Best Current Player To Never Play AFL

[Dav]

In the NT, a lot of people consider Cameron Ilett to be one of the better players in the country that never played at AFL level. At one stage, he went down to the SANFL and played but never got onto an AFL list. He's gone on to be probably the best player in NEAFL history and at the age of 32 will likely win his second Nichols Medal for best and fairest in the NTFL, after a very high profile move to Nightcliff. He has 6 best and fairests for NT Thunder and that award is now named the Ilett Medal after him and his brother.

Just wondering which players from the other major state leagues currently playing are also considered too good to have never played AFL.

 

[DangerSloane]

Gary McIntosh would have to be up there.
Most victorians probably never heard of him but in the early-mid 90s he was a gun.
Although there was SOO then.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Gary McIntosh would have to be up there.
Most victorians probably never heard of him but in the early-mid 90s he was a gun.
Although there was SOO then.

I remember him... an angry ant !!

 

[telsor]

Best Current Player To Never Play AFL?

Me.

 

[master bate]

Chris Cain just retired from the VFL but he was surely good enough physically and way too skilled not to get a chance. There was a rumour that the Pies chose between Cain and Dwyer (who did ok) as mature age rookies a few years ago.

 

[Percel]

Percel

 

[DangerSloane]

I remember him... an angry ant !!

People remember that side more than the ability. Certainly true though.
Won 2 magareys and was 2nd once, and top vote getter once while being ineligible

 

[Sttew]

Stephen Michael. Geelong had him signed up but he never made the move. WA based posters can tell us more about him but from all accounts he was a gun

Edit: Just saw the OP asked about "current" players. My bad

 

[Soups]

In the NT, a lot of people consider Cameron Ilett to be one of the better players in the country that never played at AFL level. At one stage, he went down to the SANFL and played but never got onto an AFL list. He's gone on to be probably the best player in NEAFL history and at the age of 32 will likely win his second Nichols Medal for best and fairest in the NTFL, after a very high profile move to Nightcliff. He has 6 best and fairests for NT Thunder and that award is now named the Ilett Medal after him and his brother.

Just wondering which players from the other major state leagues currently playing are also considered too good to have never played AFL.

His brother was pretty bloody good too. Unlucky not to get picked up as well.

 

[dylan93]

In recent times in the VFL it'd be Michael Gibbons, Willie Wheeler, Toby Pinwill, Lucas Cook, etc.

 

[Lsta062]

Anthony Anastasio who used to play for Williamstown but now is at Port Melbourne.

I don't know all that much about the 2nd tier leagues around Australia but this guy stands out to me.

 

[Golden_6]

Anthony Anastasio who used to play for Williamstown but now is at Port Melbourne.

I don't know all that much about the 2nd tier leagues around Australia but this guy stands out to me.

Really? He's about 5 foot tall and quite a handy small forward at VFL level. Nowhere near this category though.

 

[Luv_our_club]

Ben Simmonds

 

[Lsta062]

Really? He's about 5 foot tall and quite a handy small forward at VFL level. Nowhere near this category though.

Oh OK. Maybe I just haven't watched enough games outside of AFL to have a proper judgement on this topic.

 

[00Stinger]

In the NT, a lot of people consider Cameron Ilett to be one of the better players in the country that never played at AFL level. At one stage, he went down to the SANFL and played but never got onto an AFL list. He's gone on to be probably the best player in NEAFL history and at the age of 32 will likely win his second Nichols Medal for best and fairest in the NTFL, after a very high profile move to Nightcliff. He has 6 best and fairests for NT Thunder and that award is now named the Ilett Medal after him and his brother.

Just wondering which players from the other major state leagues currently playing are also considered too good to have never played AFL.

hi Cameron!

 

[Damon_3388]

In recent times in the VFL it'd be Michael Gibbons, Willie Wheeler, Toby Pinwill, Lucas Cook, etc.

Is this the same Lucas Cook that was a top-10 draft pick for Melbourne, but couldn't crack a game in a rubbish Demons side, and was delisted after just two years on an AFL list?

 

[ThaiTiger]

Jack Higgins.

 

[ezard15]

Definitely Leigh Matthews.

 

[tazaa]

Matt Hanson

 

[HairyO]

Gary McIntosh would have to be up there.
Most victorians probably never heard of him but in the early-mid 90s he was a gun.
Although there was SOO then.

Had a number of chances to prove himself with the big fish but chose to stay in a small pond.

 

[dylan93]

Is this the same Lucas Cook that was a top-10 draft pick for Melbourne, but couldn't crack a game in a rubbish Demons side, and was delisted after just two years on an AFL list?

Sure is!

 

[DangerSloane]

Had a number of chances to prove himself with the big fish but chose to stay in a small pond.

Yeah ok.
Back then your VFL + West Coast wasnt actually any better than the SANFL.
Keep up your fantasies.

92-93-94 we won SOO each year.

Andrew Jarman played in your expanded VFL and still listed McIntosh as his toughest opponent.

 

[demondavey]

Is this the same Lucas Cook that was a top-10 draft pick for Melbourne, but couldn't crack a game in a rubbish Demons side, and was delisted after just two years on an AFL list?

Come on mate we were tanking!

 

[Pykie]

Jack Lukosius

 

[HairyO]

Yeah ok.
Back then your VFL + West Coast wasnt actually any better than the SANFL.
Keep up your fantasies.

92-93-94 we won SOO each year.

Andrew Jarman played in your expanded VFL and still listed McIntosh as his toughest opponent.

David Rhys Jones was tough. Doesnt mean he was more than an above average player.

I have always loved the way SAussies talk about State of Origin like it means something. Look at the teams Victoria sent over the years. Top players were always rested because coaches didnt want to risk them for a nothing event. SAussie teams on the other hand... full of "SAussie stars" who wanted to prove themselves in front of SAussie only crowds, because they games were pretty much only ever played in South Australia.

Oh wait, I looked at the wiki. Oh dear.

"Former North Adelaide and Norwood player Andrew Jarman cited McIntosh as his toughest SANFL opponent."

Also, Andrew Jarman was the very inferior of the 2 Jarmans.