NO-ONE will ever question where to put the label of Port Adelaide's greatest footballer. Russell Ebert has that No.1 honour. And best wishes to "God" on his 72nd birthday on Tuesday while the record-breaking four-time Magarey Medallist continues his battle with serious illness.
No.2, Bob Quinn MM, Military Medallist as a war hero at Tobruk and twice a Magarey Medallist, on each side of World War II as a dominant on-baller for both Port Adelaide and South Australia. The image of courage and determination to succeed is epitomised in Quinn's reputation as a man and footballer.
Some lists - the modern rage - are easier than others.
Port Adelaide's list of its best and most significant players during the club's AFL era - 1997 onwards - has unfolded during our generation. The records are complete, unlike those of the club's pioneers from 1870 that either were not recorded with quarter-by-quarter statistics or with at least eight television cameras capturing images for instant vision or repetitive replay on YouTube.
Port Adelaide has since 1997 had 196 players represent the club in AFL premiership matches with the games list topped by Kane Cornes at 300. The top 10 of these 196?
It is doubtful any two lists will be the same. But for the sake of remembering many outstanding players who gave the Port Adelaide Football Club great credibility while taking on the challenge of being the only non-Victorian club to rise from suburbia to the national AFL league, here is another top-10 list:
1) WARREN TREDREA. Premiership captain, 255 games, 549 goals, four club champion John Cahill Medals and four consecutive All-Australian honours while playing in the demanding key role at centre half-forward during an era of outstanding forwards. And Game No.8 - at Princes Park on May 9, 1998 - remains etched in the memory. Eight goals (8.4 to be precise) while tormenting the Carlton defence with 17 marks ... on a day that ended early with a knee injury.
2) ROBBIE GRAY. Draft pick No.55 in 2006, 250 games, 348 goals, three club champion John Cahill Medals, four All-Australian honours and five Showdown Medals including two in the same season, 2018. The highlights reel makes the case for the master midfielder and opportunist forward, in particular that match-winning moment against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval in 2017 with the read of ruckman Patrick Ryder's clean tap and the assertive run to the 50-metre arc to kick the decisive goal at the northern end.
3) MATTHEW PRIMUS. Club captain during the dominant start to the 2000s decade, 137 games, 76 goals, club champion John Cahill Medal in 2002 and twice All-Australian. The image of Primus repeatedly carrying the team on his big shoulders is enough. But the case is made by reflecting on how an AFL chief executive instructs the Laws of the Game committee to change the rules of the sport to blunt a significant edge Primus had in ruck contests.
4) GAVIN WANGANEEN. Inaugural club captain, 173 games, 138 goals, club champion John Cahill Medallist in 2003 and twice All-Australian in his Port Adelaide stint. Just play the vision of that goal at Football Park that decided the 2004 preliminary final against St Kilda ...
5) CHAD CORNES. Premiership winner in 2004 (when he ranked third for the Brownlow), 239 games, 175 goals, twice All-Australian (in the club's grand final seasons) and Showdown Medallist in 2006. That duel with Brisbane centre half-forward Jonathan Brown at Football Park in the match that settled the minor premiership in August 2002 is one of the classic moments of Australian football - a big game within the biggest game of the home-and-away season. But it is the passion and commitment Cornes showed for "Port Adelaide football" - and oozed during Showdowns - that builds a club's culture, status and reputation. No statistic or honour board ever appropriately captures this.
6) TRAVIS BOAK. Club captain from the revival, 295 games, 182 goals, twice club champion John Cahill Medallist, three All-Australian honours and three Showdown Medals. At the end of 2012 - after the Geelong delegation had come to town marching through Adelaide airport like (as Keith Thomas put it) a brass band - it would have been easy for Boak to return to his home base for family reasons. He stayed true to his other family, making a commitment to Port Adelaide that can never be underestimated nor noted without full appreciation.
7) JOSH FRANCOU. Inaugural squad member, 156 games, 72 goals, three Showdown Medals and All-Australian in 2002. Also runner-up and third placed in 2002 and 2001 Brownlow Medal counts. Denied team success in 2004 by a serious knee injury and more time in the big league by repetitive injuries to both knees while working some masterly plays in tandem with ruckman Matthew Primus.
8) KANE CORNES. Club AFL games record holder with 300, 93 goals, four club champion John Cahill Medals, twice All-Australian and premiership player in 2004. This quote from premiership coach Mark Williams in reflection on the 2004 AFL grand final against Brisbane says enough: "In match committee, once we settled on Kane to stand (2003 Norm Smith Medallist) Simon Black, we had one less worry." Job done.
9) BRENDON LADE. Inaugural squad member, 234 games, 182 goals, club champion John Cahill Medallist in 2006, twice All-Australian and premiership player in 2004. And it is worth remembering that ruckman-forward Lade had to come back from a broken leg - twice! - that wiped out his 2000 and 2001 seasons. His dominant ruck work, the immaculate tandems with Shaun Burgoyne and his accurate goalkicking - plus his astute reading of the game - are not to be forgotten.
And - as every coach knows when picking the 22nd man in the line-up - who claims the last spot in this top-10 list? Justin Westhoff, who mastered so many roles in the late chapters of his 280 games? Peter Burgoyne, who was such a creative and damaging midfielder-forward during his 240 matches in the foundation seasons? Or Shaun Burgoyne before his move to Hawthorn after 157 games at Port Adelaide? Roger James, who saved Port Adelaide from the harshest choke moment at the start of the 2004 preliminary final against St Kilda? Josh Carr for his perfect 10 in Showdowns?
10) MICHAEL WILSON. Inaugural squad member, 192 games, 51 goals, Rising Star winner in 1997 and premiership winner in 2004. Sometimes it is just about commitment and sacrifice - like playing with two damaged shoulders through the 2004 season with the pain ignored for the sake of bringing glory to his football club as a homegrown Port Adelaide player.
Another list ... with some superb memories of the men who have honoured the Port Adelaide name and earned their own honour along the way.
