"Breust or Rioli?": Brownlow Medallist floats major comparison ahead of star's 300th game

Gerard Healy and Brad Johnson have paid tribute to Hawthorn champion Luke Breust as he prepares to line up in his 300th AFL game this weekend.

Taken with pick 77 as a rookie elevation selection in 2011, Breust has established himself as one of the competition’s best hybrid forwards of the modern era, kicking 548 goals along his illustrious journey thus far.

Three premierships, two All-Australians and five Hawthorn leading goal-kicker awards, Breust will certainly go down as one of the greats, and with another year confirmed by the club, the story could be better yet.

“I just love the longevity of Luke Breust and what he’s been able to do,” Johnson told SEN Sportsday.

“We’ve done a lot of Hawthorn games over a long period of time, (he is) the best front-and-square player, I’d put Robbie Gray on par.

“There has been a lot of gun front-and-square players, but he is so good in what he’s been able to achieve over his 300-game career, he obviously has extended for another 12 months, and why wouldn’t you with the Hawks in the position that they are in?

“That probably helps himself and Jack Gunston get the extra 12 months as well because of what they do as a senior core group within this line up.”

Gerard Healy passed on his praise for the soon-to-be 300-gamer, taking a different route in comparing Breust to his former teammate and another of Hawthorn’s most celebrated forwards.

“To get to 300 games is an amazing achievement in any era, he’s done it and continuing to go on,” Healy said.

“What I’d like to know from the Hawks fans, if you could take one of: Luke Breust, or Cyril Rioli, who would you take?

“Both have been small forwards, one played 300 the other played 189, both have been unbelievable premiership players, so there is your choice, Hawks fans.”

Rioli kicked 275 goals from his incredible 189-game career for the Hawks, lighting it up on the biggest stages to take home four premierships, a Norm Smith medal and three All-Australian selections.

Breust’s journey continues as the Hawks face Port Adelaide in a do-or-die Semi-Final this Friday.