984-1996). Hawthorn (9), Geelong (1021) & Victoria (43). Also kicked 19 night series goals.
1079 by Bernie Naylor (1941, 1946-1954). South Fremantle (1034) & Western Australia (45). Naylor was kept goalless on four occasions.
1071 by Rino Pretto (1978-1989). Pretto played in the VFA with Coburg, Camberwell, Oakleigh and Dandenong and in the VFL with Fitzroy.
1027 by Ron Todd (1935-1949). Collingwood (327), Williamstown (672) & Victoria (28).