Rate a 2007 retiree: Byron Pickett - champ or sniper?

[BulldogBelle]

To me he was more of the sniper variety, I was never really a fan of his - whenever I saw him play I always wondered who he would be lining up for a hit. Those will be my memories of him as a player. Sad but true.

[Bulldog Revolution]

To me he was more of the sniper variety, I was never really a fan of his - whenever I saw him play I always wondered who he would be lining up for a hit. Those will be my memories of him as a player. Sad but true.

Thats understandable - he did put some horrible hits on guys where he completely ignored the ball

GVGjr - the term champion is thrown around too losely - Pickett is a long way off that company but clearly the Port fans will remember his GF performance for many years

[BulldogBelle]

Thats understandable - he did put some horrible hits on guys where he completely ignored the ball

I am sure he did some good things but the bad overshadows the good. Mud sticks.

[mjp]

I am sure he did some good things but the bad overshadows the good. Mud sticks.

Bad overshadows good? Are you serious?

[BulldogBelle]

Bad overshadows good? Are you serious?

Yes, my opinion ofcourse, can't help how I feel about him and the way he plays his football.

[LostDoggy]

Bad overshadows good? Are you serious?

It does for me as well, always, well, almost always. I didn't watch a lot of Byron Pickett, but I wouldn't call him a champion, he was a great player, but crossed the line a few too many times.

[mjp]

Yes, my opinion ofcourse, can't help how I feel about him and the way he plays his football.

Sorry.

- Indigenous team of the century.
- 2 premierships - Including 1 Norm Smith Medal
- Rising Star Award Winner
- 170-odd games (and nearly as many goals).

When you say 'The way he plays his football', what precisely do you mean?

1/.I will cop the Krummel incident as a bad one. But that was 10 years ago.
2/.The bump on that Adelaide bloke in a pre-season game? Nothing in it.
3/.Biglands - legit hip and shoulder.
4/.I seem to remember him getting a Carlton player in a charging type incident...

He was only suspended 3 or 4 times in his career - and never for striking. Look at some old footage of heroes of our club throwing backhanders around, yet for some reason all of that is forgotten in the mists of all our memories. We all say we love hard at it players, players with a love for the contest...but do we really?

Pickett became the games most intimidating player at a shade under 5"10. That is incredible. He influenced where opposition players ran, got them looking around, simply by trotting onto the field. And he made his team-mates walk taller. Every side he went too - with the exception of 2007 - they were winners, and he was a big part of it. How better to define a career than with one word - WINNER.

If you want to criticise his sometimes appalling off-field behavior, particularly in relation to drink and car-keys, well I would not stand in your way. But he was a seriously good player, and directly or indirectly influenced the result of a lot of games in his decade or so at AFL level.

I wish we had someone with his love of contact and willingness to use it at our club.

[BulldogBelle]

- Indigenous team of the century.
- 2 premierships - Including 1 Norm Smith Medal
- Rising Star Award Winner
- 170-odd games (and nearly as many goals).

When you say 'The way he plays his football', what precisely do you mean?

I am well aware of his accolades and as I said it is my opinion - I just see him being of the sniper variety - whether he got reported, suspended, reprimanded his intentions were not always to go for the ball. I love the toughness the players dish but not when they consistantly try to take someone out when the opposition player's head is over the ball. I remember Grant getting lined up by him on a couple of occasions.

[firstdogonthemoon]

Have to agree with mjp. champchampchamp

I am concerned however that I have already posted something similar in this thread and yet I cannot see it.

It has either been deleted in some sort of mod conspiracy, I am losing my mind or I dreamt it.

Anyway, I have always been a big fan of Byron. I think mjp summed it up beautifully.

[GVGjr]

I am concerned however that I have already posted something similar in this thread and yet I cannot see it.

It has either been deleted in some sort of mod conspiracy, I am losing my mind or I dreamt it.

Mods are not guilty on this one so it might be the latter

[Dry Rot]

It has either been deleted in some sort of mod conspiracy, I am losing my mind or I dreamt it.

It's all three.

Tomorrow you'll wake up and think you are Patrick Bowden.

[lukedarcy14]

hard at it could win a game off his own boot, was in the wrong at times but always had the football world talking, CHAMP

[Raw Toast]

Probably not a champion but I don't think it's been mentioned here that many regarded him as the best player in the 1999 grand final.

To play that well in two grand finals is pretty impressive imo.

Liked watching him as a player - so explosive but could be deft if need be. And liked the way he imposed himself on the game, though I didn't like it when he ran past the ball and am glad of the crack-down on head-high hits.

[benny]

he was a average player played at north when they were flying he was just a player

[The Underdog]

he was a average player played at north when they were flying he was just a player

Welcome aboard Benny,
I don't want to come across as patronising straight up, but grammar is appreciated here.
Cheers.