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Many players excel as forwards, defenders and midfielders. But few do in all positions. Some are braver than others, some smarter. Charisma, presence and leadership qualities are not automatic givens.
Excellence in the air and on the ground rarely go together. Exquisite skill on either side of the body is admired because of its scarcity. To protect, inspire and encourage inferior teammates doesn't always happen.
To dominate for close on two decades shows durability and resolve. To be a champion, you have to tick a lot of boxes. But all the above is exactly what Ted Whitten did.
He was the complete player. A footballer's footballer who could do the lot. And Whitten was respected and loved by all football fans because he gave of himself on and off the field.
Ted was a showman who delivered. He pushed and promoted the game for his beloved Bulldogs and, of course, the Big V, which he championed more than any other.
Ted was larger than life. He made people feel good, feel worthwhile and feel happy. His trademark handshake was one you would never forget. The ultra-firm grip and shake was followed by an even more powerful look into your eyes.
Whitten's final years on the football field were my first. He was all huff and puff. Barrel chest and chicken legs, with white wrist bandages. There was the arrogant strut and the feigned look of innocence when he had given someone a whack.
He hated the opposition, umpires and fans. He exaggerated free kicks. He was more showman than star, but his sheer presence made the occasion better and more memorable for all concerned.
Whitten made his debut for Footscray in 1951. His career spanned 20 seasons. In 1954 he lined up at centre half-back to star in the Bulldogs' first and only premiership.
His captain, coach and mentor that day was Charlie Sutton. When told this week that Ted had been voted No.1, Charlie said the selectors "were right on the ball". That Ted "was the complete package".
Charlie marvelled that Ted could dominate in any key position. The worry was that at full-back or full-forward, the champion could be left out of the game for long periods, so the preference was either centre half-back or centre half-forward.
Sutton wished that film had been taken of Whitten on the training track. He was so naturally gifted that the skills flowed. And he pushed himself so hard that the coach would often order him from the track, for fear there wouldn't be enough brilliance left for Saturday.
At age 23, Whitten took over from Sutton and became captain-coach. It was a role he filled for 10 seasons. In all, Whitten captained his club for an amazing 14 years.
The boy from Braybrook took enormous pride in playing for his state. He made his Big V debut in 1955 and wore the jumper with pride 29 times. He later became chairman of selectors for Victoria, and went on to promote state-of-origin football, more than anyone else in the land.
Whitten retired as a player early in the 1970 season, after breaking the long-standing VFL games record of 320, held by Essendon's Dick Reynolds.
Whitten was a champion footballer and many will agree that he was the best of all time. More importantly, he was a champion bloke. He was loyal to his club and to his roots, playing with only the one team, and living his life in the western suburbs.
He died too young from prostate cancer in 1995. But he lives on through the wonderful work his son Ted jnr does with the E.J.Whitten foundation, the Whitten Oval that is named in his honour, and the picture of Ted and his son in a car doing a lap of honour at the MCG before a state game.
It is a picture that forever will stay in the minds of those that saw it.
