1977 Phantom Draft

[footyfan1978]

Same task as 1975 and 1976 previously done is posts here.
Simply a fun task to look back in retrospect of all players that would have turned 18 in 1977 that ended up playing in the league then or later (some obviously earlier as there was no actual draft or restrictions of players under 18 not being able to play)

If you followed and watched the VFL in early 1980's you will have some memory of how good some of these footballers were.

Here is the retrospective draft pool of 18 year olds in year 1977:

1959 Born players (retrospective 1977 Draft)
Sheldon, Ken
Odgers, Gary
Buckley, Jim
Kennedy, John
Clayton, Scott
Burke, David
Russo, Peter
Marchant, Brett
Jonas, Peter
Carey, Stephen
Whitfort, Ken
Turner, Dean
Wright, Michael
Weightman, Dale
Lokan, Bill
Early, Phillip
Fraser, Mark
Shine, Brad
Chambers, Bruce
Hedley, Steven
Murphy, Dale
Holden, Ray
Wallace, John
Jackson, Mark
Cahir, Gerard
Anderson, Robert
Williams, Shane
Easton, Stephen
Cooper, Brett
Jamieson, Ray
Sharp, Greg
Nettlefold, Michael
Roberts, Michael
Lester-Smith, Rod
Fitzpatrick, Peter
Cronan, Phil
Waterson, Colin
Brown, George
OLoughlin, Glenn
Warren, Mick
Considine, Craig
Banks, Denis
Mossop, John
Pretto, Rino
Harbinson, Merv
Bain, Frank
Redenbach, Michael
Smith, Malcolm
Kenny, Peter
Murnane, Lee
Greene, Mark
Holmes, Don
Carter, Peter
Knight, Scott
Smith, Michael
Johnston, Peter
Buckley, Stephen
Daniels, Allen
Rendell, Matthew
McAllester, Jim
Braddy, Craig
Walter, Richard
Cordy, Neil
Walsh, Shane
Bradmore, Phil
Lee, Mark
Polson, Gordon
Phillips, Greg
Scott, Mark
Jennings, Allan
Komp, Mark
Nugent, Michael
Keeble, Robert
Richardson, Michael
Richardson, Stephen
Herbert, Des
Hocking, Geoff
Jeffreys, Paul
Johnson, Matt
Shaw, Derek
Morwood, Paul
Packham, Greg
Schultz, John
Ralph, Warren
Stone, Chris
Duckworth, Bill
Shaw, Gary
Bramley, Malcolm
Reeves, Michael
Smith, Terry
Nimmo, Brad
Goss, Kevin
Kershaw, Kim
Korn, Trevor
Bromberg, Mordecai
Primmer, Wayne
Koehler, Russell
Law, John
Cunningham, Geoff
MacLeod, Keith
Nichols, Greg
Fox, Wayne
Moir, Andrew
Sidebottom, Allan

A possible top ten may have been chosen from these guys.
Got to admit it looks to have less guns than previous two year groups.
A random suggestion of mine just at first glance:

1. Dale Weightman
2. Mark Lee
3. Jimmy Buckley
4. Matthew Rendell
5. Ken Sheldon
6. Geoff Cunningham
7. Mark Jackson
8. Peter Russo
9. Bill Duckworth
10. Warren Ralph

Previous Retro-Draft Polls
1975 retro-draft
1976 retro-draft

 

[footyfan1978]

Interesting when I think about these guys that turned 18 in 1977 is that Dale Weightman and Mark Lee were significant players in Richmond last premiership year of 1980 but in terms of how football careers go today, that would have been when a player would normally been in their 3rd season of football at this level. Could well have been like Richmond getting the 1st and 2nd pick from a draft pool and a few seasons later winning a premiership. Also Michael Roach from a year older could have been like number 1 pick from year before and Rioli two years older could well have been pick 1 before that. Rioli actually did not arrive at Richmond until 1982 after playing in back to back premierships for South Fremantle in West Australian Football League. He was in his mid twenties when he arrived at Richmond.
Since 1982 Richmond have not played another grand final.

 

[Procrastinator35]

No stand-outs in that lot.

Gone for Rendell, as he was a high-quality ruckman for a decade in a very under-rated Fitzroy team of that era....Always rated him.

Hard to split Buckley & Weightman....One with 3 flags & an excellent big-game finals performer, the other for his consistency & longevity.....Both of em, dirty little mongrels too.

 

[footyfan1978]

No stand-outs in that lot.

Gone for Rendell, as he was a high-quality ruckman for a decade in a very under-rated Fitzroy team of that era....Always rated him.

Hard to split Buckley & Weightman....One with 3 flags & an excellent big-game finals performer, the other for his consistency & longevity.....Both of em, dirty little mongrels too.

Both good mates too. Good old fashioned in and under rover types.
I am a Carlton supporter but I voted Weightman in the poll. I think he had slightly more skill than Buckley and if forced to only take one of our own Buckley or Sheldon in a draft would have gone Sheldon. He could play midfield or forward very easily. Buckley was purely a midfielder.

Don't mind your own selection of Rendell. Was a quality ruck in an era where there were quite a few great rucks around at same time.

 

[Asgardian]

You jokers never saw the best of Greg Phillips, an absolute star at CHB

 

[Procrastinator35]

You jokers never saw the best of Greg Phillips, an absolute star at CHB

Yeah....Right up there along-sides Rick Davies, for impact at VFL level.

 

[Asgardian]

Yeah....Right up there along-sides Rick Davies, for impact at VFL level.

Davies & Cornes were a long way too old when they dipped their toes in the VFL pool.

But if you analyse Russell Ebert's year at the Roos you'd be surprised at his big league impact.

Greg Phillips along with Choco & Abba all did themselves proud

 

[footyfan1978]

Weightman voted clear number one pick here and Rendell as two.
Weightman a big part of Richmond last premiership team in 1980.
He along with Mark Lee, Roach and Rioli all of similar age for Tigers played in 1982 grand final and the rest of Weightman career would be a case of no finals. Early team success and the rest of his career the only highs would be in state of origin team success. I am sure he was part of the 1989 state team I saw crush South Australia at the G in front of about 90,000. Excellent rover but he was the rare Tiger of class in late 80's as premiership mates in his early years of Cloke and Raines went to Collingwood in mid eighties and the club became an easy beat.

 

[footyfan1978]

The class of 77


Backs: P Jeffreys, G Phillips, N Cordy
Half Backs: P Morwood, Lester-Smith, Duckworth
Centreline: D Murphy, J Buckley, G Cunningham
Half Forwards: A Jennings, Ralph, Banks
Forwards: M Roberts, Jacko, K Sheldon
Followers: Lee, M Richardson, Weightman
Interchange: Rendell, Russo, J Law, B Lokan

Emergencies: R Holden, L Murnane, A Sidebottom

Not a genuine gun centre half forward in this year group. Lots of full forwards and centre half backs types so centre half forward with Ralph there and Greg Phillips full back probably their secondary positions but the best balance for picking a team for this group.

Mark Lee and Matt Rendell two quality rucks in the 22 with Mark Lee starting ruck. Rendell can play a bit forward and would have to in this team at times with maybe whacko Jacko benched for Ralph to full forward if Jacko losing plot. Lots of classy goal kicking mids here like Weightman, Jimmy Buckley and Kenny Sheldon. Richardson, Murphy and Roberts also love this role.