Rama would have been an elite top 10 player in the AFL in my view.
The other's best football was very good but I feel that Rama was the biggest loss because the factor's that prevented us from ever seeing the absolute best of him where completely outside his own control.
Rioli's knee problems that lead to his eventual demise was exerbated by his inability to control his weight, while Cupido and Lovett had attitude problems and off field issues that prevented them from preforming at their best consisently and lead to premature ends to their careers as well.
Rama on the other hand had to battle cancer several times and then finally when he regained his health he then does his knee. Still a servicable back pocket/hbf when he came back, but I have no doubt he could have been an elite AFL midfielder if he did not have the battles with cancer that he did.
I thought Cupido.
Was my favourite as a kid and could do almost anything on the field.
You talk about X-factor, this guy had it in spades.
Would love for us to find another one like him but unfortunately they don't grow on trees.
I'd like another one just like him apart from the being a head case part. It wasn't his lack of football ability that saw his career end earlier than it should have.
It is definitely out of Rioli and Rama for me. Well ahead of the other two imho. Rioli had the dual-sided kicking ability of Darren Jarman and was an incredible talent. My favourite footballer during his time. Rama was cut down just as he shifted into the centre square, he gave real signs of going on to dominate there in those early games that year (2002 was it? I forget). Unlike Rioli, Rama didn't have much say in the sad affair.
Rama for me but dont think that Lovett gets the accolades he deserved. Lovett was a seriously good footballer, could of been one of the best in the comp, one of the most natuarally gifted footballers ive seen, unfortunately his attitude didnt match his skills
Rioli was all class and possibly could have been one of the best players in the league.
But Rama was exactly what we needed during that 2003-2010 period. Not only did we need him to play a gun midfield role, which was extremely needed. He should have been Captain. The club needed his leadership, and we needed his leadership in the midfield to bring the next generation through (Stanton, Winderlich, Monfries, Watson).
Cupido was the biggest dissapoinent because he isn’t even get close to the player he could have. His skills alone were just awesome.
But Lovett for me was the biggest loss. Anyone who remembers Anderw Lovett tear Carlton a new one time and time again would agree that if he brought that game every week we would have been a much better team and he would have been a massive player instead he was just a player with a massive head
I remember Lloydy saying that he loved leading out from full forward when the ball was in Rioli’s hands. May have even called him the best kick he played with…
Rioli for me. Like Neale Daniher he was beautiful to watch with sublime skills. He seemed to move in slow motion yet still beat his opponents, made others look like they were klutzes. Wonderful skills. The best players make the most difficult things look easy.
...Unlike Rioli, Rama didn't have much say in the sad affair.
Rioli had a say in his knee issues?
Yes.
Carrying an extra 10-15kg and trying to do the running required for AFL does damage to your knees. As fantastic as Rioli was (and one of my personal favourites) he never put in the dedication required to get his body right.
Rioli, simply a sublime talent who could have been anything if his body (and appetite) hadn’t let him down. The most exquisite skills on a footballer I have ever seen.