Versus - James Hird v Nathan Buckley

Hirdy or Bucks - Who will come out on top?For more video, head to afl.com.au

[@fourminutes2032]

The ultimate goal of any footballer is play in at least one premiership in their career. Hird was lucky in 93' but captained a flag in 2000. Bucks, a great technician, never played in a winning grand final side. So based on that, i think HIrdy.

[@TheDan100000]

James Hird definitely also won three Anzac Day medals beating up Buckleys side.

[@Happy-Harris]

You can't compare them, they are both different bodies and harbor different skill sets. Both champions.

[@seamusb1047]

I think weirdly enough Buckley has become a bit underrated, since a lot of people seem to put him a notch below Hird and Voss. His kicking efficiency over 50-65m and on both sides is the best I have ever seen. I remember watching North play the Pies in '94 when the Pies were terrible and Shaw played Buckley on Carey at CHB, and he competed with him all day, kept Carey fairly quiet, and ran off him all day (not saying it would happen often if they played on each other regularly, but to do that even once is impressive). So I put Buckley on the same level as Hird and Voss. Having said that, if I was in the schoolyard taking turns picking players, I'd take Hird slightly before Buckley.

[@space_ace_1]

James Hird everyday of the week

[@Whoknowsuknow]

Buckley imo . . . he averaged 25 disposals and a goal as a pure midfielder. It doesn't get a whole lot better than that. His disposals were penetrating and damaging as well, he wasn't padding his stats.

[@danbos7465]

Hird match winner

[@jackpd34]

HIRD all day

[@aaronsalmon1376]

Hirdy by a mile. The guy won a brownlow in '96 then missed most of the next 3 years through injury, would've won one possibly two more. A footballing genius.

[@kentwalker1969]

Bucks for me on this one, hard to say as I love James Hird, but Hird was used to plug gaps a lot so that at times had him in negating roles which is hard to put stats to and probably is forgotten because years later we can only look to stats and our memories, Hird averaged 15 games a season Bucks managed 18, Bucks racked up 24 touches a game on average Hird 20, in clearances Bucks also wins out 4.6 per game to 3.2, tackles also goes to Bucks 2.2 to 1.7, Hirdy comes back with 1.3 goals a game to Bucks 1, Bucks scored more Brownlow votes 178 to 125 which is 0.66 per game for Bucks and 0.54 to Hirdy, it becomes hard to make a case for Hirdy so I have to go with Bucks, oddly enough who did I enjoy watching went to Hirdy, loved his courage and ability to play absolutely anywhere. But if I was buying a player id have to go with Bucks, averaging 3 games a season more is worth it.

[@benstewart5965]

Buckley gets my vote for sure. Both players were great, bucks failed to get the premiership medal where as Hird succeeded. Bucks player more games, won more fairest and best, and made the All Australian team more times. For the people who say Bucks couldn't step it up in big games, you clearly don't know anything, he is one of the only 4 players to win a norm smith in a losing grand final. They are both highly talented and skilled players, but only Buckley could kick on both feet at an elite level. Together in the one team they would be unstoppable, but if I had to choose one, it would be Bucks for sure. Not to mention the fact that Nathan Buckley was the first ever to win the AFL Rising Star award, in the same year that James Hird was eligible and nominated.

[@ttrus2771]

I don’t think anyone is stating Buckley never played well in a big game... rather, Hird was known as a big game player - the number of games where he either won it off his own boot, or literally willed the team across the line, is quite remarkable and numerous. 5 club Best & Fairests during this era at Essendon, I’d suggest is a more impressive feat than 6 at Collingwood. Plus, we can’t forget, Hird was a Premiership captain! Additionally, Hird missed close to 3 seasons due to severe injury..

[@bradfordhammer3104]

Hahahahaha I see so many saying Hird because "He could get 25 and the team would win" or bla bla bla. Hird played the majority of his career foward then went in the middle to create a big body. It's easy to be a 'game winner' if you're sitting at full forward or running from the half forward. Bucks played everywhere. And if he tackled you, you knew about it. A great comment was..."One of only 4 players to win a Norm Smith on the losing side'. It's not even a real question. Hated Hird because of his brilliance but Buckley was... constantly brilliant. Fantastic players both

[@spinking458]

Buckley was great, but Hird was special. That's the difference. Buckley is a guy that you know what you're gonna get every week with. But if a games to be won, there's no one I'd rather have at the contest than James Hird.

[@Swordguy502]

Both

[@jakemoses88]

Hird Premierships and big games Finished with a b&f while Buckley limped around in their respective last seasons

[@Koroar]

Vegeta Sanchez At least Buckley doesn't inject his players. Cya.

[@ttrus2771]

What a foolish remark when the question is about comparing the playing careers of the two...

[@kentwalker1969]

Totally disagree, what do you mean limped around in last season, Buckley's 2nd to last season 21 games with avg disposal of 22, Hird's entire career he only averaged 20 disposals, I agree Buckley's last season was poor and yes he played one year too many, Buckley averaged 24 touches a game over his career as said that beats Hird's 20.

[@jakeseymour2484]

Hird had all the same level of grit and courage but Buckley didn’t have the pure natural talent to match. Hird easy

[@fibnacci9728]

Buckley any day. He was flawless

[@nickjohn4963]

Hird

[@jacktripp5138]

Bucks

[@kiyoshi7778]

Buckly

[@scottwarner1017]

This was the way football should be played. Now with all the zoning it resembles soccer, it not a good spectacle in my opinion.

[@locuus7]

Buckley was a great player, but Hird was that step up from that

[@eddyeddy8946]

top 15 players since the 90s 1.ablett snr 2.ablett jnr 3.carey 4 . Lockett 5.hird 6.voss 7.goodes 8.bucks 9.judd 10.hodge 11.buddy 12.silvagni 13.akermanis 14.pavlich 15.robert harvey

[@obi-nine1504]

West coast Judd is 5 and Gazza jnr is a bit too high. It should be Ablett Snr, Carey, Lockett, Dunstall, Judd and Ablett

[@Dr_Footbrake]

Buckley a better athlete and better skills, and picking a side from scratch he'd probably be my preference (with other, better leaders around him). However, Hird gets my vote based off how their respective careers panned out

[@roman0206]

James Hird of course!!!

[@jewdavid5627]

Personally, I rate Buckley a better player. He gave one hundred percent effort almost every game. And was unlucky in 2002 not to win a premiership medal.

[@raycob94]

hird 100%

[@danielgroves1988]

Hird was a match winner and the best player in the best team for many seasons. Bucks could have 40 and Collingwood would still lose. Hird would get 25+ and Essendon would win. Would take Hird everyday over Bucks. Hird knew how to single-handed win the biggest games - ANZAC Day and Finals! Watch the 2000 GF to see why!!!!! :)

[@MrYummyCereal]

Hird easily, much more well rounded player than Buckley.

[@supermanvtheworld7435]

Yummy Cereal yes hird the drugie coach of the century

[@ttrus2771]

....but he’ll always be better than Buckley!

[@Kobizcoaster]

Who si the guy commentating buckley's goal at the end?

[@mabiorcholappreciationpage]

Michael Christian

[@AriTaarnby]

Don't use their premierships as comparisons, we are judging them as players not their team success

[@jakeseymour2484]

Still Hird

[@lempollo6430]

Bucks for sure, everything he touched turned to gold.

[@AwesomeDude7164]

Nathan Buckely won 1 - 3 in stats

[@MrZhish]

Are including the total numbers of games played as a statistical indicator of superiority??

[@Honk1559]

Both great, but id take buckley.

[@Aka_daka]

I'd take both but Hird better imo

[@chunkymonkey4465]

Buckley bi miles

[@trenclen5846]

Whose the better coach 😂

[@liamarbuckle1682]

James hird

[@harveyair13]

Nathan buckly for sure

[@jessyc3891]

Buckley

[@aflgalaxy640]

hird

[@skitsyeets4376]

Bucks.

[@smoothbeak]

Better played Hird, better coach... Buckley :P

[@Gertzy41]

Buckley you could have written your own check! Stayed in sunny Brisbane and played and captained the lions to 3flags 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jangus934]

bucks

[@eponymous7910]

Hird's best was a notch up from Buckley but he didn't have the same consistency. The whole Charter association is dodgy af too

[@TheMasterBucks]

Buckley for sure mate he was a dead set gun ;)

[@rossimate96]

Collingwood? You've let me down mate hahahah

[@ryanhamers582]

Bucks, I didn't expect u to be in the comment section for this. Keep up the good work on your channel, lovin it

[@jackallen7514]

James Hird was a better disposal and shot at goal however Bucks picked up many more disposals and was more flashy than Hird. Hird won 2 premierships and a Norm Smith so he gets my vote

[@benstewart5965]

It's well noted that Buckley was an elite skilled player on both sides of the body, and also well noted that hird could not kick on his left foot. Bucks also won a norm smith, both great players

[@jackallen7514]

Fair point about both sides and the Norm Smith, hard to choose from but I think i'm still edging in Hird

[@benstewart5965]

+ Look it up mate, he rarely used his left foot

[@ReptileRiley2006]

Hird any day of da week

[@JamesB.1]

Nathan Buckley

[@airdison]

hirdy not even a contest

[@Transformersguy223]

being a carlton fan i dislike both XD

[@tonyn1336]

Lollll at people actually picking buckley never did special things just a possession player like mitchell that all shouldnt even put buckley in hird league straigh out also hird rarely played a full season after brownlow win only played like 10 games in 3 years when doctors said he said retire he also came second in brownlow in 2003 and missed 8 games so really he should have won another

[@billyjackson141]

Why are they comparing them it’s easily bucks

[@atrainjr7754]

Biz B Never won a single premiership, clearly hird

[@mabiorcholappreciationpage]

@@atrainjr7754 premierships are a poor way to determine which player is better, as they are team achievements. Your logic would make Marlion Pickett a better player than Buckley

[@smackons]

First

[@DukeDewkDook]

Hird

[@HammaJPranks]

Bucks

[@hilley19]

Hird

[@Marc-hw4ks]

Bucks

[@stylianos999]

Bucks

[@skippytail9574]

Bucks

[@cino1655]

Bucks

[@jackcameron566]

Bucks