Fair enough I really don't have enough past on Baldock and Stewart but I'm also not saying as far as greatest all time Saints but overall skill and talent and in that department I would rate him higher than Lockett and Harvey.Mr Magic wrote:Stewart to Baldock was akin to the Krakouer bros passing to each other.Winmar7Fan wrote:Mr Magic wrote:If you think that Harvey, however brilliant he was, was a more skillful player than either Baldock or Stewart then maybe it's time for you to get a copy of the old black and white films from the 60's when Baldock and Stewart were playing.BigMart wrote:What Harves did over 21 years is more than any other player achieved - perhaps by double....
He is without doubt the best EVER!!!!
If you think there has been a more skilful footballer (winning the ball in footy is perhaps the most important skill) I think we should bring out the 97-98 tapes.......or maybe the 92/94 tapes, maybe even the 2003 tapes....
You've obvioulsy forgotten or never seen what they, especially Baldock was capable of doing.
Afterall, he didn't give himself the nickname of Mr Magic - the football world did that.
Considered by many to have been the greatest ball handler and side-stepper the game has ever seen.
I seem to recall even the modest Robert Harvey marvelling at the Doc's ability to get the footy and avoid being tackled.
They were just before my time but if we go into the most skillful player could either of these two
Play and pinpoint perfectly off left or right foot up to a long distance?
Dominate in the mid field with ferocious tackling ability?
Then go up forward if needed and play tall taking spectacular high flying marks and kick up to 6 goal from up to 60 meters out?
I know a lot of people penalise him because he wasn't as disciplined and as great a club man as Harvey which is a bloody shame because IMO NO ONE could do it all and moved with such grace as Winmar.
I've never seen a player generate so much electricity with a crowd when near the ball. I know I was jumping out of my skin.
When your getting the old 60s Baldock black and white films out also get out the videos of the 80s (and these will be in colour).
Baldock played CHF at 5 foot 10inches tall. Every week his opponent was taller than him.
Both players were eqaully adept at left or right foot.
I don't recall either player kicking goals from 60 mtrs out - but then very, very few players were capable of kicking those distances for a variety of reasons including (but not limited to):-
their boots were much more cumbersome than todays
the footy was more often than not waterlogged due to the condition of the ground and weather.
Notwithstanding that it was very common to see Stewart pinpoint dropkick passes to Baldock and others up to 50 yards away.
In terms of courage - neither could be faulted.
So, IMO whilst Nicky had all that you claimed he did, nand is on my list of 10 greatest Saints, he's at a level below Baldock, Lockett, Stewart, and Harvey.
Even though Harvey and Lockett are totally opposite type players Winmar could play both spots very well. How well could Harvey play FF or Plugger in the Mid field?
Harvey even though he had incredible evasive skills, a consistent ball magnet and longevity could only play off one side and his disposal still wasn't super sharp including shots at goal even though yes his chip passing was good ( I feel I'm going to be shot for this).
I just believe Winmar was talented in almost all areas which is very rare among all champions.
