Hardest footballer of all time?

[CrowsFan]

Paul Kelly was always tough around the contest, can remember him doing his ACL and running off the ground...

Most people can still run after doing an ACL - just cant change direction

Was just about to say that until I came to the bottom of the thread...

[Samm79]

that guy who dislocated his knee hit it back in then kept on playing, i think he played for sydney?

I remember Tadhg Kennelly doing this, not sure if he is the only one. He just punched it from the side of his leg, got up and carried on like nothing had happened!

yeah i can't remember which one i remember  ???... it was on the flank running towards the bench then he got it back in and just kept on playing lol awesome!!

That was the one! Couldn't find anything on youtube, would have been good to have the link.

[crabapples]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RQURPifOnE

theres this short one but i swear i can remember another one (must be kennelly) where he's running and hits it back in

[Mr.Craig]

Francis Bourke maybe?

"Bourke's name became a by-word for courage. His persistence was recognised by Richmond when it awarded him the club's "Most Determined" trophy in 1967, 1972, 1977 and 1980. Just as he had continued to play after being warned not to when a teenager, Bourke often played with injuries that would have incapacitated others. In 1971, in a game against Hawthorn, he unwittingly broke a bone in his leg, but continued to play until the extent of his injury was realised, then managed to walk off the ground. The injury, serious enough to keep him off the field for the next nine games, became essential to the legend of Bourke's determination. He was also a great finals player, and received a trophy as best player in Richmond's unsuccessful finals campaign of 1972.

Following their thrashing in the 1972 Grand Final, the Tigers decided that the team's defence required bolstering, so Bourke was shifted to half back. Going into the 1973 finals, Bourke suffered a severe knee injury that put his career in doubt, yet, despite running with a visible limp, was a stand out in the Grand Final playing on Carlton's matchwinner, Alex Jesaulenko. Richmond won back-to-back flags in 1973â€"1974 and Bourke was one of the team's stars."

[Mat0369]

Paul Kelly was always tough around the contest, can remember him doing his ACL and running off the ground...

The first ACL injury Lenny Hayes had he actually played out the game.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Saints-lose-Hayes-for-AFL-season/2006/05/29/1148754931810.html

[Donnie Brasco]

Angus Monfries, Kyle Reimers, Mitch Robinson... REAL HARD!!!

[McRooster]

Dermott Brereton (after the hit by Mark Yates in the 89 GF), Luke Hodge in the 2008 GF, Mark Riccuito and Patrick Dangerfield in most games they play + Rory Sloane, and for the those who saw SanfL in the 80's - Kim Klomp.

Kim Klomp was so hard at the ball he was bestowed the nickname 'Moses' - because the opposition would part ways when Klomp attacked the ball   8)

[Capper]

that guy who dislocated his knee hit it back in then kept on playing, i think he played for sydney?

I remember Tadhg Kennelly doing this, not sure if he is the only one. He just punched it from the side of his leg, got up and carried on like nothing had happened

It wasnt Tadhg, he tried to put his shoulder back in, by some one tugging on his arm. It was Darryn Creswell, just that look on his face when it went back in.

i dont know many AFL pre 1980, but the hardest player i have seen would be either Archer, Riccuito, Rod Carter, Derm, Brad and Chris Scott and Nathan Burke

[Cicjose]

no one has mentioned Leigh Matthews?

[CrowsFan]

no one has mentioned Leigh Matthews?

Yes they have cic, in the fourth post in this thread...

Leigh Matthews - you don't see a point post broken every day  ;D

[CrowsFan]

How about Jay Schulz for playing 2 and a half quarters with cracked ribs and internal bleeding, then going to intensive care after the game?

Oh and another one no one has mentioned yet is Tom Lonergan. He still backs in to packs even though he lost a kidney doing it years ago, and he knows that a similar incident could kill him (and that's not an exaggeration). If that's not hard, I don't know what is!

[elephants]

Agree with CF on Lonergan. I still cringe whenever he runs back with the flight. Makes you realise the risk involved in the game we play every Saturday and Sunday morning...

[blue]

michael voss was hard at the footy BUT

Robert DiPierdomenico
Late in the first quarter of the 1989 VFL Grand Final, DiPierdomenico was running backwards to take a mark when he was met solidly from behind by Geelong star Gary Ablett. The force of the collision broke several of DiPierdomenico's ribs and punctured one of his lungs. Despite the pain and unaware of the extent of the damage, DiPierdomenico continued to play until the final siren. Typically, he featured among Hawthorn's best players and also got reported. He collapsed shortly after the game and was rushed to the casualty ward of St. Vincent's Hospital, where doctors found out that Dipper had punctured a lung.

[McRooster]

Danyle Pearce  :P

[T Dog]

+1 for Dermie and Dipper... :o..And of course Tuddy and Whitten.. 8)