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Like most others, I'm only ranking those I've seen play, although I was sorely tempted to include Clover, Coulthard and McGregor.
1. Doull - the best defender for his era, and one of the few players who were ahead of his time. His decision making was always spot on, and his delivery by hand or foot immaculate.
Knowing when to mark or spoil is one of the hardest parts of being a defender, and Doull never got it wrong; his reading of the play was phenomenal. Could make the attacking runs out of half-back, but was always accountable for his man. The perfect defender.
2. Nicholls - hard to believe a guy of his size could be one of the greatest ruckmen of all time. Didn't revolutionise the game like Farmer, but had a similar impact.
3. Kernahan - an extraordinary leader, and that was what made him great above all his other talents.
4. Jesaulenko - still the most exciting player I've seen on a football field. Gary Ablett is the closest I've seen to his brilliance, but for all the Geelong man's talents, Jezza was clearly superior.
5. Silvagni - 'Fullback of the Century', and as much as I admired Southby, it will only be in later years that we appreciate just how great SOS was.
6. Dean - a choice from my heart, not from my head. Look up the expression 'team spirit', and it should always show a picture of my equal favourite player in history, alongside Doull. One viewing of the '95 Grand Final is sufficient proof any doubters.
7. Crosswell - the ultimate big game player. Spellbinding and dazzling are the adjectives I'd use for 'Tiger'.
8. Southby - another revolutionary in footy. His attacking style inspired his own generation of full-backs, and those that followed.
9. Fitzpatrick - the third of our great leaders. Inspired the team and supporters alike.
10. Johnston - like Crosswell, the big occasion player. I saw him first play for Prahran in 1978 and just knew he was going to be great for Carlton.
11. Walls - as Dannyboy and Moshe would agree, it's unfair to leave such a champion out of this list.
Of those I left out, Williams is probably the unluckiest, but I've never viewed him as a genuine Carlton great because he played initially for Geelong, and many games with Sydney. The same could be argued about Crosswell, but he started with us and played his best football with the Blues.
I pretty much agree with Jack's list except, much as I loved Deano, I think Kenny Hunter was a class above, I'd have Nick at #1, and Doullie at #2, and I'd brackett Crosswell and Kouta, both extraordinary athletes, whose brilliance was cut short by injury. Crosser wasn't quite the same after missing most of '71 with osteo....something, couldn't bend after that, tho he was BOG in '75 GF. Think his attitude was ordinary from 72 on. We've had a few good players wear the navy blue, let's hope in ten years time we'll be revising these lists to include a few 200 gamers who are currently early in their careers.
PS On the drop kick discussion, I can't remember Southby kicking them, but as others have said Syd and Robbo used them a bit. I remember Neil Chandler grubbing one in a GF (1970?) One area that has improved across the board is kicking.
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