Team of the Century - Omissions ? Surprises ?

[Carey_is_King]

Those of you who have received your yearbook will have seen the team of the century. What do you think ?

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Trample the Weak,
Hurdle the Dead.

[Rooboy 96]

for openers John Rantell and Jock Spencer... no Longmire... I will have another read and a little more to say later...

[Groucho]

I had a bit too much of a long rant on the North forum but ,as much as I admired Rantall, he did go straight back to South once his 3 year contract expired so I would have had a "genuine" North player (Archer?). I think Spencer got the nod over Longmire because he played in an era where he was acknowledged as the second best full forward to Coleman and Coleman's acknowledged as the best ever. I thought Briedis warranted a spot.

[Shinboners]

Agree with Groucho that Archer should have been ahead of Rantall. The selectors were trying to be fair to North players from all eras, so from that perspective, the team is fair enough.

In regards to choosing the best all time sides, you can really only select players that you have seen play. Otherwise you're just relying on reputation. From the side that was selected, I have seen Dench, Glendinning, Greig, Schimmelbush, Carey, Blight, Krakouer, Dempsey, Stevens, and Martyn, and all are worthy of their place in this team. I would've liked to have seen them slip in Matthew Larkin in somewhere though.

[Aussie_Roo]

I thought Gary Dempsey was fortunate, I agree that he was a champion player, but I associate him more with the Bulldogs than a North player. Despite what some people may think (CIK) I believe that McKernan is probably the best ruckman that we have produced, and was probably a little unlucky to miss out. I agree that Archer should have been picked before John Rantall.

[Carey_is_King]

Ok folks, lets understand something here. McKernan is technically incompetent as a ruckman. He is not the best ruckman we have produced, because he is not a ruckman at all. Listen to the Sam Newmans & Don Scotts of the world, and they will tell you he is marginally better than Ryan O'Connor. I don't think much of Gary Dempsey, and I agree he is more of a Footscray player, but he and McKernan are not in the same class.

As for Rantall, I would rather have him playing for my life than Archer. Archer is very good, Rantall was outstanding.

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Trample the Weak,
Hurdle the Dead.

[Aussie_Roo]

CIK

I consider Rantall more of a South Melbourne player than a North. Like Dempsey, he was a champion also, but I don't consider either of them to be true North people. I always thought Noel Teasdale was a ruckman (never saw him play though) - but not sure if he won his Brownlow as a ruckman or back pocket player.

[Carey_is_King]

Yeah, point taken. I guess if they applied the "North Melbourne Player" logic consistently, they would have omitted Rantall and Dempsey. I also thought Teasedale was a ruckman. I used to work with his brother and I recall him telling me he was a ruckman. I guess this just confirms we have not had any standout ruckman in the last 100 years.

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Trample the Weak,
Hurdle the Dead.

[Groucho]

Yes "Teaser" was definitely a ruckman and won his Brownlow playing as one and really should have been given the nod as the team's number one ruck ahead of Dempsey. One of the best tap ruckmen I ever saw was Mick Nolan but with his shape I doubt he came under consideration.

[Carey_is_King]

I think Mick (Nolan) would count as two people, wouldn't he ?

------------------
Trample the Weak,
Hurdle the Dead.