My best ever team of premiership-less players

The cliche that you need to be in the ‘right place at the right time’ is so apt when it comes to winning premierships.

Some great players have retired having never been part of a premiership-winning side.

The following 22 is a tribute to those premiership-less players since I started watching the game in 1971.

B: Ian Nankervis (Geelong) Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle) Trevor Barker (St Kilda)

HB: Rohan Smith (Footscray) Gary Hardeman (Melbourne) Neale Daniher (Essendon)

C: Doug Hawkins (Footscray) Robert Harvey (St Kilda), Robert Flower (Melbourne)

HF: Gary Ablett Snr (Geelong) Bernie Quinlan (Footscray/Fitzroy), Phil Krakouer (North Melbourne/Footscray)

F: Brad Johnson (Footscray) Tony Lockett (St Kilda/Sydney) Jim Krakouer (North Melbourne/St Kilda)

FOL: Gary Dempsey (Footscray/North Melbourne) Nathan Buckley (Brisbane/Collingwood) Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

I/C: Peter Motley (Carlton) Michael Turner (Geelong) Matthew Larkin (North Melbourne) Len Thompson (Collingwood/South Melbourne/Fitzroy)

Back line
Good luck scoring against this back six.

It starts with the masterful Matthew Pavlich at full back, and Ian Nankervis, a human blanket of small and medium forwards, next to him. The versatile Trevor Barker, who endeared himself to fans with his kamikaze courage and his big marking, could play on any type of forward as well.

At centre half-back is the stylish Gary Hardeman, one of the true underrated greats in the game’s history. The flankers include the run of Rohan Smith and arguably football’s greatest example of ‘what if’ in Neale Daniher, who if not for cruel injuries could have been a legend with the talent he had.

Centre line
With its skill and style, this line would carve teams up.

Each of these midfielders could break a game wide open in their own way.

The blue collar grit of Hawkins, dancing feet of Harvey and timeless nature of Flower would leave all in captivated awe.

Forward line
I salivate looking at this forward line on paper, with an AFL Hall of Fame legend in Tony Lockett its centre point at full forward.

And the other five forwards are hard to match up on too.

Gary Ablett had the cat-like reflexes of a small forward, combined with the strength and marking ability of a tall. The ‘Superboot’ Quinlan also offered versatility, having begun his career as a damaging ruck rover capable of bombing goals from 70 metres out, before finishing as a key forward.

The Krakouer brothers were lethal with their outrageous synergy and creativity, setting up goals with their skill and vision.

And Brad Johnson was a great player who could blitz the opposition, especially in this team.

Followers
The great Gary Dempsey was an old style ruckman, adept at his tap work, and damaging with his marking around the ground. When he was positioned a kick behind the play, he wrecked all the chances of leading forwards by out marking any and all. Off the bench as the second ruck, Len Thompson was similar but also capable of posing a real threat when resting forward.

Rounding out the trio is Nathan Buckley with his lethal foot skills and ball-winning ability, and Garry Wilson with his all-round game and strong goal sense while up forward.

Interchange
Keeping Thompson company is the trio of Michael Turner, Peter Motley and Matthew Larkin, all three being vindicated champions, capable of playing in many roles. Motley’s story, like the aforementioned Neale Daniher, was a footy tragedy. He had been destined to become a legend before a tragic car accident cut his career short.