Opinion
Starting with the 2001 draft was a mistake. That draft was extremely gifted across the board such that every other draft seems largely mediocre by comparison.
That detracts from the achievements of players who worked their whole lives to the pinnacle of our national game. Now onto the side.
Backs: Andrew Mackie. Daniel Merrett. Craig Bolton.
Half backs: Kade Simpson. Tom Lonergan . Michael Firrito.
Centres: Brad Sewell. Jobe Watson. Nick Malceski.
Rucks: Will Minson. Brendan Goddard. Jarrad McVeigh.
Half forwards: Jason Winderlich. Jay Schulz. Daniel Wells.
Forwards: Brett Ebert. Brent Staker. Jason Porplyzia.
Bench: Hamish Macintosh. Michael Osbourne. Nick Maxwell. Jared Rivers.
Backline
This backline is, in this author’s opinion, characterised by how hard and tough they are. Craig Bolton played 199 games for the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans across a ten-year career.
He is by far one of the best pre-season draft selections ever made, and in reality a bit of a cop out given that he was selected by the Lions previously.
At full back we have big sauce, the ginger Geronimo, and man mountain, weighing in at 103 kilograms and 195 centimetres, Daniel Merrett was a threat at both ends of the ground as shown by his 2012 season with 26 goals and 13 behinds as well as his 2007 season where he lead the league in spoils.
Rounding out the last line of defence we have Andrew Mackie, a more attacking defender his skill set compliments the more negating roles played by Merrett and Bolton.
Mackie formed a key part of Geelong’s premiership winning era playing in all three grand finals, making the all Australian team in 2013, and playing 280 games in a dynastic side.
At the half back line we have the recently retired Kade Simpson. Simpson came to Carlton at the lowest point in their history and thrived in a side often maligned as the fallen titans of the game.
The Carlton Blues’ Kade Simpson. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
His ability was such that he was recognised with Carlton’s highest honour in 2013 – the John Nicholls award.
Filling the other key post in the backline we have the inspirational Tom Lonergan.
A career dominated by the twin traumas of a lacerated kidney and a car accident after being redrafted, Lonergan was able to overcome the crucibles of these maladies and thrive in the supportive Geelong environment. His resilience and courage to get back on the footy field earn him a spot at centre half back in this side.
Finally last, but certainly not least, we have the Italian stallion himself Michael Firrito. His career with the roos exemplifies the Shinboner spirit, his dogged defensiveness saw him used as both a defender and a tagger.
He was able to play 275 games with the Kangas and show the toughness and strength that earns him a spot on the half back flank of this side. This backline is very tall with Simpson the shortest at 183 cm, it is a defensive line up that even the strongest key forwards of the modern era would struggle against.
Midfield
In the guts we have will Minson, Brendon Goddard and Jarrad McVeigh. Starting with Minson, a perennially dominant figure in the news cycle, and no stranger to controversy Minson’s career was full of very high highs, and very low lows. He led the league in hit outs during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
He was continually mired in on-field beefs with players such as Danyle Pearce and Kane Cornes. Following on from Midson we have a similarly tempestuous and demonstrative Brendon Goddard.
Jake Stringer and Brendon Goddard of the Bombers (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
A servant of the St Kilda and Essendon Goddard was a versatile player as a defender and midfielder. The highs of his career includes three consecutive grand finals across 2009, and 2010. Goddard also qualified for the All Australian side in these years and won the Critchon Medal in 2013.
Now we have the midfield general in Jared McVeigh, a player lauded for his leadership and his firm hand in conducting his side. The highlights of McVeigh’s career include two best and fairest awards at the Swans in 2008 and 2013, three grand finals and a premiership in 2012. Now onto the centre line.
Starting from the outside we have Nick Malceski and Brad Sewell on the wings. Malceski was a hard running flanker known for his poise and kicking ability, he often formed the ‘quarterback’ for the Swans sitting out the back waiting for handball receptions then moving the ball forward by foot.
He frequently led the league in kicks, highlights to his career included the 2012 and 2014 grand finals, as well as being named to the All Australian side in 2014. On the opposite wing we have perennial speed bump and dual premiership player Brad Sewell.
Sewell played in objectively one of the best midfields in AFL history but was most well known for being the victim of a vicious shirt front from Matthew Lloyd early on in the Essendon versus Hawthorn match of 2009. Rounding out the midfield we have the controversial figure in Jobe Watson.
Watson, mostly known as the captain of the Essendon Football club during the supplements saga, has earned his place on this list as a strong inside midfielder averaging 27 possessions across the period of the scandal, as well as being 3x Critchon Medal recipient (2009, 2010, and 2012), and dual all Australian player (2012 and 2013).
His career may have been marred by the use of performance enhancing drugs in 2012 and his eventual ignominious exit after the 2017 season but he is a worthy player for this side for the strength of his leadership and his ability at the coal face of the AFL oval.
Forward Line
Starting with the half forward line we have Jason Winderlich, a player who was never quite able to reach his full potential due to injury.
He found his niche as a pacey high half forward towards the middle part of his career playing 19 games in 2009 and 2010.
His career is one of not meeting his potential, but as an Essendon supporter he earns his spot here. In the first of two key position posts we have Jay Schulz, he played for both Richmond and Port Adelaide.
Playing 193 games and kicking 330 goals (272 goals at Port Adelaide), Schulz was known for his hardness and playing above his height.
Highlights of his career include four leading goal kicking awards at Port and beating Richmond in their second finals series in 2014. Rounding out the other half forward flank we have another injury prone player in Daniel Wells.
Wells played primarily through the midfield but his offensive talents find him named as a half forward flanker.
Despite the end of his career being acrimoniously demanding a trade to Collingwood, he is a modern legend of North Melbourne earning two best and fairest medals in his tenure at North, as well as the Archer Hird medal in 2013.
This half forward line is defined by mobility and flexibility, despite being the hardest position to play on the ground I believe these players form a dangerous and power connection from the midfield and to the forward line.
On the full forward line we start with Scion of the Port Adelaide football club Brett Ebert. Ebert kicked 240 goals across a 166 game career as an attacking midfielder. He finds his position as a resting midfielder who can be extremely damaging with his possessions in the forward line.
Primarily used as a utility Brent Staker finds his position as a full forward and the lack of any key position player here. Rounding out the forward line is Jason Porplyzia, aka the porpoise, aka Porps, aka Needles. Porplyzia was a small forward with strong hands and an accurate set shot.
Kicking 181 goals across a 131 game career including leading the Adelaide goal kicking in 2009, Porps was a strong forward with a unique skill set.
Known for his pace at ground level and his strength in the air his ability sees him earning the final spot on the field.
Bench
Hamish McIntosh is another player who’s career was ruined by injury, his mobility and ability in the air finds him named here for his ability to rotate through the ruck and in the forward line.
Yet another Geelong player we have Jared Rivers, primarily playing his career across the Melbourne Demons and the Geelong Cats Rivers played his best football across the half back line and as an outside midfielder. His career highlights include the rising star award in 2004 and his attacking ability, Rivers would rotate off the bench onto a wing and half back flank.
Osborne played as a small forward and proved his value as a depth player with two VFL premierships and one AFL premiership.
Finally rounding out our best 22 we have Nick Maxwell, earning his spot as a hard running utility primarily used as a key defender. His hard at the contest style and strong leadership is emblematic of this side as a whole, more grinding than flashy and perhaps the most workman like side of all I will name in this series.
Final thoughts
This side lacks the apparent mega stars of the 2001 draft. It has an immense amount of depth in the outside midfielder and small defender category but it lacks in every other department. Below is a provisional ranking of each side named:
1. 2001 AFL draft side.
2. 2002 AFL draft side.
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