Best #1 draft pick ever? Roo or Hodge?

[Moods]

I know this is a saints forum, so I expect some biased remarks, however I saw this a couple of weeks ago in the papers and had a robust discussion with my Hawks loving mate. He took umbrage at me because I didn't put Hodge in the same class as Roo - maybe I was being a little provocative.

However for mine the ONLY knock on Roo is that he hasn't played in a premiership AND hasn't played a match winning game in a GF. That appears to be the only thing that Hawk supporters are holding onto.

Now I reckon Hodge is a great footballer, but GF's aside I can't recall too many games that he has dominated. In fact I actually think over the years Mitchell has been a better mid than him.In terms of players Roo has been consistently fantastic for 10+ years in the hardest position on the ground. He has also been B.O.G. in many many finals. As far as I can remember Hodge has only (I say only with tongue in cheek) been great in GF's but not in lead up finals.

Does Hodge deserve to be spoken about in the same breath as Roo. Do some actually rate him higher than Roo?

[desertsaint]

Roo the better player, Hodge gets the better captain nod courtesy of big performances in the biggest games. But Mitchell deserved the two last Norms.

[Bluthy]

I don't see how you can even try to make a comparison. One is an freakish power forward relentless running machine. The other an extremely clever midfielder and half back general. Hodge is an incredible leader and plays his best in the biggest of big games. But then Rooey almost single handedly got us into a grannie beating the Dogs with his last qtr brilliance.

Hodge has the advantage of playing in Clarkson's brilliant system that makes players shine so bright. McEvoy goes in and suddenly looks like a nasty, dominating around the ground ruckmen. You put Rooey in Hawthorn and he'd have 6 premiership medallions. Rooey played under Thomas' positive but tactically very naive system. Then under Lyons very negative game plan where too much rested on his shoulders and teams were allowed to triple team in big games.

[Saints43]

Genuine question. How much time does Hodge actually spend in the midfield?

I know the whole field is the midfield nowadays, but centre bounce midfield.

[mr six o'clock]

Roo is easily the better player !
Hodge is a better than average player that has won four premierships .
If he hadn't won any , no one would think about comparing them .
Saying that , I'd reckon Roo would rather be an average player with four flags !

[Bunk_Moreland]

Hodge is the better drink driver, Roo does better dick pics

[Con Gorozidis]

Have to say Roo because he has plays in a harder position and has done so for over a decade.
Just goes to show it is a team game.

[BigMart]

Riewoldt .... Imo was the 3rd best player of the noughties

Put them both in the same team... Roo is a dominant key fwd.... He would have kicked 70+ and taken 10 marks per game at Hawthorn ... He almost averages that in a terrible team.

How would hodge go at StK... Still good, but take 10% off his numbers they ain't that great to begin with. Hodge is not the equal of Hayes imo

[skeptic]

Roo is arguably the best forward of the last 10 years... if not the best then at least amongst the top few

I don't think Hodge would rate amongst even the top 10 mids of that time

[Con Gorozidis]

It is quite a disappointing list but looking at it I think Roo quite comfortably so far.

1 Anthony Banik Richmond Won Wron Woodside 1989
1 Patrick McCartin St Kilda Geelong U18 2014
1 Martin Leslie Brisbane Bears Port Adelaide (SANFL) 1986
1 Stephen Hooper Geelong East Perth 1990
1 Nick Riewoldt St Kilda Southport 2000
1 Lachie Whitfield Greater Western Sydney Dandenong U18 2012
1 Jacob Weitering Carlton Mount Eliza 2015
1 Bryce Gibbs Carlton Glenelg 2006
1 John Hutton Brisbane Bears Claremont 1991
1 David Swallow Gold Coast East Fremantle 2010
1 Tom Scully Melbourne Dandenong U18 2009
1 Josh Fraser Collingwood Murray U18 1999
1 Drew Banfield West Coast Subiaco 1992
1 Clive Waterhouse Fremantle Port Adelaide (SANFL) 1995
1 Tom Boyd Greater Western Sydney Eastern U18 2013
1 Luke Hodge Hawthorn Geelong U18 2001
1 Brendon Goddard St Kilda Gippsland U18 2002
1 Jack Watts Melbourne Sandringham U18 2008
1 Des Headland Brisbane Lions Subiaco 1998
1 Darren Gaspar Sydney Swans South Fremantle 1993
1 Alex McDonald Hawthorn Ballarat YCW 1988
1 Marc Murphy Carlton Oakleigh U18 2005
1 Brett Deledio Richmond Murray U18 2004
1 Jonathon Patton Greater Western Sydney Eastern U18 2011
1 Matthew Kreuzer Carlton Northern U18 2007
1 Michael S. Gardiner West Coast Claremont 1996
1 Richard Lounder Richmond Central District 1987
1 Adam Cooney Western Bulldogs West Adelaide 2003
1 Travis Johnstone Melbourne Dandenong U18 1997
1 Jeff White Fremantle Southern U18 1994

[st.byron]

It is quite a disappointing list but looking at it I think Roo quite comfortably so far.

1 Anthony Banik Richmond Won Wron Woodside 1989
1 Patrick McCartin St Kilda Geelong U18 2014
1 Martin Leslie Brisbane Bears Port Adelaide (SANFL) 1986
1 Stephen Hooper Geelong East Perth 1990
1 Nick Riewoldt St Kilda Southport 2000
1 Lachie Whitfield Greater Western Sydney Dandenong U18 2012
1 Jacob Weitering Carlton Mount Eliza 2015
1 Bryce Gibbs Carlton Glenelg 2006
1 John Hutton Brisbane Bears Claremont 1991
1 David Swallow Gold Coast East Fremantle 2010
1 Tom Scully Melbourne Dandenong U18 2009
1 Josh Fraser Collingwood Murray U18 1999
1 Drew Banfield West Coast Subiaco 1992
1 Clive Waterhouse Fremantle Port Adelaide (SANFL) 1995
1 Tom Boyd Greater Western Sydney Eastern U18 2013
1 Luke Hodge Hawthorn Geelong U18 2001
1 Brendon Goddard St Kilda Gippsland U18 2002
1 Jack Watts Melbourne Sandringham U18 2008
1 Des Headland Brisbane Lions Subiaco 1998
1 Darren Gaspar Sydney Swans South Fremantle 1993
1 Alex McDonald Hawthorn Ballarat YCW 1988
1 Marc Murphy Carlton Oakleigh U18 2005
1 Brett Deledio Richmond Murray U18 2004
1 Jonathon Patton Greater Western Sydney Eastern U18 2011
1 Matthew Kreuzer Carlton Northern U18 2007
1 Michael S. Gardiner West Coast Claremont 1996
1 Richard Lounder Richmond Central District 1987
1 Adam Cooney Western Bulldogs West Adelaide 2003
1 Travis Johnstone Melbourne Dandenong U18 1997
1 Jeff White Fremantle Southern U18 1994

Thanks for that Con. Sobering. Pick 1 is not necessarily a gun player. Quite a few there who turned out to be GOP's or less.