Barry Hall or Laurie Nash?

[Alibi Monday]

Looking ahead to the year 2103. When it comes to Sydney Team of the Last 200 Years - these 2 names look like they might be fighting it out for CHF. Most of us can only speculate just how good LN was, but from all reports he was a master. Then again BH has been a supreme performer for the club over the last 3 years with rarely a poor game. Anyone who can be in the top 5 players in the league at CHF for the past 3 years makes them a goliath of the game.

Thoughts? Would be great to hear some views from the elder RWO fans.

[Plugger46]

My late Grandfather said Nash was the best player he'd seen. That's enough for me.

[ScottH]

From what I've read, Nash had an ego bigger than any, but he also had the skill to back it up.

Nash for me.

[NMWBloods]

Nash by a mile.

[stellation]

How many of the folks saying Nash actually saw him play?

[stellation]

I did like this quote about him from here

His rivalry with team mate Bob Pratt, with whom he competed for a place in the record books, yielded 199 goals for the Swans in 1934. When Pratt was asked years later how they had played together, he recalled that Nash had passed to him once "but it was a mistake".

[Old Royboy]

How many of the folks saying Nash actually saw him play?

I suspect none of us. At least my sources are reasonably close (my Dad plus countless Sundays in the 60's watching WOS) - Richards, Dyer, Andrews, Smallhorn (who all played against him) & co all reckoned that Nash was an out and out superstar.

My fav Nash quote was when he was asked who the best footballer he had ever seen was. His reply: "I look at him every morning when I shave"

[hammo]

I did like this quote about him from here

And Nash was a deadly goalkicker. If he had been played permanently as full forward he would have outshone all full forwards of my time, including myself. His performance in kicking 18 goals for Victoria against South Australia was the dandiest I have ever witnessed.

It's a shame he's not around for the Swans today!

Based on that extract Nash would outshine Hall by the proverbial country mile, but Baz would be in the team on the flank for sure.

[Tuco]

Did a wiki on him - turns out he was only 175cm tall! That's something like 20cm shorter than Hall. Can anyone confirm that? If so it's pretty hard to directly compare the two especially when you factor in the weight difference, I'd have thought.

I have a feeling by the time Barry retires we won't have trouble squeezing him in with the all time greats for Syd/South Melbourne, though.

[NMWBloods]

How many of the folks saying Nash actually saw him play?

I base it on what my dad says - he saw him play - and from what I've read.

[stellation]

I base it on what my dad says - he saw him play - and from what I've read.

Is your dad Neil Harvey?

[Sanecow]

I'm pretty sure that if they played this week, Hall would towel Nash up despite his knee.

[NMWBloods]

Is your dad Neil Harvey?

No.

[robbieando]

Has Barry Hall kicked 18 goals for Victoria in a State game against South Australia playing at CHF??

Was Barry Hall a success as a Key Position Defender??

Does Barry Hall have to play second fiddle in the forward line to anyone??

Has Barry Hall played Test Cricket for Australia??

The answer to those four questions are No, no, no and hell no.

The fact is Nash was a completely different sort of player than Hall (their sizes make that a given) and to compare players across different two eras such as the 30's and the modern day is impossible to do. But still Nash was able to play second fiddle to Pratt in the forward line in our 1930's Golden Era, and yet be able to shine out enough to be regarded as one of the best CHF's to have played the game and obtain Australian Football Hall of Fame Status.

I would have no doubt that come the time to pick the next Swans all-time greatest team, Nash and Hall will be hard to split at CHF but Nash will most likely still get the nod going upon the output from Hall to this point in his career. That of course can all change if Hall has 3 or 4 more seasons like his past few seasons and wins another flag or two. The possible kicker could be whether Hall gets Hall of Fame Status. I would say he is line ball at this stage, needing a few more good seasons to get in.

Plus who is to say we don't get our hands on a CHF in the next 100 years that tops both Nash and Hall??? You never know how things work out.

[Sanecow]

Has Barry Hall kicked 18 goals for Victoria in a State game against South Australia playing at CHF??

About as relevant as the number of goals Nash kicked against Ireland.