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Imagine a starting team, full of supreme athletes, mind-blowing speed and endurance and awe-inspiring array of skill and imagination.
The template for the team is a fluid 4-3-3 formation. I’ve picked two rock-solid centre-halves with two versatile fullbacks.
In the midfield, we have two absolute box-to-box powerhouses, with the ability to win the ball and create. In the no.10 role, a magician of the highest order assumes responsibility.
Up front, we are led by an old-fashioned centre forward flanked by two delightfully gifted exponents of the skillful game.
You may say I am a dreamer. But I’m not the only one.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, the AFL Socceroo 11 Dream Team.
That’s right, this is the best possible team the AFL can dish up. And my word, what a sight to behold!
A goal-keeper is not required to be named. You could pretty much pick anyone from an AFL list and they would do the job for you.
Add to the fact, our two centre-halves would man such a closed shop that a goal-keeper would be spending most of his time picking his nose.
In Matthew Scarlett and Darren Glass, we have the perfect central defensive partnership that would cause fear and trembling in any attacker.
Glass is a defender of immense strength and competitiveness, supremely strong in the one-on-one contests and with a fierce tackle, would come away with the ball more often than not.
Scarlett is equally strong in the defensive battle but also adds an incredible ability to read the play and launch attacks from deep. He will sweep, tackle, clear the ball and bring the ball out with equal aplomb.
Fullback has evolved into being one of the most important positions in world football and the selection of Brendon Goddard
and Luke Hodge reflect this.
Goddard will defend robustly, and spread down the right flank with endless energy. His ability to impact in all areas of the park, including bombing forward and getting dangerous will cause havoc for opposition teams.
When you require leadership, commitment and sheer determination to impact a game, look no further than Hodge. A cultured left foot provides precision from wide and his versatility means he is able to drift back and centrally with devastating effect.
Under the reign of a dull and dour Pim Verbleak, central midfielders were rubbished and scorned for spending most of their time holding hands with their defenders. Not so with this team.
Gary Ablett Jr and Chris Judd offer a fanatical level of work rate, hunger to fight for and win the hard-contested ball and are also blessed with the sheer explosive power and skill to cover the field and drive the ball forward.
This duo is one of the greatest of the modern era and with the round ball at their feet, would happily boss any midfield battle.
Just in front of them sits Steve Johnson, the magician. A player of almost extra-terrestrial qualities, as any witness to his array of breathtaking skills, imagination and fantasy would attest to the idea that he operates on a higher plane than most.
Watch him receive the ball, take a step and fire a pass to a team-mate with bullet-like precision. Watch him attempt the outrageous, and execute with ridiculous assurance.
In Steve Johnson, we find a player worthy of assuming the play-making responsibilities of the team.
Our front three is blessed with all-round class. Cyril Rioli and Mark Lecras have the ability to create and score in equal measure.
Both possess the necessary incredients of a dangerous forward; the silky skills, the vision and fantasy and clinical finishing ability that is guaranteed to leave defenses all over down and dizzy with despair.
A tower of strength at the centre forward position in Jack Riewoldt is an indulgement of gluttonous proportions.
How a powerful athlete, blessed with the brute force of a truck and the deft touch of a wedding cake decorater, is able
to execute all manner of goals is beyond comprehension.
He completes the team and is the ideal focal point for this great team.
Now the dream is explained, I must acknowledge the heartbreaking decision to leave out the likes of Sam Mitchell, Daisy Thomas, Alan Didak, Rob Murphy, Jarred Brennan, Brent Harvey, Scott Pendlebury, Adam Goodes, Buddy Franklin and the mercurial talents of a Motlop out of this team.
The intention of this writer is twofold: to praise the wonderful attributes of the elite AFL football and wonder how their abilities would resonate with the world game. Could more be done by the world game at grassroots and junior level to keep these athletes in the game in their late teens? Surely, the Socceroos would benefit.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.