All Time Fantasy Draft: Clubs

[AFEV]

Trevor Barker and (for positional needs) Steven Milne.

B: Glelnn Archer, Geoff Southby, Reg Hickey
HB: Trevor Barker, Albert Collier, Bruce Doull
C: Keith Greig, Jack Clarke, Robert DiPierdomenico
HF: Jack Moriarty, Bernie Quinlan, Jack Mueller
F: Steven Milne, Gordon Coventry, Doug Wade
R: Jack Dyer, Dick Reynolds, Ron Barassi

INT: Michael Tuck, Dale Weightman, _______, _______

[Boomz]

Picking soon.

[Boomz]

My bad... Verdun Howell.. Picked yesterday but the post timed out and forgot to redo.

[DazBurg]

i'll take neil roberts

1952-62 169 games 40 goals. (b: 15 Jun 1933 185 cms 84.5 kgs). Roberts provided one of the most famous cases of a failed forward making the grade as a defender. After his first two and a half seasons it seemed he was going nowhere as a footballer but a switch to centre half-back changed the course of his football. His long arms hauled down countless marks and started attacks from the backline. He established himself as a star in 1955 winning the club's best and fairest and a place in the state team. He also finished third in the Brownlow and from that moment never looked back. His blond hair good looks and perfect build made him a media favourite. Prior to the 1958 season he concentrated on running rather than swimming over the summer and he had a great season. Roberts was an inspiring leader deputising for the injured Brian Gleeson and won the Brownlow by two votes. He was appointed skipper in 1959 and remained leader until he retired at the relatively young age of 29. Not the greatest kick of all time but he made up for it with his marking. Roberts led St Kilda into the finals for the first time in 1961 after 22 years on the sidelines. He played 11 games for Victoria. He became a well-respected commentator and was sometimes mentioned as a possible League coach but always declined.

Career highlights

    St Kilda Best and Fairest 1955, 1958
    Brownlow Medallist 1958
    Victorian state representative 11 times
    All Australian 1958

[BratPack]

Two I'm tossing up between but I'll play to positional need. Kevin "Cowboy" Neale

[Ringo]

I will select Ross G Smith

Smith took several years to blossom as a rover although his courage and determination were never in doubt.

1961-72 and 1975 234 games 231 goals. (b: 8 Sep 1942 173 cms 75 kgs). Smith's career proved the value of persisting. Smith took several years to blossom as a rover although his courage and determination were never in doubt. He didn't make the Saints' senior list at first but after a great game for the seconds he won promotion for the second round. It wasn't until the preliminary final of 1966 that his career kicked into a higher gear. He starred in the Saints' win and was part of the flag side a week later. In 1967 he consistently turned in tireless roving displays and was a prolific kickwinner. He earned his first Victorian guernsey and then bolted away to win the Brownlow with 24 votes. His improvement was illustrated by the fact that in six previous seasons he had scored only six votes. Smith won his second club championship in 1971 and was tipped to win a second Brownlow. He played in the 1971 runner-up team that year. He captained the Victorian side at the 1972 carnival and led the Saints from 1970 to 1972.

Career Highlights

    Trevor Barker Award 1967, 1971
    Brownlow Medallist 1967
    St Kilda Football Club Premiership player 1966
    Victoria State Captain 1972
    St Kilda Football Club Captain 1970â€"1972
    St Kilda Football Club Coach 1977
    AFL Australian Football Hall Of Fame Inductee 2010

Team Structure: (Subject to final re arrangement)
FB: Gary Ayres; David Dench; Kelvin Moore;
HB: Dick Grigg  ______ Nathan Buckley
C: Todd Viney: Michael Voss ___
HF: Allan Ruthven; Alex Jesaulenko; Gary Ablett Snr
FF: Norm Smith; Tony Lockett; Peter Daicos
R:Simon Madden; Ross G Smith; Kevin Bartlett
I/C: Robert Walls; Tim Watson; Kevin Sheedy; Wayne Schimmelbusch.

[BratPack]

Pretty easy choice for me to open up South Melbourne/Sydney. Bob Skilton

Robert John "Bob" Skilton (born 8 November 1938) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented South Melbourne
Playing as a rover, Skilton is one of only four players to have won the Brownlow Medal three times; in 1959 (when he tied with Verdun Howell), and in 1963 and 1968.
He was rated by Jack Dyer as better than Haydn Bunton, Sr and equal to Dick Reynolds, making him one of the best players in the history of the game.
Skilton made his senior debut at the age of 17 in round five, 1956 and went on to play 237 matches for the 'Bloods' before he retired in 1971, at the time a club record. He scored 412 goals in that time and was the club's leading goalkicker on three occasions. Nicknamed 'Chimp', he showed great grit and determination and became well known for giving maximum effort at all times.
Only 171 cm tall, Skilton was particularly fast and a superb baulker, allowing him to avoid opponents when necessary. He was never shy of attacking the ball, however, and in his 16 year career suffered many injuries, including concussion, a broken nose four times, a broken wrist three times and 12 black eyes.
It was his appearance on the front page of The Sun News-Pictorial in 1968 with two black eyes that earned him the Douglas Wilkie Medal. The black eyes were a consequence of a severe facial injury, which included depressed fractures of his cheekbones, due to collisions in successive weeks from Footscray's Ken Greenwood, his own teammate John Rantall and then Len Thompson.[1]
An extended series of graphic photographs displaying the true extent of Skilton's injury used to be on display at the team's rooms at the Lake Oval, prior to its move to Sydney (it is not on display in Sydney and it is commonly understood that it was first removed from display at the Lake Oval as part of the effort to get Tuddenham to coach South Melbourne in 1978).
He missed the entire 1969 VFL season after snapping an Achilles tendon in a pre-season practice match against SANFL club Port Adelaide.
One of his greatest assets was the ability to kick with both feet, a skill learned at the insistence of his father Bob Skilton senior, a track and field athlete, and developed by spending hours kicking the ball against a wall, collecting it on the rebound and kicking again with the other foot. It was impossible to say whether he was right or left footed, since his left foot gave greater accuracy, but his right greater distance. He had arguably the most accurate stab kick in the game. The stab kick has now all but disappeared.
Chosen to represent his state in 25 games, Skilton captained the Victorian team in 1963 and 1965. The downside of his career was the lack of success of his club. He often said that he would trade any of his three Brownlow Medals for a Premiership or even the chance to play in a Grand Final, and felt the highest point of his career was the one occasion South Melbourne made the finals in 1970 (under the great Norm Smith), finishing fourth after losing the first semi-final against St Kilda.
After 16 years at South Melbourne, including two years as playing coach in 1965â€"1966 and 9 club best and fairest awards, Skilton then played for his boyhood team, Port Melbourne in the VFA and later coached Melbourne from 1974â€"1977, with a best finish of sixth. Since then, Skilton has been honoured by being named captain of the Swans' team of the century, and named in the AFL team of the century. He was also the player featured inside the cover of the booklets of stamps featuring the Swans released by Australia Post to commemorate the centenary of the VFL/AFL.
Skilton made a speech in the post-match presentations of the 2005 AFL Grand Final following his team's first win in 72 years, and was tasked to present the trophy at the 2012 AFL Grand Final.

[DazBurg]

well i need a FF

Bob Pratt

Few names in football resonate so compellingly down the decades as that of Bob Pratt. His VFL record tally of 150 goals kicked in 1934 (later equalled by Hawthorn's Peter Hudson, albeit from more matches played) remains one of the most iconic achievements in the game.

Originally from Mitcham, Pratt made his VFL debut with South Melbourne as a seventeen year old in 1930, and went on to play 158 games for the club between then and 1939 and in 1946, kicking 681 goals. He was South's leading goal kicker in a season in 1932 (71 goals), 1933 (109), 1934 (150), 1935 (103), 1936 (64) and 1938 (72). He topped the league's goal kicking list from 1933 to 1935. His best effort in a single game was 15 goals against Essendon in 1934. He also managed bags of 12 (once), 11 (three times), 10 (three times), nine (four times) and eight (six times).

Best remembered for his shoulder-scraping marks Pratt would have been a thoroughgoing sensation had he played during the videotape era. Other VFL and VFA goalsneaks of the time - Titus, Mohr, Vallence, and Todd, for instance - may have kicked more goals than Pratt, but no one equalled his strike rate, and it is at least arguable to suggest that no one rivalled him as an all round player. He was a vital member of South Melbourne's 1933 premiership team, and it is arguable that his injury on the eve of the 1935 grand final, which forced him out of the game, cost the club another flag.

In 1939, Pratt crossed to VFA club Coburg where, two years later, he established an Association record by kicking 183 goals for the season. (The record was later eclipsed by another former VFL star, Ron Todd, who had moved from Collingwood to Williamstown.) In a game against Sandringham in 1941, Pratt booted 22.4 out of Coburg's tally of 33.14 (212). However, on grand final day he was restricted to just four goals by Port Melbourne full back Lance Dobson as the Borough caused a boilover with their first win against Coburg since 1929.

Bob Pratt returned to South Melbourne in 1946, but after booting two goals in his comeback match against Carlton he was seriously injured, and never played again. Erstwhile team mate Laurie Nash summed up the incomparable Pratt style by saying, "He was the greatest high mark I have ever seen. How he didn't kill himself in some of his marking efforts I will never know" (see footnote 1).

Hardly surprisingly, Bob Pratt features in both the Sydney/South Melbourne and Coburg 'Teams of the Century'.

Career highlights

For the League

    Leading goalkicker 1933â€"1935
    Equal most goals in a season of all time
    AFL Hall of Fame Legend

For South Melbourne

    All time leading goalkicker
    Season's leading goalkicking 1932â€"1936 and 1939
    Team of the Century member

[Boomz]

Goodes.

[AFEV]

Paul Kelly...Just need to hope that Ringo doesn't take my next pick. :)

[Ringo]

I will select Peter Bedford and Tony Morwood 

Peter Bedford
A greatly talented centre or half-forward, Peter Bedford played 178 games and kicked 325 goals for the Swans from 1968 to 1976. Captain of the Club from 1973 to 1976, he also won the Best and Fairest award five times â€" in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1975. In 1970, the season in which he was instrumental in helping South Melbourne reach its first finals series for 25 years, he was also the Brownlow Medallist, accepting football’s highest individual honour at the first televised Brownlow Medal dinner. The Club’s leading goalkicker in 1971, 1972 and 1973 was named as ruck-rover in the Swans Team Of The Century, and in 1999 was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
Peter Bedford
1968-1976 178 games 325 goals
1970 Brownlow Medal
Captain 1973-1976
Best & Fairest 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975
Leading Goalkicker 1971, 1972, 1973
Swans Team Of The Century


Tony Morwood
One of the finest half-forwards to have represented the Club,  Tony Morwood was among the  Swans’ best in most of his 229 games. His brilliant high marking and extreme agility on the ground were  complemented with sheer  courage.  His hallmark  style was  to throw his body into the thickest of packs with apparent disregard for his own safety.  This, together with his relentless hard running, made it virtually impossible for opposition teams to match up  on him. Given the distance he covered  during the course of a game, it is  remarkable that over his long career he scored, on average, nearly two goals a game, leading the Club’s goalkicking in 1979 and 1982, and finishing with a career total of 397. Tony was selected on a half-forward flank in the Swans Team of the Century.

Tony Morwood
1978-1989
229 games
397 goals
Leading goalkicker 1979, 1982
Swans Team of the Century

Team Structure: (Subject to final re arrangement)
FB: Gary Ayres; David Dench; Kelvin Moore;
HB: Dick Grigg  ______ Nathan Buckley
C: Todd Viney: Michael Voss ___
HF: Allan Ruthven; Alex Jesaulenko; Gary Ablett Snr
FF: Norm Smith; Tony Lockett; Peter Daicos
R:Simon Madden; Ross G Smith; Kevin Bartlett
I/C: Peter Bedford; Tim Watson; Tony Morwood; Wayne Schimmelbusch.

Emergencies: Robert Walls; Kevin Sheedy;

[AFEV]

Laurie Nash.

• TFL/TSL Hall of Fame member (Legend status)
• Tasmania Team of the Century member (CHB)
• Camberwell Team of the Century member (VFA, CHF)
• South Melbourne/Sydney Team of the Century member (CHF)
• Victoria Team of the Century member (CHF)
• A record 18 Goals in a State match
• 400 goals in 4 seasons with Camberwell
• AFL Hall of Fame member


Capable of playing short or tall, forward or back, Nash was one of the finest players of his day. Gifted with exhilarating pace, excellent ball handling and remarkable aerial skills for his height. Nash was a man who was seldom defeated.

Nash was a superbly fit athlete who never smoked, drank rarely, and dedicated himself to a punishing exercise regime; something rare in 1930s sports circles

Nash was asked why he never won a Brownlow Medal (the award for the Best and Fairest player in the VFL). He replied, "I was never the best and fairest but I reckon I might have been the worst and dirtiest. I played it hard and tough."

If self-confidence is the primary fuel on which most sporting champions run then Laurie Nash's many accomplishments are easy to explain.   When asked who was the greatest footballer he had ever seen Nash famously replied "I see him in the mirror every morning when I shave".

Legendary Richmond Football Club player and coach Jack Dyer asserted that Nash was "Inch for inch, pound for pound, the greatest player in the history of Australian Rules"

Champion Collingwood goalsneak Gordon Coventry opined that Nash would have been the most prolific full forward of all time had he been stationed permanently at the goalfront.

B: Glelnn Archer, Geoff Southby, Reg Hickey
HB: Trevor Barker, Albert Collier, Bruce Doull
C: Keith Greig, Jack Clarke, Robert DiPierdomenico
HF: Jack Moriarty, Bernie Quinlan, Jack Mueller
F: Steven Milne, Gordon Coventry, Doug Wade
R: Jack Dyer, Dick Reynolds, Ron Barassi

INT: Michael Tuck, Dale Weightman, Paul Kelly, Laurie Nash

Luckily Ringo didn't take him, his ability to play tall/small forward/back makes him the perfect bench player. :)

[Boomz]

Ron Clegg

FB: Albert Chadwick, Jack Regan, Vic Thorp
HB: Verdun Howell, Paul Roos, Ron Clegg
C: George Moloney, __ , James Hird
HF: Garry Wilson, Wayne Carey, Craig Bradley
FF: Dick Lee, Jason Dunstall, Darryl Baldock
R: Roy Wright, Greg Williams, Gary Ablett Jr
I/C: Albert Thurgood, Les Foote, Jim Stynes, Adam Goodes

[Ringo]

Luckily Ringo didn't take him, his ability to play tall/small forward/back makes him the perfect bench player. :)

Coin fell the wrong  way between Nash and Morwood.

[DazBurg]

i'll take
Herbie matthews

Recruited from Fairfield, Herbie Matthews made his South Melbourne debut in 1932 and went on to become one of the key members of the club's famous 'foreign legion' sides. Quick, tough and exquisitely skilled, he played mostly as a wingman during the early part of his career, but later excelled as a centreman, rover and half forward as well. Despite standing only 175cm in height, he was a brilliant high mark. He played in South's winning grand final team of 1933 against Richmond, as well as in the losing teams of 1934-5-6. In the 1940 Brownlow Medal count he famously featured in a perfect tie for first place with Collingwood's Des Fothergill, as a result of which both players received cheap replica Medals, with the real one being retained by the league. Matthews polled well in the Brownlow on several other occasions, finishing second in 1937 and 1941, and third in 1936.

A five time winner of the Bloods' best and fairest award, Matthews captained the side from 1938 to 1945. In 1939 he also served as coach. His 191 game, 71 goal VFL career came to an end with the famous 'Bloodbath grand final' of 1945, during which he was one of ten players reported. His offence? Throwing the ball away after a free kick was awarded against him, for which he received a reprimand. Much more distressingly, however, South Melbourne lost the match to Carlton by 28 points.

In 1946, Matthews was appointed captain-coach of VFA club Oakleigh. In his two seasons in the role he led the Purple and Golds to ninth and eighth place finishes in what was at the time a twelve team competition.

Nine years after leaving South, Herbie Matthews returned there as the club's senior coach, but in four years in charge he was never able to get the team above ninth place on the ladder.

When the official Sydney/South Melbourne 'Team of the Century' was announced in August 2003, Matthews was selected as a wingman.

Career highlights


    Brownlow Medal 1940
    2nd Brownlow Medal 1937, 1941
    3rd Brownlow Medal 1936 (equal)
    South MelbourneBest and Fairest 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1943
    South Melbourne captain 1938â€"45
    South Melbourne/Sydney Swans Team of the Century
    Represented Victoria (4 games, 1 goal)