The Legend of Tony Lockett

[saintbrat]

http://www.insidefootballonline.com/burke.html
THERE is no doubting that we have superstar players in our game today. But I doubt that any could cause this sort of pandemonium.
It was the early 1990s and the Saints were playing a pre-season practice match in Gippsland. The game was scheduled to start at 2pm however at 2.25pm both teams were firmly entrenched in their small dressing rooms.
Outside 2000 fired-up football followers had surrounded the rooms.
Every exit was blocked by locals who had been whipped into frenzy by the presence of one man – Tony Lockett.
"Plugger! Plugger! Plugger!" they chanted at the top of their lungs. The chanting wasn't so bad but the rhythmical banging on the plywood thin walls and corrugated iron roof made it a little scary.
It was clear that if the big man left the room he would be mobbed, so it was decided that until the throng calmed down no one would be leaving.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[St Loxton]

Here Here!!!

[prwilkinson]

Plugger is still well and truly my favourite AFL player. I remember when I met him and got him to sign my Plugger biography book.... still stuck in my brain as if it was yesterday. I'll never forget the crowd at games whenever the ball was heading his way..... PPPPPLLLLLUUUUGGGGGGGEERRRR!!!!!!! I was so gutted when he left for Sydney.

[mr six o'clock]

well said burkey !

[bigcarl]

The greatest bar none.

[Con Gorozidis]

best player i have ever seen. full stop.

[BigMart]

Sydney agreed, that's why they grabbed him and he kicked 498 goals there in 98 games..

[bobmurray]

Who cares about a Sydney player..

Didn't look too good when he made a comeback..he was a hack by then...

[Enrico_Misso]

Greatest player of all time.

[True Blue Sainter]

Sydney agreed, that's why they grabbed him and he kicked 498 goals there in 98 games..

No. It was less than that. He bagged 898 for us.

He was just a machine. The man was just indestructible. Impossible to stop on his day. Best I've seen.

[cross2012]

Back in those days there were only 2 or 3 games televised each week. I dont think many non saints supporters, got to see just how good he was.

[Rosco]

Sydney agreed, that's why they grabbed him and he kicked 498 goals there in 98 games..

No. It was less than that. He bagged 898 for us.

He was just a machine. The man was just indestructible. Impossible to stop on his day. Best I've seen.

462 in 98 games.

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/teams/swans.html

(and 50 frees for, 143 against )

[6621104]

Brown low medal playing full forward for the bottom team says it all, as others have said, best player I have seen, Carey el al included!

[ROLS-LEE]

Best player that I have seen. Some people put Dunstall and Ablett in the same category but he never had the delivery that they had or double / triple teamed, and they never won a brownlow medal. He absolutely smashed the full back of the century Silvagni several times.

[stevie]

Best player that I have seen. Some people put Dunstall and Ablett in the same category but he never had the delivery that they had or double / triple teamed, and they never won a brownlow medal. He absolutely smashed the full back of the century Silvagni several times.

Yep. Dunstall would never have kicked as many playing in an average side. Ditto Ablett.

Plugger did have days where he was held, even in his best years of 91/92.

Theres another practice match tale to tell: 1989 pre season Saints played Bummers in Cohuna in nthn Vic.

Plugger kicked 13 in two and half qtrs and took some absolute speckies - Ian Robertson was still talking about it 2 years later during a Saints game in Shitney.

No, quite simply, Plugger is the best player in history for mine

[Ross who?]

Absolutely 100% agree, my favorite player of all time. Also the best I have seen. Watching him play at Moorabbin was awesome. He was like a freight train at top speed on a lead. NOBODY in the league would stand in the way. Would be interesting to see the great man in today's footy of zones etc. I wouldn't like to be a young KP back playing against him. Imagine it "Hey Johnny, we need you to fill the hole in front of Lockett so he has nowhere to lead......." haha. I saw live a few try it, not a second time though. Even his own team mates were scared to get in his way, as most of you have probably heard. Was always a more dangerous FF than Dunstall, just because of his presence.

[kosifantutti]

Brown low medal playing full forward for the bottom team says it all, as others have said, best player I have seen, Carey el al included!

We finished 10th actually.

[jonesy]

Football has never been the same since

[joffaboy]

Watch an amazing display of kicking for goal when Lockett played for Sydney at Western Oval against Fitzroy. My brother-in-law lives virtually across the road and at halftime we wondered across to watch him kick 16.0 from all angles from all distances.

I had seen Lockett play awesome games for the Saints, but to dispassionately watch him in action from a neutral PoV that day was really a gift for anyone who loves football.

[bigcarl]

I saw him kick 13.11 or something ridiculous like that one day against the then Brisbane Bears in a pre-season practice match at Moorabbin. He kicked particularly poorly that day by his standards, but it was hot with a blustery northerly.

Crapper was playing at the other and end and was overshadowed, somewhat.

Plugger took some absolute speccies, but one passage of play sticks in my mind. He grabbed a loose ball just outside the goalsquare and dragged three Bears defenders with him - their feet dangling off the ground - as he surged towards the line to put it through.

He was immense, like a 6' 5" Leigh Matthews, only meaner, stronger and a better mark and kick.

I can't believe he's not an AFL legend yet. Sadly, Ablett senior or Carey may be inducted before him, which to my mind would be a travesty.

Had he played in better teams at his peak in the late 80s and early 90s, there'd have been no doubt about it.

[oh when the]

I have a photo of Tony , ken whiffen & me at the S.c when he won the brownlow. I am nearly kissing him.
Great drinking night at the Club.

[plugger66]

I have a photo of Tony , ken whiffen & me at the S.c when he won the brownlow. I am nearly kissing him.
Great drinking night at the Club.

Yep I came after being at the Boundary Hotel for 12 hours celebrating my other sides flag. Was blind when I got there and Plugger and Nicky walked in about 2am if I remember rightly. At one stage I had Plugger's brownlow around my neck. A highlight of my life just wish I could remember it more clearly.

[bigcarl]

There's a ... pig ... at full forward.

[jonesy]

Imagine if he had of played in that attacking Geelong side of the late 80's 90s....frightening what he would of done to the records

[elizabethr]

Woulda ,coulda,iffa..he was a Bogan thug who could play football very well..end of story!!