The team below represents a best guess at which players will be considered the best of their time for the next 10 years. As such they need to be born around the 1982 mark at the latest in order to dominate for the majority of the next decade. For mine, the only exception is Jonathon Brown who was born in late 1981 – he’s just too good to leave out and will probably be the most influential forward for at least 7 of the next 10 years.
Some have proved their worth already and are no-brainers to continue their ascendency. Others are pure speculation. Club and height (cm) in brackets – weight not included because it fluctuates in time.
FB: G. Johncock (Adel, 178) B. Harris (WB, 194) D. Mundy (Fre, 189)
HB: L. Hodge (Haw, 184) K. Bradley (Ess, 195) M. Maguire (St K, 190)
C: A. Cooney (WB, 186) C. Judd (WC, 189) N. Dal Santo (St K, 185)
HF: S. Johnson (Gee, 189) J. Brown (BL, 195) L. Franklin (Haw, 196)
FF: R. Tambling (Rich, 181) J. Koschitzke (St K, 197) G. Ablett Jr (Gee, 182)
R: D. Cox (WC, 204), B. Deledio (Rich, 188), J. Kelly (Gee, 183)
Int: J. Adcock (BL, 184), J. Waite (Car, 192), M. Mattner (Adel, 187), M. Seaby (WC, 200)
Em: T. Cloke (Coll, 195), A. Corrie (BL, 186), A. Monfries (Ess, 181)
The critical requirements of this team are players that offer you speed and skills combined with a touch of real nasty where you need it. Flexibility of position is another key ingredient. Physical strength too – there are no weaklings in this team (assuming Franklin, Deledio, Tambling, Waite, Seaby and Monfries bulk up a bit in years to come).
The mids speak for themselves – a rotation that includes Judd, Kelly, Cooney, Dal Santo, Deledio, Ablett, Hodge and Mattner leaves no room for flawed players such as Ball and Cogs (speed and foot disposal), Burgoyne and Wells (no defensive skills), Kerr (outside player only) or Mitchell (who?). All these guys can get their own ball, take a bounce, take a mark and can kick a goal. Just for fun, once in a while, you can throw Brown into the mix - just to put the wind up’em.
The roughies in this mix are Mattner - who makes the grade because of his defensive skills primarily, but who can also take a grab and torch them all day – and Monfries, who is going to be a terrific player – super smart, guts galore and who is one of the few midfielders that actually improves when pushed up the ground.
Forwards are either super skilled or super bad – or both. In the former category are Tambling, Corrie, Johnson and Franklin. No one will touch these guys when they’re at their best – just too slippery and clever. Even if Johnson and Franklin look a bit soft at times, at their best they’ll leave others wondering who?what?where?. And besides, with Brown up there, everyone walks a little bit taller don’t they? Tambling will also have spells in the middle, of course.
Brown and Ablett are a given - explanations unnecessary – no correspondence will be entered into.
Kosie will prove to be way more flexible than Reiwoldt or Hansen, a goal kicking forward that can hold down FF or CHF and who can provide winning ruckwork in the forward line. He will also know when to keep out of Brown’s way. AND he can go down back when needed.
The back line contains the most roughies and has slightly less flexibility. Bradley, Mundy and Adcock have a way to go but all have done big jobs in their first year and have the physical attributes, skills and urgency to succeed. Bradley may well turn out to be better than his team mate Fletcher. Johncock is good enough to dominate at both ends of the ground – a sensational player. Harris keeps on improving and is already the games best full back - but cannot play up the ground. Then again, the skills of a full back are rarely useful elsewhere. Maguire is another one of those givens – just needs to work on that glass tummy of his.
Cox will prove the adage that a good big man will always beat a good little man – leaving all those mid-range talls masquerading as rucks in his wake. He will also prove the adage that a good big man will always beat a good bigger man ensuring that Sandilands maintains his status as League freakshow. Seaby will make for a very good back-up (Pattison could be in the mix here – let’s hope so anyway). Both Cox and Seaby can kick goals.
Love the big fellas to be nasty and I can see Travis going this way. Has shown a lot for a youngster and will be a truly scary sight when he matures - and besides, one out of three has to go alright. Waite could be anything – I think he’ll turn out to be one of those Carlton light weight flankers that are just super effective – thinking Johnston, Hunter, Dean – that ilk.
Apologies to Griffin, Davey, Bartel, Corey, Hunt, Newman, Coughlan, Drummond, Hadley, McLean, Sylvia, Lovett, Giansiracusa, Murphy, Sampi, Waters, Kornes, Kennelly, Lewis, Rutten, Smith at al – just liked the others more.
Anyone else like to pick a team?
Some have proved their worth already and are no-brainers to continue their ascendency. Others are pure speculation. Club and height (cm) in brackets – weight not included because it fluctuates in time.
FB: G. Johncock (Adel, 178) B. Harris (WB, 194) D. Mundy (Fre, 189)
HB: L. Hodge (Haw, 184) K. Bradley (Ess, 195) M. Maguire (St K, 190)
C: A. Cooney (WB, 186) C. Judd (WC, 189) N. Dal Santo (St K, 185)
HF: S. Johnson (Gee, 189) J. Brown (BL, 195) L. Franklin (Haw, 196)
FF: R. Tambling (Rich, 181) J. Koschitzke (St K, 197) G. Ablett Jr (Gee, 182)
R: D. Cox (WC, 204), B. Deledio (Rich, 188), J. Kelly (Gee, 183)
Int: J. Adcock (BL, 184), J. Waite (Car, 192), M. Mattner (Adel, 187), M. Seaby (WC, 200)
Em: T. Cloke (Coll, 195), A. Corrie (BL, 186), A. Monfries (Ess, 181)
The critical requirements of this team are players that offer you speed and skills combined with a touch of real nasty where you need it. Flexibility of position is another key ingredient. Physical strength too – there are no weaklings in this team (assuming Franklin, Deledio, Tambling, Waite, Seaby and Monfries bulk up a bit in years to come).
The mids speak for themselves – a rotation that includes Judd, Kelly, Cooney, Dal Santo, Deledio, Ablett, Hodge and Mattner leaves no room for flawed players such as Ball and Cogs (speed and foot disposal), Burgoyne and Wells (no defensive skills), Kerr (outside player only) or Mitchell (who?). All these guys can get their own ball, take a bounce, take a mark and can kick a goal. Just for fun, once in a while, you can throw Brown into the mix - just to put the wind up’em.
The roughies in this mix are Mattner - who makes the grade because of his defensive skills primarily, but who can also take a grab and torch them all day – and Monfries, who is going to be a terrific player – super smart, guts galore and who is one of the few midfielders that actually improves when pushed up the ground.
Forwards are either super skilled or super bad – or both. In the former category are Tambling, Corrie, Johnson and Franklin. No one will touch these guys when they’re at their best – just too slippery and clever. Even if Johnson and Franklin look a bit soft at times, at their best they’ll leave others wondering who?what?where?. And besides, with Brown up there, everyone walks a little bit taller don’t they? Tambling will also have spells in the middle, of course.
Brown and Ablett are a given - explanations unnecessary – no correspondence will be entered into.
Kosie will prove to be way more flexible than Reiwoldt or Hansen, a goal kicking forward that can hold down FF or CHF and who can provide winning ruckwork in the forward line. He will also know when to keep out of Brown’s way. AND he can go down back when needed.
The back line contains the most roughies and has slightly less flexibility. Bradley, Mundy and Adcock have a way to go but all have done big jobs in their first year and have the physical attributes, skills and urgency to succeed. Bradley may well turn out to be better than his team mate Fletcher. Johncock is good enough to dominate at both ends of the ground – a sensational player. Harris keeps on improving and is already the games best full back - but cannot play up the ground. Then again, the skills of a full back are rarely useful elsewhere. Maguire is another one of those givens – just needs to work on that glass tummy of his.
Cox will prove the adage that a good big man will always beat a good little man – leaving all those mid-range talls masquerading as rucks in his wake. He will also prove the adage that a good big man will always beat a good bigger man ensuring that Sandilands maintains his status as League freakshow. Seaby will make for a very good back-up (Pattison could be in the mix here – let’s hope so anyway). Both Cox and Seaby can kick goals.
Love the big fellas to be nasty and I can see Travis going this way. Has shown a lot for a youngster and will be a truly scary sight when he matures - and besides, one out of three has to go alright. Waite could be anything – I think he’ll turn out to be one of those Carlton light weight flankers that are just super effective – thinking Johnston, Hunter, Dean – that ilk.
Apologies to Griffin, Davey, Bartel, Corey, Hunt, Newman, Coughlan, Drummond, Hadley, McLean, Sylvia, Lovett, Giansiracusa, Murphy, Sampi, Waters, Kornes, Kennelly, Lewis, Rutten, Smith at al – just liked the others more.
Anyone else like to pick a team?
