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Cameo King
24th June 2005, 18:00
With Jon Horn, the Sheik and everyone else in VAFA circles doing "lists", I think its the Cameo King's turn to address a forgotten area in the ammos. The magoos. As a long time reserve player/fan, I've used extensive contacts to construct this list. Comments and further nominations welcome;

1 Justin Evans (St Bernards)
Has been the immovable rock on the half-back line at the snakepit for years. If they had reserve league b&f's he'd have a handful of em by now. With incredible hands he plucks mark after mark and then invariably will choose the right option when heading out of defence. Would be in the seniors anywhere else.

2. Chris Efa... (Old Haileybury)
One of the most famous players in the comp, seniors or reserves. A favourite of Jonathan Horn's, Big Foo has been a fixture in the Bloods goalsquare for nearly a decade. He's surprisingly agile and a smart player who rarely misses with his left foot.

3. Scott (Old Brighton)
Dunno his first name, but a brilliant player no doubt. Looks as if he'd be more at home browsing Schappelle St and doing coffee, but this designer stubble forward has an incredible set of hands and is lightening quick on the lead. Can let himself down in front of the sticks though.

4. Anthony Jordan (Ruperstwood)
Of the Jordan family AJ is the cricketer. But whilst he suffers in comparison to brothers Ben and Dan when it comes to footy, AJ knows what he is doing when he crosses the white line as well. Keen amateur followers who scour the record every week will always see the name A Jordan kicking a few goals for the Sunbury club. He's got a great goal sense and is clincal when the opportunity presents itself.

5. Martin Joyce (Old Paradians)
For so long this tireless ruckman has been the heart and soul of the men in green's reserves machine. Some days he would just own the Brother Garvey oval, winning the centre hit outs, then roaming around the ground a kick behind play, constantly thwarting opposition forward thrusts. If you wanna beat the Parade twos, you better have a quality ruckman.

6. Daniel Manton (SKOB)
A tireless worker, Daniel is a lynchpin of the SKOB ressies midfield. Having had so many problems with injury throughout school and Under 19's, Daniel appears to be on the right track again now. Renowned for his ferocious attack on the footy, Daniel is the one man who is not rotated through the interchange. He made a fleeting appearance in the firsts against Trinity earlier this year, only to received severely bruised ribs after attacking the ball as only he knows how. Though only 21, Daniel has the tenacity required for a dour struggle on a wet and windy day at Old Rigret throughout the June/July period.

7. Bryar (North Old Boys)
In recent times the brains trust at NOBs have had a dazzling plan in the 2nds. "Long bombs to Bryar". A strategy akin to the North/Snake Baker days of '78, it sees this fit forward have the run of the fifty and take hangars every week. Another 2nds forward who despite his brilliance will miss more shots at goal than he should.

8. Phil Dinakis (Old Ivanhoe)
They build em big and tough out at Pine Lodge. And Phil is no exception. A back flanker/on baller who doesn't give an inch. He gives the impression he'd be more at home in the sensational 70s when men were men, but as it is he will get his 30+ touches every week and keep the Chelsworth Park faithful happy.

9. Rambo's Brother (Old Trinity)
Does it tough living in his brothers shadow, but he's a handy player in his own right just the same. May have even played in a senior B-Grade flag? Honest goer.

10. Nick Bartram (Old Essendon)
Whilst the Ram is now blossoming in the seniors under coach Calthorpe, he still is regarded as one of the premier reserve grade players in recent times. A versatile backman, he could take one of the key forwards or even handle the small forwards if the team required it. An old fashioned player who has developed a cult following out on Keilor Hill with his wily antics.

The OC
26th June 2005, 12:59
A very good list Cameo. Some great if not enigmatic talent.

Justin Evans is a superstar, it's a shame that he hasn't played more senior footy, surely one of the most capped 2's players in VAFA history.

What are the wily antics of Bartram that you talk of.....?

The Big Pineapple
27th June 2005, 16:00
Murray Makris from Old Essndon was very stiff to miss out on the top 10.

Alphonse
27th June 2005, 20:13
Great work Cameo King.

What a veteran VAFA reserves player Justin Evans is, he widely known for his achievements in A reserve. In fact so famous is he that he now has catch the train from South Kensington instead of Kensington to avoid the VAFA paparrazzi.

But i must say i am a little bit offended that i missed out given my outsanding VAFA credentials. You list Bartram at 10 yet Alphonse once took 17 marks on him at the Gillon. An oversight maybe.

Others unlucky to miss were:
D Joyce (nobs)
R Legudi (OEG)
PUGS (OEG)

Mr Picnic
28th June 2005, 09:19
Great work Cameo King.

What a veteran VAFA reserves player Justin Evans is, he widely known for his achievements in A reserve. In fact so famous is he that he now has catch the train from South Kensington instead of Kensington to avoid the VAFA paparrazzi.

But i must say i am a little bit offended that i missed out given my outsanding VAFA credentials. You list Bartram at 10 yet Alphonse once took 17 marks on him at the Gillon. An oversight maybe.

Others unlucky to miss were:
D Joyce (nobs)
R Legudi (OEG)
PUGS (OEG)


Former Teal Cup Representative Phil Grapsis is a Top 10 reserves star in the making to those in the know.

Makris, Morry and Chris Brooks unlucky to miss out on selection.

Scribe
28th June 2005, 11:30
Cameo - the topic is pure gold.

It also appeals to my pathetically deep knowledge of A reserve opposition and my following nominations from each club are:

Old Xaverians - D. (Nordberg) Walsh. Agreed, he did sneak in for a senior medallion in 2003, but I've line up or near Nordy for the vast majority of the last 12 years, and he can go, just has the problem of having too many better on-ballers at his club. Oh and he has red hair.

St Bernards - Justin Evans & Steve Ianazzo Tied here. Agreed with Justin's nomination because he's almost impenetrable at half back, but Steve's almost in the same class. Plenty of possibles at Bernies, which explains their consistency.

Old Scotch - Ollie Crane Now semi-retired, and did play ones last year but Ollie simply couldn't be kept down and was the main reason they made the GF last year (only to get belted as everyone predicted by the Blues).

Uni Blues - Tom Hutchins The rock at CHB, also playing a tad in the seniors this year, but at 32, he's been a fantastic defensive linch-pin for Uni over the past decade.

Marcellin - Rob Galati Pinged a hammy on Saturday and any chance they had of being competitive went down the gurgler. Ripped a sensational goal out of his proverbial before the sniper nailed him frmo the top deck of the Cohen Pavillion at Trinity. Hard to match-up on because he's strong, quick over 10 and very clean.

Old Melburnians - James Dixon On the way up, and can seriously play. Probably not a fair nomination because OMs have such a big turnover, I haven't seen many regulars in the past few years. He just tore us up in Rd 8, has been regularly in their best, yet hasn't been promoted.

Old Haileybury - The FOO. Don't forget, Chris actually won the A Grade senior goal-kicking as a 19 year old in 1997 or so. Never has a harsh word for anyone, but at his size, would you need to? Great hands and an even better kick. If he lost weight, he'd probably be like Craig Parry and lose his rhythm!!

St Kevins - Dave Sheehy - another late bloomer who's playing regular one's now but every time we played them in the late 90's/early 00's I'd be told to line up on him and watch him. So I did, and he usually got 30 touches. Looked good from where I was standing.

Collegians - Andrew (?) Smith - a toughie here because we haven't played them for years, and they're so young now. Smithy's gnarly, nuggety, but still running madly and makes me look young out there so he gets the gong.

The call of Richie Ramsden is tough because he's played probably over half his games in the seniors. Just happens to stand out like a dog's balls when he does play with us because he's so damn big. Did play in the B Grade premiership in 1999, coming on to replace his brother after Andrew was concussed well into next week by some friendly fire. Can often be found sleazing on the dancefloor at The Prince at 3am on a Sunday. Sam Vandervene is another who's played half/half for the last 4 years, but always plays well in the Magoos.

Cheers
#25
:)

Knight Rider
28th June 2005, 12:25
Geez so many quality players mentioned by everyone so far yet none from Caulfield, I know the club hasn't been a dominant player in Amateurs of late but surely one of us deserves some acknowledgement?

You can't go past Tim Gerrand (Caulfied) for mind, he can play in any position week in week out, and will get the job done resulting in a top 3 best afield every week! Why he's not playing senior football is beyond me...

The OC
28th June 2005, 15:39
Richie Ramsden sleazing at Prince. Never seen it

Butch McHutcheon
28th June 2005, 16:49
Does Marat Bartram's cult following have anything to do with his entourage of large women that he drags around with him?

The OC
28th June 2005, 18:01
Does Marat Bartram's cult following have anything to do with his entourage of large women that he drags around with him?

I think it has a lot to do with knowing the Red Headed cut of meat who resides near by.

The Wizard
29th June 2005, 17:57
You've missed a few....

Ben Hogan (Bernards)
Dirk Heinz (University Blues)
Patrick Mount (SKOB)
OS now, but James Mount (Bernards premiership captain)

Nazzo is a dud & Legudi hasn't done a thing since his U19's days.

Scribe
30th June 2005, 16:02
You've missed a few....

Ben Hogan (Bernards)
Dirk Heinz (University Blues)
Patrick Mount (SKOB)
OS now, but James Mount (Bernards premiership captain)

Nazzo is a dud & Legudi hasn't done a thing since his U19's days.

Hogie - good senior player in the 90's, very good twos player now (given his drinks carrying career peaked with Boof Lehmann in the Caribbean). Thought he was over-qualified.

Heinz - correct me if I'm wrong but didn't he spend most of last year in the Mighty Blues Threes? Not that there's anything wrong with that, they were a ripper side, but......

Pat Mount - looks very good, didn't do much against us but Luke Kalesaran's better.

Jimmy Mount - agreed - good player, but he's no matchwinner/saver.

The Wizard
30th June 2005, 19:02
Heinz - correct me if I'm wrong but didn't he spend most of last year in the Mighty Blues Threes?

Threes, you mean Club 18's?

No, Heinz was their U19 Captain last year. Also their leading goalkicker. Was bottom age & played seniors at Shepp United the year before that.

Petrov
5th July 2005, 21:30
One of the most dominant players to play Reserve footy over the last few years was M.Verge (Tecky) from OM's. I think he retired last year after terrorising many bigmen from opposition sides. A dominant ruckman who was about 6'4" and would have weighed 110-120kgs and knew how to intimidate oppostion sides without resorting to cheap shots or unfair play. He played a bit in the clubbies also and I think won a comp B&F a few years back. Could take a strong grab also but lacked a little bit in terms of fitness so never played much senior footy.

Scribe
7th July 2005, 11:19
One of the most dominant players to play Reserve footy over the last few years was M.Verge (Tecky) from OM's. I think he retired last year after terrorising many bigmen from opposition sides. A dominant ruckman who was about 6'4" and would have weighed 110-120kgs and knew how to intimidate oppostion sides without resorting to cheap shots or unfair play. He played a bit in the clubbies also and I think won a comp B&F a few years back. Could take a strong grab also but lacked a little bit in terms of fitness so never played much senior footy.

Now coaching Old Geelong's Reserves.
Finished playing with OMs last year when they won the flag in Clubbies 2
Won the Club XVIII B&F in 1999.
Played a fair few Ressies games over the years, but not as many as you may've thought.

linger_isgod
7th July 2005, 11:37
Rush's 11 couldnt' get him a guernsey? Or played seniors this year - thus ruled out? And I guess hasn't been doing it for very long.

Scribe
7th July 2005, 13:26
Rush's 11 couldnt' get him a guernsey? Or played seniors this year - thus ruled out? And I guess hasn't been doing it for very long.

I think Rushy would take it personally if we included him in this category. The fact he isn't the first choice FF is simply due to the strength of the Xavs seniors. He'll be a very good senior player in the long term, and would certainly get a senior gig at the bottom 5 A grade clubs at present. Keep safe.