West Coast premiership player Karl Langdon has ranked his top seven Eagles of all-time.
Stunningly, the 100-game Eagle has left out both Ben Cousins and Chris Judd and added that he could have named another six or seven players ahead of them in his rankings.
Judd and Cousins were the gems in the crown of the club’s 2006 premiership and both served as captains of the club in that time period. The third member of their terrific trio, Daniel Kerr, was also left out.
When asked by Sportsday WA co-host Paul Hasleby why he overlooked the two superstars, Langdon said raw talent wasn’t enough to crack the list.
“Chris Judd played 134 games mate. I know they were 134 great games, but I’m being a little bit more objective here and all-encompassing and I don’t like blokes that leave. That’s the first thing I’ll say. I like one-club players to start with,” Langdon said.
“Ben Cousins was a great player, but I think when you consider the whole Ben Cousins and what happened to the football club and what they went through.
“If you just want it on pure football talent, then they are in the discussion, but when you talk about those that have been across their career and the impacted they had in the times they played, if Cousins and Judd had have been playing when Kemp and Matera were playing, would they have had the same sort of impact? The answer is 100 per cent yes.
“Look at Dean Cox who sits at the top of the Eagles’ (games played) list, what I’ve said about Shannon Hurn, his impact as a premiership player and captain and what he’s been able to do on the back of a dark side of the West Coast Eagles and lead them out of a mire … there has got to be a lot more to it for me. I would have another six or seven players ahead of Judd and Cousins if you wanted me to continue on with my list.”
The former Fremantle star (and an Eagles fan growing up) Hasleby completely disagreed, saying “the best (West Coast player) was Chris Judd and I’d have Cousins at two”.
See Langdon’s top seven West Coast players below:
7. Shannon Hurn
“Given where Shannon Hurn sits right now he might become the first player in the history of the club to play 300 games. That’s assuming the rest of the season gets underway and we play one more.”
6. Glen Jakovich
“Jakovich I think for being the best defender the football club has had, ahead of Hurn. The duals back in my day with Wayne Carey which were one-on-one and very different to the way the game is played now.
5. Josh Kennedy
“(Kennedy is) the greatest ever goal kicker in the history of the club. I think that is influence has been exceptional, it’s been unbelievable in fact and he’s a premiership player.”
4. Dean Cox
“(Cox is) the greatest ever ruckman to play for the West Coast Eagles, he was like another midfielder. He really did change the game throughout the time that he played, much like Brodie Grundy is now. He played 290 games. What a player.”
3. Guy McKenna
“Guy McKenna could have played anywhere. He was a sensational kick, he was fast, he could do things on both sides of his body and I know he played the majority of his career at half back, but he could have gone into the midfield, gone forward.”
2. Dean Kemp and 1. Peter Matera
“They are my two favourite midfielders and I always toss a coin when I get to these two. They’re Norm Smith Medallists. I’m splitting hairs to try and describe how magnificent they both were, but Matera kicked five goals in a Grand Final and Kemp what he did in 1994 was exceptional.”
