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.
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!
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.
Let the arguments begin!
David Ward
Guest
Dermie would struggle to get past ASADA nowadays, with all that silicon in his face. There'd have to be a banned alphanumeric in there somewhere.
David Ward
Guest
You definitely need one of Diesel Williams or Cable in your best team, though probably not both as neither covered the ground too well. Both geniuses with vision who made teammates in the vicinity 30 per cent better. Wouldn't mind Andy McLeod running down of half-back waiting to collect, either.
David Ward
Guest
Agree, Josh. I think we need to bite the bullet and pick either Royce or Carey, not both. And the Duck picks himself, basically. That frees up CHB for an actual CHB. EJ could handle that, although you wouldn't go too far wrong with a pre-injury N Daniher. Mind you, if G Jakovich is CHB for the opposition, Royce might be the better bet. Same thing with Dunstall and Hudson - one or the other.
Barneythecrab
Guest
Good list mate. But sorry your 1st is missing two big names riccuito and robran. No best of team is complete without them
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Guys, You have given me plenty of food for thought. One thing that makes selecting the best Aussie rules teams so difficult is the lack of international competition. We can't say that Ron Barassi played 30 tests & won a world cup, or that Wayne Carey played 35 tests and won two world cups, & so on, & compare the influence each exerted internationally in their time. All we have is club football, plus a bit of state of origin from the past. How much does a good player influence his club & how much does a player benefit from playing in a strong club? These are the imponderables.....
sheek
Roar Guru
Don Freo, Sometimes I would agree with you!!! ;-) My sister's boyfriend is Dean Cox's uncle, who is his sister's son. Apparently, his family name is well known in Perth.
Don Freo
Guest
Mario Turco?...your sister's boyfriend.
TD
Guest
Ah ha Well said - typical Victorian bias - that's why they got ploughed in origin - Cable was a superstar and the player who doesn't rate him knows nought
TD
Guest
McLeod = 2 Norm Smiths - Doull = How many club B&F?
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Billy Walker (played for Swan Districts),beat Barry Cable by one vote in three successive Sandover Medals,he was a farmer , too...No wonder Cable went to Victoria where the competition was easier
AR
Guest
Jude Bolton..?
Antony Pincombe
Roar Rookie
Hird, Harvey, Doull, Cox, Dipper & Murray were good hard footballers but I don't see them in the same category as a Silvagni, Scarlett, Bourke or Greg Williams. While there were great players in another era it is difficult to know how they would have fared in today's footy. Many were too slow for today's game, such as Murray. Leigh Matthews reckons Buddy the most complete footballer he has ever seen and I believe he is right. The best I have ever seen and he just pips Ablett Sr. I think the best footballer of the earlier era never played VFL football, his name, Barry Robran. Jesaulenko after being slaughtered in a state match against this bloke named him the best footballer in Australia by a country mile. Robran kicked 5 goals and had 38 possessions in the centre opposed to Jezza. At one stage he took the ball from a ball up and ran straight for goal, ran around 5 players and kicked as sweet a goal as you will ever see. He took the ball in the pocket in the last quarter, was hemmed in by Jezza and two others, baulked them all and kicked a checkside goal. The other problem is that many of the players who played KPP in those days would now only be flankers and Big Nic was barely 6'2" in the old scale, today rucks are at least 6'7". Possibly the best ruckman to ever play Aussie rules never played VFL either. his name was Peter Carey and opposition supporters used to call him 'Scary Carey' because he was able to control a game and collect up to 45 possessions as a ruckman in the SANFL. He holds the record for the most tap outs in Senior footy. That is the problem with assembling the best ever of Aussie Rules, many great players never played VFL as the money wasn't so great like today and their clubs atr SANFL & WAFL level could match the VFL teams for the right player. By the way Robran was a farmer that is why he never played VFL & Carey had a private sponsor at Glenelg that made sure he stayed there. These 'Best' teams are subjective at best and everyone is going to have another opinion as to who is better.
Steve J
Roar Guru
You've already called it yourself - Whitten, Skilton, Farmer, barrassi were chosen for what they did pre-67 but Cable was excluded for what he did in the WAFL? For those 4 alone I could easily add in Peter Matera, Dean Kemp, Cox and Mark Ricciuto as having had better careers and more of an impact in the period defined for the team selection. Jako was a better CHB than Glendinning. He was the only bloke who could compete and beat Carey in his prime Anyway there's my rant, as with all these best of the period XXXX to YYYY when you don't actually mean who played the best footy in that period. Comparing players across era's is always tough. For mine the best player I ever saw was Stephen Michael.
tom
Guest
Yea i dont understand it, gavin wanganeen was a star in comparison always took the best small forward and nullified them. Ive watched tones of games where enrights direct oppenent towers him up. I know enright got alot of the ball but he is hardly 1 of the greatest defenders of all time
Don Freo
Guest
This Enright love amazes me. Guy McKenna was miles better...and many others. Dennis Marshall, Luke Hodge... ...but I agree, Sheek. There's no way anyone can ever pick a best of. There are too many to fit in. You could pick ten teams and many would argue that someone in the tenth team deserves a place in the first.
tom
Guest
Selwood and Enright, are you kidding me Sheek. As much as i hate adelaide, Roo and Mcleod would demolish them in a second. Not to mention players like Buckley. How you have Enright at bp in your first team over Scarlett is a joke. Scarlett carried Enright to 2 flags
Mister Football
Roar Guru
There are plenty who will argue the toss on this point (the VFL being the dominant league). I think it always was, but up to the late 70s, the top WAFL and SANFL teams were certainly on par with middle ranking teams in the VFL. Around 1980 or so, when the WAFL and SANFL teams used to play in the VFL's mid-week comp, I can recall Footscray getting an absolute touch up by some WAFL team, and that was a week after Port had given another VFL team a bit of a touch up.
Shakemyhead
Guest
I think everyone would acknowledge that the VFL was the dominant Australian Rules League and that is why many of the great interstate players chose to come across to play. I have no doubt that Barrie Robran was a great player but because he didn't play against the best every game he played it is hard to know where he sits when compiling 'best ever' teams. He could very well have been one of the greats in the strongest competition but he chose to stay in his home state and he cannot be faulted for that. Don't go knocking the author as he can only make his decisions on the players he saw play
sheek
Roar Guru
Steve, As I suggested to both Ben & Jack above, if you feel non-Victorian players are underrepresented, then please feel free to educate me.
Steve J
Roar Guru
36 blokes I mean