Mike Sheahan picks his best teams of the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's & 2000's

[Back One Out]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-28/mike-sheahan-names-his-best-teams-of-the-past-five-decades

Mike Sheahan has announced his greatest combined teams of the past five decades. His tribute to 'The Finest of Their Generation' is set to be unveiled in a mural at Etihad Stadium's Crown Lager Bar on Tuesday night.

Four players were selected in teams across two decades. They are Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett (1960s and '70s), Hawthorn great Leigh Matthews ('70s and '80s), mercurial forward Gary Ablett snr and Brownlow medallist Greg Williams (both '80s and '90s).

The long-time football journalist believed his '80s side was the strongest. It includes Matthews as captain, plus Jason Dunstall, Greg Williams, Chris Langford, Ross Glendinning, Dermott Brereton, Simon Madden and Allan 'Yabby' Jeans as coach...


1960s
B: J. James (Carl), V. Howell (StK), J. Schultz (Foots)
HB: B. Davis (Ess/NM), K. Murray (Fitz), D. Marshall (Geel)
C: J. Clarke (Ess), I. Stewart (StK/Rich), A. Lord (Geel)
HF: D. Baldock (StK), T. Whitten (Foots), G. Arthur (Haw)
F: G. Farmer (Geel), D. Wade (Geel), B. Goggin (Geel)
Foll: J. Nicholls (Carl), R. Barassi (Melb/Carl), R. Skilton (Sth Melb)

Int: K. Bartlett (Rich), K. Fraser (Ess), S. Silvagni snr (Carl), H. Mann (Melb)

Coach: J. Coleman

Captain: R. Barassi



1970s
B: J. Rantall (SM/NM/Fitz), D. Dench (NM), G. Southby (Carl)
HB: B. Doull (Carl), P. Knights (Haw), F. Bourke (Rich)
C: W. Schimmelbusch (NM), P. Bedford (SM/Carl), K. Greig (NM)
HF: M. Blight (NM), R. Hart (Rich), A. Jesaulenko (Carl/StK)
F: K. Bartlett (Rich), P. Hudson (Haw), P. McKenna (Coll/Carl)
Foll: L. Thompson (Coll/SM/Fitz), L. Matthews (Haw), B. Cable (NM)

Int: G. Wilson (Fitz), G. Dempsey (Foots/NM), W. Richardson (Coll), M. Tuck (Haw)

Coach: R. Barassi

Captain: W. Schimmelbusch



1980s
B: G. Ayres (Haw), C. Langford (Haw), C. Mew (Haw)
HB: P. Roos (Fitz/Syd), R. Glendinning (NM/WC), K. Hunter (Carl)
C: D. Hawkins (Foots/Fitz), G. Williams (Geel/Syd/Carl), R. Flower (Melb)
HF: T. Watson (Ess), D. Brereton (Haw/Syd/Coll), B. Quinlan (Foots/Fitz)
F: G. Ablett snr (Haw/Geel), J. Dunstall (Haw), L. Matthews (Haw)
Foll: S. Madden (Ess), G. Healy (Melb/Syd), D. Weightman (Rich)

Int: T. Daniher (SM/Ess), P. Daicos (Coll), G. Raines (Rich/Coll/Ess/BB), J. Platten (Haw)

Coach: A. Jeans

Captain: L. Matthews



1990s
B: G. Wanganeen (Ess/PA), S. Silvagni (Carl), B. Hart (Adel)
HB: G. McKenna (WC), G. Jakovich (WC), A. McLeod (Adel)
C: P. Matera (WC), G. Williams (Geel/Syd/Carl), C. Bradley (Carl)
HF: D. Jarman (Haw/Adel), W. Carey (NM/Adel), J. Hird (Ess)
F: G. Ablett snr (Haw/Geel), T. Lockett (StK/Syd), G. Hocking (Geel)
Foll: S. Rehn (Adel/Haw), P. Kelly (Syd), R. Harvey (StK)

Int: S. Kernahan (Carl), G. Brown (Coll), P. Salmon (Ess/Haw), C. Grant (Foots/WB)

Coach: D. Pagan

Captain: W. Carey



2000s
B: C. Johnson (Fitz/BL), M. Scarlett (Geel), D. Fletcher (Ess)
HB: L. Hodge (Haw), J. Leppitsch (BL), N. Lappin (BL)
C: N. Buckley (BB/Coll), M. Voss (BL), S. Black (BL)
HF: N. Riewoldt (StK), J. Brown (BL), B. Harvey (NM)
F: J. Akermanis (BL/WB), M. Lloyd (Ess), B. Johnson (WB)
Foll: D. Cox (WC), C. Judd (WC/Carl), G. Ablett jnr (Geel/GC)

Int: M. Pavlich (Fre), M. Ricciuto (Adel), S. Crawford (Haw), W. Tredrea (PA)

Coach: L. Matthews 

Captain: M. Voss




So which team do you like the best?

Who were the most controversial selections?

Which worthy players did he leave out ?

 

[tek87]

sheehan did not pick Cousins because he thinks he is a drug cheat. you are a knob Sheehan who ignores facts and pumps his little fabricated narrative, yet overlooks everybody else. his teams mean jackshit! out of touch and thankfully forgotten

 

[Power Raid]

some great names but three talls on the interchange in the 80s?

 

[AdamE89]

 

[dispute]

No cousins no care

 

[Suma Magic]

Why doesn't Mike come out and say it (I think Cousins took ice on game day)?

 

[Bont2Bruce]

Scott West unlucky.

 

[half_back_flank]

As the only decade I can comment on, J Brown at CHF while Tredders sits on the pine is a laugh.

 

[Bont2Bruce]

Simon Beasley kicked more goals in the 1980s than any other player. Wonder if Mike was aware of this.

 

[Astro_]

Scott West unlucky.

Same output, but in a different jumper and he is in for sure

 

[rant]

Adam Goodes not in the 00s team - Two Brownlows, Premiership, 2 GF, 3 all australians during the decade but doesn't get into the team!

 

[De Iulio2Wiggins]

In before how can he pick player X from opposition team over player Y from my team?

Brereton (325 goals, 1982-89) over Kernahan (538 goals, 1981-89) is classic Sheahan.

 

[Bont2Bruce]

In before how can he pick player X from opposition team over player Y from my team?

Brereton (325 goals, 1982-89) over Kernahan (538 goals, 1981-89) is classic Sheahan.

Beasley 575 goals.

 

[gillo94]

Mike Sheahan is full of crap
No Sticks or Fev

 

[calyam]

Hird would probably be more deserving in the 2000s than the 90s given he missed three seasons with injury after winning the Brownlow. Either way he should have made that 2000s team ahead of a few players. Also surprised that Buddy wasn't selected most here would rate him ahead of Pavlich and many would rate him higher than a couple of the other KPFs selected.

 

[AG]

Mike Sheahan is full of crap
No Sticks or Fev

Who is Fev going to kick out? I'd argue Hall is more worthy for the 2000's team on top of the key forwards already in the team.

 

[Van_Dyke]

Hird would probably be more deserving in the 2000s than the 90s given he missed three seasons with injury after winning the Brownlow. Either way he should have made that 2000s team ahead of a few players. Also surprised that Buddy wasn't selected most here would rate him ahead of Pavlich and many would rate him higher than a couple of the other KPFs selected.

Would you take 10 years of Pavlich in his prime or 5 years of Buddy not at his peak?

 

[gillo94]

Who is Fev going to kick out? I'd argue Hall is more worthy for the 2000's team on top of the key forwards already in the team.

I'd kick Brad Johnson out. Fev kicked over 600 goals in a crap team. Pretty much the equivalent of Jeremy Cameron at GWS

There all great players. Brad Johnson champion player and most people might not agree. Coin flip as both great players for their clubs

 

[half_back_flank]

some great names but three talls on the interchange in the 80s?

What?

TD is the only KP player there.

 

[Papa G]

That 90s team is ludicrously good.

 

[jakefooty23]

Adam Goodes not in the 00s team - Two Brownlows, Premiership, 2 GF, 3 all australians during the decade but doesn't get into the team!

dont forget Australian of the year

 

[Bont2Bruce]

dont forget Australian of the year

Don't mention the war!

 

[Bont2Bruce]

I'd kick Brad Johnson out. Fev kicked over 600 goals in a crap team. Pretty much the equivalent of Jeremy Cameron at GWS

There all great players. Brad Johnson champion player and most people might not agree. Coin flip as both great players for their clubs

Not surprised that you want Brad Johnson out.
Surprised you haven't asked why Liam Jones isn't in though.

 

[AG]

I remember wasting my uni lectures coming up with team of the decades/years etc. I had such a great life I even made a table of stats for the better players during the decade.

Obviously players like Hird/Buckley deserve to be in teams like this but they are sort of half in the 90's and 00's so it's always hard to choose which decade they belong. Obviously I'll say Goodes is stiff considering he has played 100 more games than both during the decade.

Goodwin is an underrated player in these discussions.

Edit: Goals column is ****ed.

 

[footyfloater]

Haha before i opened the page, i knew the flog would leave cousins out. Grew up watching judd/cousins/cox combo, the reason why a heap of us put on the boots to play local footy.