The best of the AFL's 300 club

In the 117 year history of the VFL/AFL only 67 footballers have managed to clock up 300 games or more.

The list includes a vast array of skills and talents, from superstars such as Leigh Matthews and Ted Whitten to the unassumingly effective Gary Foulds, to plodders like Micky Martyn.

But to a man, they could all play.

So, if we could compile a team of the league’s 300-plus gamers, who would make the list?

At first I thought it would be a relatively easy task, after all there were not pages and pages of names to sort through. But each player on the list of 67 could legitimately make claims for being included in the side.

For instance, how do you decide between Simon Madden and Gary Dempsey? Or Francis Bourke and Gavin Wanganeen? Or Chris Grant and Bernie Quinlan and Stewart Loewe?

There are hundreds of permutations and combinations, each equally as impressive as the other, but with only 22 positions available, many great players, including Brownlow medallists, best and fairest winners and premiership players, had to be left out.

So, without further ado, from the back line we have:

B: Dustin Fletcher (Ess), Steve Silvagni (Carl), Gavin Wanganeen (Ess, PA)
HB: Paul Roos (Fitz, Syd), Chris Grant (WB), Bruce Doull (Carl)
C: Dick Reynolds (Ess), Kevin Murray (Fitz), Robert Harvey (St.K)
HF: Ted Whitten snr (Foots), Bernie Quinlan (Foots, Fitz), Kevin Bartlett (Rich)
FF: Adam Goodes (Syd), Gordon Coventry (Coll), Francis Bourke (Rich)
Foll: Simon Madden (Ess), Craig Bradley (Carl), Leigh Matthews (Haw)
IC: Gary Dempsey (Foots, NM), Simon Black (Bris), Michael Tuck (Haw), Terry Daniher (Sth.Melb, Ess)
EMG: Jack Dyer (Rich), Paul Salmon (Ess, Haw), Brent Harvey (NM)

Backs

Dustin Fletcher (382 games/69 goals) picks himself and is well suited to playing the sweeper role across the last line of defence. Able to negate either tall marking players or shorter running players, Fletcher’s judgement and ability to read the play as it comes towards him has saved his team innumerable goals over the years.

Steve Silvagni (312 games/202 goals) gets the key full back position. His inclusion in the AFL’s team of the century a few years back created controversy but he fully deserves his spot among the game’s elite. He played throughout what was a golden time for full forwards, going one on one and beating the likes of Dunstall, Lockett and Ablett on a weekly basis. Like an octopus, he was all arms and legs, frustrating his opponent out of marks and possessions with close and tight play. He gets the nod over the Hawthorn pair of Chris Langford and Kelvin Moore.

Gavin Wanganeen (300 games/202 goals) was a freak. His judgement was exquisite and he was as fearless as they come. He could throw himself into marking contests, often while running with the flight of the ball, and contort his body into all manner of positions to take the grab. Included him here ahead of Francis Bourke who I have moved forward.

Half backs

Paul Roos (356 games/289 goals) was as complete of a footballer as any to ever pull on the boots. Idolised by Fitzroy supporters and readily adopted by Sydney fans when he made the move, the professional Roos possessed a strong mark, a long raking kick and superb judgement.

Chris Grant (341 games/554 goals) was something special. His debut for Footscray came as a seventeen year old and he became the youngest VFL/AFL player to kick 50 goals in a season. At home at either centre half forward or centre half back, Grant was the darling of the Western Oval terraces with his strong and reliable marking.

Bruce Doull (356 games/22 goals), affectionately known as the Flying Doormat, was virtually unflappable. Only twice in living memory did he lose his cool – once when someone tried to tear off his trademark headband and then in the 1982 grand final against Richmond when he was seen running away at speed from streaker Helen D’Amico. Scrupulously fair and undoubtedly effective.

Centres

‘King’ Dick Reynolds (320 games/442 goals) was another gentleman of the game. The triple Brownlow Medallist was named Essendon’s greatest player in 2002, but true to form and with genuine modesty declared that the honour should have gone to former team mate Bill Hutchinson. The seven-time best and fairest winner was quick, elusive and a bona fide match winner.

Kevin ‘Bulldog’ Murray (333 games/51 goals) may have played in more losing sides than any other VFL/AFL player (208), but he was anything but a loser. Winning nine club best and fairest awards over his eighteen seasons with Fitzroy, the tenacious Murray was deeply devoted to his team. Although short, at just 178 centimetres tall, he had an arm span of 198 centimetres which allowed him to hold down key defensive positions as well.

Robert Harvey (383 games/215 goals) had a big engine. He would run until his opponent could no longer keep up and then he would run some more. A huge possession winner (more than 500 kicks in 1998 and 750 possessions in 1997), Harvey also knew how to use the ball and his short passing was unerringly accurate. Two Brownlow Medals and four club best and fairest awards tell the story.

Half forwards

Ted Whitten snr (321 games/360 goals) was known as ‘Mr Football’ for a reason. The rough and tumble Whitten could play and dominated the football landscape throughout the 1950s and 60s. His tough as nails approach to the sport came about after being knocked out by Richmond’s Mopsy Fraser in his first game. In the air or on the ground, Whitten was a class above the rest. He marked with a vice-like grip, was a penetrating kick (off either foot) and was agile when the ball hit the ground. He could play in any position on the ground and his 29 state guernseys pay homage to the fact that he was the best of his era.

Bernie Quinlan (366 games/817 goals) was a beautifully long and accurate kick of the football. Nicknamed ‘Superboot’, the Bulldog come Lion twice booted over a hundred goals in a season for Fitzroy to become a legend of the club. He gets the nod in this position as he was a more reliable kick than either Chris Grant or Stewart Loewe.

Kevin Bartlett (403 games/778 goals) was a thorn in many sides. KB or ‘Hungry’ as he was known was a wispy speedster with an insatiable appetite for goals. Still remembered for his finals series in 1980 in which he kicked 21 goals in three games (including seven in the grand final against Collingwood), the unlikely looking footballer was a genuine match winner.

Forwards

Adam Goodes (331 games/409 goals) is one of the most athletic footballers to have ever played the game. Tall enough to play in the ruck and fast enough to hold down a wing, the versatile Goodes is also a dangerous forward. His agility, coupled with his height, makes him a difficult match up. The dual Brownlow Medallist can turn a game in a matter of seconds.

Gordon ‘Nuts’ Coventry (306 games/1299 goals) is the obvious spearhead of this team. Only Tony Lockett has kicked more goals than the Collingwood superstar of the 1920s and 30s. He became the first VFL/AFL player to kick over 100 goals in a season (he did it four times in total) and was the Magpies leading goal kicker for 16 consecutive seasons. He was also the first VFL/AFL player to play 300 games and kicked 50 or more goals in 13 consecutive seasons. And his nickname? Well apparently it was bestowed on him by his family who thought he had a rather large head when he was a child!

‘Saint’ Francis Bourke (300 games/71 goals) was legendary for his courage. He once played with a broken leg and footage of him taking a diving chest mark with his face covered in blood defines the type of player that he was. He could play at either end of the ground but in this team he finds himself forward, relinquishing his back line spot to Wanganeen.

Followers

Simon Madden (378 games/575 goals) was the dominant tap ruckman of his era. He was expert at jumping into his opponent and holding him off while palming the ball with unerring accuracy to his small men. A supreme aerialist and more than handy around goal when moved forward, Madden gets the first ruck position ahead of such elite company as Gary Dempsey, John Nicholls, John Rantall, Len Thompson, Paul Salmon and Jack Dyer.

Craig Bradley (375 games/247 goals) was a fast, skilled and well balanced footballer who was one of several big name South Australians to make their mark on the competition throughout the mid-eighties. A true running machine, the tireless Bradley amassed an amazing 501 games of senior football taking into account his games for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL and various representative appearances.

Leigh Matthews (332 games/915 goals) was so tough that he once broke a point post at Windy Hill. Stated by some as the greatest player ever, ‘Lethal’ was as skilful as he was physical. The eight time best and fairest winner could rip a team to threads and was deadly around goals. His no-nonsense approach to the game was brutally effective, not only intimidating opponents with his physicality but also his pure football skill.

Interchange

Gary Dempsey (329 games/144 goals) was lucky to play footy at all after being severely burnt in bushfires in 1969. A Brownlow Medal and seven best and fairest awards pay tribute to his rucking dominance throughout the 70s and early 80s.

Simon Black (322 games/171 goals) was a hard working midfielder who led from the front during Brisbane’s golden era of the early 2000s. Highly respected and highly skilled.

Michael Tuck (426 games/320 goals) didn’t look like a footballer. Appearing malnourished and scraggy, the Hawthorn midfielder played throughout his club’s greatest era, collecting seven premierships along the way. As an added bonus he was captain for four of them.

Terry Daniher (313 games/469 goals) was Mr. Versatile. He could play in any of the key positions and often did, being able to switch between them at a moments notice. The stereotypical country boy, ‘TD’ ate footballs for breakfast.

Emergencies

Jack Dyer (312 games/443 goals) for extra toughness.
Paul Salmon (324 games/561 goals) for extra height.
Brent Harvey (367 games/395 goals) for extra run.

We have all heard their names and thankfully we have seen many of them play.

The stories that surround them are the stuff of legend, luscious tales that get stretched and twisted a little more as each year passes, weaving their way into footy folklore to be recounted in the outer, the pub, or around the family BBQ.

They are the players who have survived longest in this game of attrition. Where the average playing career lasts for less than 50 games, they have played in excess of 300.

In a game where a man is considered old at 30, they play towards their 40s, outlasting the others to play the sport they love, sometimes for more than 20 years.

They are footy’s veterans, blokes who have earned their long service leave but continue to play on regardless. They are the ‘300 club’ and everyone of them is (or has been) a household name.

So what do you think Roarers? Do you have a favourite that you think I have missed?