Josh Kennedy. Is he the best ever midfielder we've had?

[Dosser]

I saw Bobby Skilton, Greg Williams, Gerard Healy, Paul Kelly, Josh Kennedy

for me, and I thought I'd never say it after Bobby was my childhood hero...it's Paul Kelly. Captain Courageous with undervalued skills. I know they are all from different eras but Kel had Bobby's courage, inspiration and leadership......he had Diesel & Heal's vision and goal kicking prowess and he certainly had Josh's grunt.
....no more validation than when I made my comment to my father many years ago about Kel being better than Skilts. His comment from the experience of a generation before me ...
"line both of them up in the schoolyard son and Kel is my first choice". He never said much but that simple statement spoke volumes.

..and thanks Dad for giving me the Swans.

Dont forget those speccies he used to take as well! I used to look forward to watching the Swans just so I could see what Kelly was going to do in the game.

[MightyBloods]

Dont forget those speccies he used to take as well! I used to look forward to watching the Swans just so I could see what Kelly was going to do in the game.

So true.

[Matt80]

I saw Bobby Skilton, Greg Williams, Gerard Healy, Paul Kelly, Josh Kennedy

for me, and I thought I'd never say it after Bobby was my childhood hero...it's Paul Kelly. Captain Courageous with undervalued skills. I know they are all from different eras but Kel had Bobby's courage, inspiration and leadership......he had Diesel & Heal's vision and goal kicking prowess and he certainly had Josh's grunt.
....no more validation than when I made my comment to my father many years ago about Kel being better than Skilts. His comment from the experience of a generation before me ...
"line both of them up in the schoolyard son and Kel is my first choice". He never said much but that simple statement spoke volumes.

..and thanks Dad for giving me the Swans.

If not for that 98 ACL in the peak of his career, I think Kelly would have won another Brownlow. This would have put him in higher company.

[Faunac8]

Wasn't lucky enough to see Bobby Skilton play but since arriving in the country in 85 I have been a devoted Swans supporter. Paul Kelly inherited the captaincy during one of our darkest periods not only on the field but off of it.
He was the most inspirational player that I have seen play in my time of watching the game. Inspirational in his actions on the field and inspirational in his demeanour off of the field.
Respected by supporters of other clubs and often nominated as the player from the Swans that they would love to have in their team.
Of course inspiration and respect don't always align with skill and ability but with him (as MightyBloods so effectively summarised ) he could do it all.
Captain Courageous gets my vote.

[Wazza]

I dont think there is any point comparing stats between this era and any pre 2000 football. The game has changed so much with so many cheap stats in todays football, I dont think you can say play x is better than player y based on stats data.
How would you compare the influence of Kirk on the playing group on and off the field? if you just look at stats Kirk wouldnt get a mention. I also think midfield combination has an influence on the output of individual players.(apart from G Ablett) For me Kirk as a premiership leader would have to be in the top 5. My Top 5 of only players I have watched.

Goodes
Kelly
Williams
Healy
Kirk

Cheers

waz

[bloodspirit]

Since this thread started, Joey has won the last two straight B&Fs. This conversation should not die.

[Bloods05]

Watched Skilts from 1962-71. He was in a league of his own. I loved Kel and Joey is just magnificent, but we're talking champions vs an all-time great. To win 3 Brownlows in a chronically underperforming side is an unrivalled achievement. He was sui generis.

[Velour&Ruffles]

Certainly better than Diesel.

Um, no. Diesel very unlucky not to be a triple Brownlow medallist. Probably the best disposer of the ball (hand and foot) in the past 50 years. JPK is a great player but his disposal is not even close to Diesel's. It's like comparing Ali with Tyson. Both effective but one was clearly a better boxer than the other.

[Bloods05]

What stopped Diesel winning more Brownlows was the fact that he was filthy.

[aardvark]

Skilts was best. I can remember when the game plan was Bobby would kick it down the ground and the other players had to try and keep it there until he got there.

[stevoswan]

Yeah, with three Brownlows, there's no argument. Skilts by far our best midfielder......but if you're talking since we've been in Sydney, then JPK has to be up there.