Head to head, Joel Cross vs Mark Naley

Someone asked me the other day if I thought that Dual Magarey winner Joel Cross was a better player than Mark Naley when the two players are contrasted together?

Both have won the Magarey and both have been amongst the very best players in the team in the time that they were and are at the club. Cross has not been there for the length of time that Naley had been as yet, but has been at the club since 2011.

Naley was given the position of "rover" and Half Forward, Rover is a term that you do not hear a great deal these days in the modern game. Clearly they both play the game pretty well, yet at the same time I cant really make a call on who I think is a better player. Whilst the game has evolved in some ways I am not convinced that modern sides would have the measure of some of the truly great teams of the past.

Still, to ask the question to the group, head to head, Mark Naley vs Joel Cross, who would you choose?

i'll say Naley & only because of body size, yes Naley was small but he was solid, Cross is obviously a great player but would his body stand up playing in Naleys' era ? alternatively would Naleys' football stand up today ? my answer is i think Naley would adjust far more easily than Cross

Naley was quicker and far more dangerous near goal. As much as I rate JC (and I rate him HIGHLY), Naley has him well covered.

Naley was a very clever and consistent player. Part of the handy SA quartet that Carlton had in the late 80s too. I'd take him.

Mark naley

Cross is nowhere near Naley. Comparisons between current SANFL players and those pre AFL I think is pointless. I think Cross is a very good player in our competition but not AFL standard .
I think a good comparison would be Cross V Liddle. Liddle for me.

Naley for me, he was very quick and very accurate. Rarely beaten when playing against some other greats of the game.

I saw Naley play a lot and Ive seen most of Joel Cross' games for the Panthers.
Naley was quicker; Naley had a left foot kick almost as good as his right. Naley was an extremely good user of the ball.
In todays Sanfl Cross is a standout for sure, a dual Magarey medalist, but I wouldnt put him in the same class as Nales. ..I think he'd even admit that often his kicking lets him down a bit. Naley was also runner up in the Magarey medal twice, and was a Premiership player at Carlton.

Naley gets my vote.