Where does he rate amongst the Greats.

[whufc]

6- Premierships (a few as captain as well)
1- Magarey Medal
4- Bob Quinn Medals

Thats a pretty awesome resume.

Where does Paul Thomas rate amongst the better players to have played the game (dont worry im not comparing him to Robran or Ebert or anything like that)

[robranisgod]

Probably in the best five players to play in the SANFL since the inception of the Power.

Of course the standard slipped markedly after the introduction of the Crows and the competition was further lessened with the introduction of the Power therefore the only comparison I think can be made is amongst players since 1997. I reckon that since 1997 the Gowans twins and Thomas would all just about be in the top five players of this era.

[whufc]

Probably in the best five players to play in the SANFL since the inception of the Power.

Of course the standard slipped markedly after the introduction of the Crows and the competition was further lessened with the introduction of the Power therefore I think the only comparison I think can be made is amongst players since 1997. I reckon that since 1997 the Gowans twins and Thomas would all just about be in the top five players of this era.

Yeah i tend to agree,

very good post.

[dedja]

Such questions are akin to asking whether it was more enjoyable sleeping with your sister or mother.

Why bother, does it mean anything and how inappropriate ...

But since you asked ... RIG answered fairly well, it's like comparing watermelons and apples if you go back to before the AFL era.

Controversially, I'll add that he didn't make it in the AFL when arguably it should have been easier to play at that level than in the past because of the number and dilution of players thesedays.

Not withstanding that, a very good player indeed.

[GWW]

One of the best SANFL players post Crows but shouldn't be included in a "best ever" analysis.

[Adelaide Hawk]

One of the better performed SANFL players over the past 20 years. However, on the basis of ability, there have been many players in the past 20 years who have progressed to the AFL, and some have become greats of the game (Pavlich, Cooney, Tredrea, etc). Thomas failed to do that, and on that basis it's hard to rank him as highly as some.

[Pseudo]

Probably in the best five players to play in the SANFL since the inception of the Power.

Of course the standard slipped markedly after the introduction of the Crows and the competition was further lessened with the introduction of the Power therefore I think the only comparison I think can be made is amongst players since 1997. I reckon that since 1997 the Gowans twins and Thomas would all just about be in the top five players of this era.

Agree with the first part of the highlighted bit. Disagree with the second bit. Therefore any comparison post-Crows is valid. And yes, in the top 5 since then.

[Hondo]

6- Premierships (a few as captain as well)
1- Magarey Medal
4- Bob Quinn Medals

The 6 premierships shouldn't be used to add to an assessment of him as an individual player. Centrals have been the dominant club of the last 12 seasons so a lot of their players would have clocked up multiple premierships.

[robranisgod]

Probably in the best five players to play in the SANFL since the inception of the Power.

Of course the standard slipped markedly after the introduction of the Crows and the competition was further lessened with the introduction of the Power therefore I think the only comparison I think can be made is amongst players since 1997. I reckon that since 1997 the Gowans twins and Thomas would all just about be in the top five players of this era.

Agree with the first part of the highlighted bit. Disagree with the second bit. Therefore any comparison post-Crows is valid. And yes, in the top 5 since then.

Port took probably another 30 of the best players in the SANFL out of the competition. Sure some of them played spasmodically in the SANFL but there were probably 20 players from 1996 who were missing from the SANFL on any given weekend in 1997. The standard of the SANFL definitely slipped between 1996 and 1997.

[Big Phil]

6- Premierships (a few as captain as well)
1- Magarey Medal
4- Bob Quinn Medals

The 6 premierships shouldn't be used to add to an assessment of him as an individual player. Centrals have been the dominant club of the last 12 seasons so a lot of their players would have clocked up multiple premierships.

Agree in part on that point Hondo, but I would also add that (without looking back at it) Thomas would have been listed in the best players (probably top 3 as well) in 4 or 5 out of those 6 flags.

He has also won 2 x Norm Russell Medals (CDFC Best & Fairest) and Runner Up in a couple of these counts as well.

[Hondo]

Yes, they are great individual achievements no question.

I just have a dislike of using premiership medallions to separate players in these sort of debates, that's all. To some extent being in premiership teams can be a case of being in the right place at the right time. Just ask Aaron Keating.

It's no slight on Paul Thomas. Clearly he has performed highly in those games. If I had 2 players I couldn't split I wouldn't make the casting vote based on one playing in a premiership team and the other not.

[CENTURION]

At this rate, He'll have ANOTHER Magarey Medal!