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Sheek's best Australian rules football teams (1967-present)

Roar Guru
14th February, 2015
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Roar Guru
14th February, 2015
73
1289 Reads

My first memory of Australian rules football was watching the 1967 grand final between Richmond Tigers and Geelong Cats on Cinesound film about a week later, at the Madang Hotel, New Guinea.

There were no TVs, no laptops, no internet and no mobile phones back then in Papua New Guinea.

While I knew nothing about the game at that point, I was captivated by the frenetic activity on the ground, the excitement of the commentators and crowd, not to mention the wild cheering of the ex-pats in the crowded hotel public bar of Madang Hotel.

It was a close, exciting game that could have gone either way in the final 10 minutes.

There were several greats playing that day, although I didn’t know that either at the time. The Cats were led by Graham Polly Farmer, one of our greatest-ever ruck-rovers. Supporting him were Billy Goggin and Doug Wade, while the Tigers had three rising greats in Royce Hart, Francis Bourke and Kevin Bartlett.

My knowledge of Australian football isn’t quite as strong as for the two rugby codes and soccer, but with the help from several sources, plus my first-hand memory, I hope I have made a decent fist of this.

One thing I know about Australian football is that players can be more flexible in the positions they play, compared with say, the two rugby codes. I also know that, because there is no international competition, there is fierce parochial debate, sometimes blatantly one-eyed, about who is the best in each position.

I also had to deal with several prominent players at the end of their career, and decide whether I should include them or not. I decided to follow the same path as other sports, and include them.

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So, although Ron Barassi, Ted Whitten, Bill Skilton and Kevin Murray (along with Farmer) were at, or near, the end of their careers, they have been included, taking into consideration their full careers.

Sheek’s Australian rules football first 18, 1967-present

Backs: Francis Bourke, Stephen Silvani, Corey Enright
Halfbacks: Bruce Doull, Royce Hart, Ted Whitten (c)
Centres: Gary Ablett Jr, Ian Stewart, Keith Greig
Half Forwards: Gary Ablett Sr, Wayne Carey, Alex Jesaulenko
Forwards: Leigh Matthews, Tony Lockett, Dean Cox
Followers: Gary Framer (RK), Ron Barassi (RR-vc), Bob Skilton (RV)

Coach: David Parkin

Silvani, Bourke, Doull, Whitten, Murray, Ablett Sr, Ablett Jr, Stewart, Greig, Carey, Matthews, Lockett, S Madden, Farmer, Barassi, Skilton, Hart, Jesaulenko and Williams were all selected in the revised 22-man AFL Team of the Century in 2014.

I have taken it upon myself to drop Kevin Murray and Greg Williams, plus 1996 Team of the Century selection John Nicholls, to the seconds.

I tossed and turned over Wayne Carey and Royce Hart, alternating between the two every few days. Eventually, I thought they both had to be in with Hart dropping back to centre halfback. Unfortunately, the loser was Murray. I’ll probably get roasted for that also!

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As relief ruckman, Dean Cox sits in the forward pocket. I’m pretty happy with the team despite the intense competition.

Sheek’s Australian rules football second 18, 1967-present

Backs: Chris Langford, Matt Scarlett, Gary Ayres
Halfbacks: Robert di Pierdomenico, Ross Glendinning, Kevin Murray
Centres: Michael Voss, Greg Williams, Joel Selwood
Half forwards: Chris Judd, James Hird, Robert Harvey
Forwards: Peter Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Simon Madden
Followers: John Nicholls (vc-RK), Michael Tuck (RR-c), Kevin Bartlett (RV)

Coach: Tom Hafey

I know, I know, I know. How could I have left out the likes of Andrew McLeod, Tom Harley, Dermott Brereton, Gavin Wanganeen, Justin Fletcher, Craig Bradley, Mark Riccuito, Adam Goodes, Malcolm Blighta and Stephen Kernahan, to name just a few. In some cases, it’s like splitting hairs.

Even though Australian football allows you to pick 18 players in one team, including moving them around into positions to accommodate other players, it still doesn’t get any easier.

All said, I am also happy with my second 18, although I suspect that will attract more fire than the first team.

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Let the arguments begin!

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