Opinion Select an All Australian team of the past 50 years

[Sirlemsip]

Perhaps stick to the thread title.
As of today, nick isn't even in the discussion of the best 100 players of the past 50 years, let alone best 18

Yes, neither N.Daicos or Sheezel should be anywhere near this thread.

 

[Fadge]

Tell me you haven't watched any North Melbourne games in the past 2 years without telling me you haven't watched any North Melbourne games in the past 2 years.

Sheezel is every bit the player that Nick Daicos is. Except Sheezel has actually taken multiple contested marks in his career.

I'm not saying he's better, but they are extremely similar players in their output.
The only main difference is that Daicos walked into a mature, finals ready team, and Sheezel walked into a rabble.

Correction...

Daicos walked into a team that had finished 17th in 2021, and Collingwood supporters were being told we were in for a minimum of 5 years of Carlton type mediocrity in the bottom 4.

And guess what happened?

Daicos has been a matchwinner in 13 of his 70 games thus far, and cops as much opposition attention as any other player in the competition.

Sheezel is a great young player, but the comparisons with Daicos are unfounded, and will be until Sheezel starts being a matchwinner himself whilst also copping the same attention Daicos does.

 

[Worm4]

Correction...

Daicos walked into a team that had finished 17th in 2021, and Collingwood supporters were being told we were in for a minimum of 5 years of Carlton type mediocrity in the bottom 4.

And guess what happened?

Daicos has been a matchwinner in 13 of his 70 games thus far, and cops as much opposition attention as any other player in the competition.

Sheezel is a great young player, but the comparisons with Daicos are unfounded, and will be until Sheezel starts being a matchwinner himself whilst also copping the same attention Daicos does.

Any reference to Nick Daicos or Sheezel should be removed from this thread. They are irrelevant to the conversation - both of them. Take it to the delusional Daicos GOAT thread

 

[Mr Meow]

Any reference to Nick Daicos or Sheezel should be removed from this thread. They are irrelevant to the conversation - both of them. Take it to the delusional Daicos GOAT thread

Ironically, you're making the thread more about Daicos by contesting it, than if you simply offered up your own team - which could be a new point of dicussion. In other words you're giving airtime to the thing you don't want given airtime.

 

[Mr Meow]

Yes, neither N.Daicos or Sheezel should be anywhere near this thread.

What's your team by the way? Apologies if I missed it. I'd be interested to see some more submitted.

 

[Sirlemsip]

What's your team by the way? Apologies if I missed it. I'd be interested to see some more submitted.

Hadn't done one yet myself actually.
Ignoring the initial criteria, and doing minimal research, my first thoughts would be something like this:

FB: Enright, Silvagni, Scarlett
HB: Hodge, Roos, Doull
C: Flower, Voss, Matera
HF: Franklin, Carey, Ablett Snr
FF: Dunstall, Lockett, Matthews
R: Gawn, Ablett Jr, Buckley
Int: Harvey, Judd, Ricciuto, Goodes

 

[Sirlemsip]

How about only picking a player if they’ve been named AA in that position.

B: Tom Stewart - Matthew Scarlett - Darren Milburn
HB: Ken Hinkley - Harry Taylor - Corey Enright
C: Jimmy Bartel - Paul Couch - Tim Kelly
HF: Patrick Dangerfield - Jeremy Cameron - Gary Ablett snr
F: Tyson Stengle - Tom Hawkins - Garry Hocking
R: Steven King - Joel Selwood - Gary Ablett jnr
I: Billy Brownless - Steve Johnson - Joel Corey - Cameron Ling.

Unlucky: Barry Stoneham - Mark Bairstow - Michael Mansfield - James Kelly - Tom Harley - Cameron Mooney - Matthew Egan - Andrew Mackie - Cam Guthrie - Lance Franklin

Good side.

Would love to see them play against this side, also only selected in positions they originally were named AA in:

FB: James Sicily, Chris Mew, Gary Ayres
HB: Sam Mitchell, Chris Langford, Grant Birchall
C: Robert Dipierdomenico, Luke Hodge, Shane Crawford
HF: Cyril Rioli, Lance Franklin, Gary Buckenara
FF: Jarryd Roughead, Jason Dunstall, Leigh Matthews
R: Paul Salmon, Michael Tuck, John Platten
Int: Dermott Brereton, Terry Wallace, Jordan Lewis, Russell Greene

Coach: Clarko

Unlucky: Josh Gibson, Darrin Pritchard, Andrew Collins, Darren Jarmin, Ben Allen, Trent Croad, Luke Breust, Dylan Moore, Jack Gunston, Tom Mitchell,

 

[Fadge]

Would love to see them play against this side, also only selected in positions they originally were named AA in:

FB: James Sicily, Chris Mew, Gary Ayres
HB: Sam Mitchell, Chris Langford, Grant Birchall
C: Robert Dipierdomenico, Luke Hodge, Shane Crawford
HF: Cyril Rioli, Lance Franklin, Gary Buckenara
FF: Jarryd Roughead, Jason Dunstall, Leigh Matthews
R: Paul Salmon, Michael Tuck, John Platten
Int: Dermott Brereton, Terry Wallace, Jordan Lewis, Russell Greene

Coach: Clarko

Unlucky: Josh Gibson, Darrin Pritchard, Andrew Collins, Darren Jarmin, Ben Allen, Trent Croad, Luke Breust, Dylan Moore, Jack Gunston, Tom Mitchell,

Decent team.

 

[Fadge]

There seems to be a fair degree of commonality across the selected teams (I'm resigned to the fact N. Daicos most likely won't make the cut if we were to form a team from the most popular selections in this thread)...

 

[JHF1870]

I'm picking Shannon Grant

Shannon Grant

Age

48

Ht

180cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

12.0

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.8

4star

for my POD

 

[Bipolar Bear]

Hird not being in many teams is interesting lol.

 

[Seeds]

Select an All Australian side of the past 50 years, from 1975 until 2025.

Players can be nominated from the VFL/AFL, SANFL and WAFL competitions over the past 50 years.

The criteria is as follows:

-Must have won any of the following awards: Brownlow Medal; Magarey Medal (best and fairest in the SANFL); Sandover Medal (best and fairest in the WAFL); Norm Smith Medal; Jack Oatey Medal (best afield in the SANFL Grand Final); Simpson Medal (best afield in the WAFL Grand Final);

-Must have played in at least 1 premiership;

-Must have played interstate/State of Origin football;

-Must have been named All Australian

The framework for selection is as follows:

-Starting 18;

-Four interchange;

-2 subs;

-4 emergencies;

-1 coach (must have coached 1 or more premiership teams in the VFL, SANFL, WAFL)

Any chance the op is going to reappear and even post his own team?

And did he realise his restrictions eliminated nearly all the best players?

Was these restrictions just a way to makesure dustin martin was included?

 

[DanA]

I didn't see footy pre 1990 so it has to be 35 years for me. There are more deserving players but I honestly think this team beats any other team that can be pieced together.

B: Fletcher, Scarlett, Hodge
HB: Stewart, Jackovich, McLeod
C: Ablett Snr, Voss, Matera
HF: Hird, Carey, Buckley
FF: Rioli, Lockett, Akermanis
R: Sandilands, Riccuitto, Ablett Jnr
I/C: Judd, Goodes, S.Burgoyne, Bontempelli

Forward: Lockett and Carey are the first two names selected which removes Buddy and Dunstall as options. Complimenting the two power forward are Rioli for his pressure, Akermanis for his forward craft. Hird as a verastile smart half forward and Buckley for his delivery inside 50.

Backline: Perhaps surprisingly I don't have Silvani but the game has changed. It's a team defense now and Fletcher, Scarlett, and Hodge are better team defenders. Mcleod as a running half back, Stewart as a two-way defender on the flank and then I picked Jackovich as a the powerful KPD.

Midfield: Maxy is a better player than Sandilands but Sandilands is a more dominant ruckmen. Ricco and Voss add a physical nasty edge with Jnr the class. Matera for me is the best pure winger ever and Ablett Snr can't fit in at FF with Lockett but when on the wing was one of the most explosive players we've ever seen.

IC: Judd was perhaps better than Voss/Ricco but he's behind Ablett Jnr as line breaking mid and I see Voss/Ricco as better support. He's in rotation though. I put Goodes for his versatility, Burgoyne because he can also play back, and Bont because I wanted another more outside left footer.

 

[Lunchtime]

Let's look back on this thread in 10 years time and see how that decision looks.

But this thread is for the period 1975 to 2025. We aren't talking about 10 years time, we are talking about the timespan being past 50 years.

 

[Jascave]

My team:

B: G.Ayres (Haw) G.Southby (Carl) B.Doull (Carl)

HB: R.Glendinning (NM/WCE) P.Knights (Haw) T.Daniher (SM/Ess) (vc)

C: R.Flower (Melb) R.Ebert (PA/NM)(c) Peter Matera

Peter Matera

Age

56

Ht

183cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.8

5star

K

14.0

5star

HB

4.9

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.4

4star

G

0.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

12.2

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.6

3star

G

0.6

3star

(WCE)

HF: Gary Ablett snr (Haw/Geel) M.Bontempelli (WB) W.Johnston (Carl)

F: T.Lockett (Stk/Syd) J.Dunstall (Haw) L.Matthews (Haw)

R: S.Madden (Ess) B.Robran (NthAdel) D.Martin (Rich)

INT: P.Dangerfield (Ade/Geel) S.Michael (SthFrem) M.Aish (Norwood) G.McIntosh (Norwood)

EMERG: C.Judd (WCE/Carl) N.Buckley (PA/Bris/Coll) T.Shaw (Coll) K.Bartlett (Rich)

Coach: Ron Barassi (Carl/NM/Melb/Syd)

 

[Seeds]

My team:

B: G.Ayres (Haw) G.Southby (Carl) B.Doull (Carl)

HB: R.Glendinning (NM/WCE) P.Knights (Haw) T.Daniher (SM/Ess) (vc)

C: R.Flower (Melb) R.Ebert (PA/NM)(c) Peter Matera (WCE)

HF: Gary Ablett snr (Haw/Geel) M.Bontempelli (WB) W.Johnston (Carl)

F: T.Lockett (Stk/Syd) J.Dunstall (Haw) L.Matthews (Haw)

R: S.Madden (Ess) B.Robran (NthAdel) D.Martin (Rich)

INT: P.Dangerfield (Ade/Geel) S.Michael (SthFrem) M.Aish (Norwood) G.McIntosh (Norwood)

EMERG: C.Judd (WCE/Carl) N.Buckley (PA/Bris/Coll) T.Shaw (Coll) K.Bartlett (Rich)

Coach: Ron Barassi (Carl/NM/Melb/Syd)

Martin as a rover but no gary ablett jnr?

Bomtempelli at centre half foward??? But no wayne carey.

Tony shaw? I mean tony shaw? No greg williams.

Aish and Mcintosh? This is the silliest team ive ever seen

 

[Seeds]

I didn't see footy pre 1990 so it has to be 35 years for me. There are more deserving players but I honestly think this team beats any other team that can be pieced together.

B: Fletcher, Scarlett, Hodge
HB: Stewart, Jackovich, McLeod
C: Ablett Snr, Voss, Matera
HF: Hird, Carey, Buckley
FF: Rioli, Lockett, Akermanis
R: Sandilands, Riccuitto, Ablett Jnr
I/C: Judd, Goodes, S.Burgoyne, Bontempelli

Forward: Lockett and Carey are the first two names selected which removes Buddy and Dunstall as options. Complimenting the two power forward are Rioli for his pressure, Akermanis for his forward craft. Hird as a verastile smart half forward and Buckley for his delivery inside 50.

Backline: Perhaps surprisingly I don't have Silvani but the game has changed. It's a team defense now and Fletcher, Scarlett, and Hodge are better team defenders. Mcleod as a running half back, Stewart as a two-way defender on the flank and then I picked Jackovich as a the powerful KPD.

Midfield: Maxy is a better player than Sandilands but Sandilands is a more dominant ruckmen. Ricco and Voss add a physical nasty edge with Jnr the class. Matera for me is the best pure winger ever and Ablett Snr can't fit in at FF with Lockett but when on the wing was one of the most explosive players we've ever seen.

IC: Judd was perhaps better than Voss/Ricco but he's behind Ablett Jnr as line breaking mid and I see Voss/Ricco as better support. He's in rotation though. I put Goodes for his versatility, Burgoyne because he can also play back, and Bont because I wanted another more outside left footer.

Some pretty unique picks there that I find hard to displace.

Except three

S.burgoyne. See the post above where a hawks supporter posts an all hawhthorn team over the same period and 10 hawk players unlucky to make the team and s.burgoyne doesnt even make the list of players that were unlucky to miss. He wasnt at this level.

M riccuito. He was good but not starting midfielder. Not at the level of the likes of dangerfield or even fyfe or r.harvey (ps. R.harvey has been massively forgotton in time - was regarded as the clear best midfielder in the comp during his time). No one considered riccuito the best midfielder of his time when he played. He wasnt even regarded as the best in his own side (mccleod and jarman were the stars of the crows during that era)

And c.rioli? There has never been a trule legendendary traditional small pocket in our time. But still? Rioli did not kick enough goals (only once in his career did he get over 2 goals per game in a season) or get enough possessions. Betts, d.jarman, d.martin, s.johnson, b.johnson all better. Ablett snr probably should be in the foward line instead of the wing. Akermanis on the wing instead of the foward line.

 

[The_Eagles]

Scarlett Silvagni Enright
McLeod Roos Hodge
Martin Voss Matera
Hird Carey Franklin
Rioli Lockett Ablett

Gawn Ablett Judd

Cox Ricciuto Bontempelli Dangerfield
Sub: Goodes
Emg: Williams (probably should be on team) Cousins Fyfe Buckley

 

[Fadge]

Doesn't the forward line pick itself?

Ablett Snr ~ Carey ~ Bartlett
Dunstall ~ Lockett ~ Matthews

With Franklin coming off the bench.

 

[HairyO]

Let's look back on this thread in 10 years time and see how that decision looks.

10 years from now players from the 1980s wont be eligible.

You wonder why people mock you and the DAICOS GOAT thread. This is why. Daicos has done literally nothing in his career so far compared to easily 100 players before him.

Replace him with Chris Mew and your list is instantly massively better.

 

[Lunchtime]

10 years from now players from the 1980s wont be eligible.

You wonder why people mock you and the DAICOS GOAT thread. This is why. Daicos has done literally nothing in his career so far compared to easily 100 players before him.

Replace him with Chris Mew and your list is instantly massively better.

Daicos no doubt is a very good player. But as this thread says....its over the 50 year time span from 1975 to 2025.

Daicos - his career is still happening and its only his 4th season. Respectfully, he simply can't be in this team for the 50 year timespan.

In 10 to 15 years time, it can absolutely be revisited though. But for now........no.

 

[Seeds]

Doesn't the forward line pick itself?

Ablett Snr ~ Carey ~ Bartlett
Dunstall ~ Lockett ~ Matthews

With Franklin coming off the bench.

Franklin instead of dunstall. No room for dunstall with lockett parked in the goal square.

 

[iameviljez]

HF: Franklin, Carey, Ablett Snr
FF: Dunstall, Lockett, Matthews

Which raises a big question - to what end do forwards benefit in our memory from playing in the 70s/80s/90s, when regular big bags and century tallies were possible?

I think sometimes our perception of who the greats are, is massively distorted by the opportunities that timing also gave them.

 

[Sirlemsip]

Which raises a big question - to what end do forwards benefit in our memory from playing in the 70s/80s/90s, when regular big bags and century tallies were possible?

I think sometimes our perception of who the greats are, is massively distorted by the opportunities that timing also gave them.

The "opportunity" of playing in an era where 'chopping the arms' free kicks didn't even exist?

 

[iameviljez]

Go back and look throughout the history of centurion goal kickers and it begins to paint a clearer picture.

The players who did manage 100+ are widely regarded as the best of their generation.
No one could achieve the century until Gordon Coventry came along.
You then had Pratt and a decade later, Coleman.
Nearly two decades passed before it was seen via Hudson & Wade.

The outlier in the 1980's were Roach & Taylor. Both tremendous footballers but never got close to 100 goals throughout their careers.

Not even Leigh Matthews who made a permanent shift to the forward line in his later years could get near 100 goals and it took a master stroke of coaching for Gary Ablett to accomplish the ton. He would have remained a 70's/80's annual goal scorer under a different coach.

Yeah, but my point is that players up until the late 1960s had to contend with extremely defensive rules (i.e. no out of bounds on the full), then there was a golden era for full-forwards till coaches learned to clamp down from the late 90s onwards.

IMO, if they had played in the 1980s, Franklin would have given the 150 mark a serious nudge, Hawkins and Kennedy would have both easily managed a century, as would have Curnow.