Demonland MFC Team of the Decade

[Diablo Deemon 220]

Since Glenn McFarlane had a go at doing a team of the decade I’d like to see

demonlanders ideas on an MFC team of the decade. Team must be selected from players that

played for MFC as of January 1st 2000 till now. Here’s my backline with some details this has taken a

while so I’ll try and get the rest done and posted as soon as I’m able.

Backline:

Matthew Whelan

Games: 150

Goals: 15

Aggressive, committed, tenacious tackler and a great role model for indigenous players. Never shirked a contest,

his bumps and tackles are the stuff of legend. Best First Year player 2000 and nominated in the Rising star award in 2000.

Alistair Nicholson

Games: 110

Goals: 3

Consistent, underrated and much maligned full back who regularly took on the big men and was rarely beaten one on one.

Nathan D. Brown

Games:146

Goals: 36

Running half back, back pocket defender. Clean skills and adopted the one glove policy a steal at pick 66 in the ‘97’ draft.

Career highlights include Runner up BF to Jeff White in 2004, Fourth BF 2002, Best Clubman 2005

Half Back Line:

Clint Bizzell

Games: 163

Goals: 79

Recruited from Geelong where he played predominantly as a forward. Became a reliable defender in the side with excellent

run of half back and play making ability. Great over head and on the ground unfortunately injury limited opportunity and his

career. Career highlights include QAFL team of the Century member, Fourth BF 2003, International Rules Player 2003, 2006

Sandringham Premiership.

Adem Yze

Games: 271

Goals: 234

226 Consecutive games, one of the most precise disposers of the ball by foot ever. Ability to do the freakish on a whim, an

absolutely class player who led the league in kicks 2001, 2002 and 2004. Career highlights include: Best First Year player 1995,

Nominee Rising star, 2nd Best and Fairest 1998, 3rd BF 2000, 2004, Vic representative 2000, BF 2001, All Australian 2002,

Equal 3rd Brownlow 2002, International Rules player 2002.

Paul Wheatley

Games: 135

Goals: 34

One of the longest most accurate kicks in the game touted as the super goal specialist for which he holds the record in the NAB Cup.

Also a fantastic kick in specialist was a play making key defender able to play on tall or mid forwards. Now retired is likely to apply his

trade in the NFL much like Darren Bennett.

A SPECIAL MENTION TO ALL THE GUYS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MFC ON WIKIPEDIA AND DEMON WIKI WHERE I SOURCED A LOT OF PLAYERS INFORMATION THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK

Thanks for being patient here's the rest of the side:

Centre:

Shane Woewodin

Games: 200

Goals: 94

While he was only with us up until the end 2002. Few can deny the class, consistency and game turning ability Woewodin showed in his 2000 season for the mfc. Suffered brownlow blues in 2001 but did bounce back in 2002, then ensued his trade to the scum. Career highlights include 2000 Brownlow medal beating current midfield coach Scott West. B&F 2000, International Rules Representative 2000 and Rising Star Nominee 1997. There is a Taj Woewodin possible future Father son??

Cameron Bruce

Games: 203*

Goals: 204*

Mature aged recruit at 20 years of age. Sublime and silky skilled used in attacking role across half back and as a well adept midfielder who has been able to attack as well as tag the elite players and rarely be beaten. Extremely adaptable, dependable and consistent. Career highlights include 2008 B&F, Rising star nominee 2000, Selected in 150 Heroes Celebration and International rules player 2002 and 2004

Travis Johnstone

Games: 194*

Goals: 134*

No 1 selection in 1997 draft, Frequently criticised for not living up to the status. Has fantastic ability to spot up a target considered a specialist in kicking the footy has been criticised for not winning enough contested footy. Career highlights include 2002 fourth in Brownlow 2005 B&F lead AFL in kicks 2005.

Ruck:

Jeff White

Games: 268

Goals: 113

One of the most durable athletic high leaping ruckmen MFC has had. Just as an aside White played for the Stingrays and was drafted at no 1 in 1994 Johnstone was drafted at 1 in 97 and it looks as though Scully will be stingrays 3rd No 1 pick in the draft. I believe created or was a significant contributor to the mobile ruckmen we see today. Centre square changes limited his effectiveness most likely made cause he was dominant in hit outs ranking in the top 5 for 9 years from 1999.

James McDonald

Games: 235*

Goals: 51*

Hard In and under midfielder current captain fantastic leader. Performs consistently and is a great tagger. One of the best and consistent tacklers in the current game. Career Highlights include 2006, 2007 B&F 2006 All Australian. Joint captain 2008 and in his own right 2009.

Brad Green

Games: 186*

Goals: 227*

Fantastically flexible player able to play up forward as a KP or through the midfield. Very reliable set shot for goal and great contested mark for his size. International Rules representative 2004

Half Forward Line:

Russel Robertson

Games: 228

Goals:428

Spectacular mark played well above his size a star for the MFC. 2003 B&F, Leading Goalkicker 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009. International Rules player 2005

Aaron Davey

Games: 117

Goals: 139

Revolutionised the forward flanker role his explosive speed and tackling pressure has seen many sides adopt the same role Aaron created. His sublime kicking skills and improved endurance has seen him adopt a sweeper/midfield role. Career Highlights rising star runner up 2004, AFLPA 2004 Best first year player, international rules rep 2005, 2006, indigenous all star 2007, 2009 B&f 2009

Brad Miller

Games: 126*

Goals: 79*

Contentious yes, Miller in my opinion has had more influence and played in more good games during the 2000’s than Schwarz who managed only 59 games in 2000’s. 2008 Leading goal kicker.

Full Forward Line

Jeff Farmer

Games: 249

Goals:483

I was nearly going to go with Bate still might but when i reviewed Farmer’s 2000 season I had to include him. Bags of 8 in a prelim, 8 against freo, 7 against hawthorn, 9 against Collingwood and 7 against West Coast saw Farmer kick 109 Goals in 37 games in the 2000’s.

David Neitz

Games: 306

Goals: 631

One of the greatest captains of MFC. Was an elite full forward in his prime kicked 82 goals in 2002. Not much needs to be said about the best player we have had in the 2000’s

Matthew Bate

Games: 68

Goals: 67

Morrish Medal winner 2004, 3rd B &F 2007. Good contested mark great set shot gives rangas everywhere hope.

Bench:

Nathan Jones, Cale Morton, Jarred Rivers, Colin Sylvia

Edited November 19, 2009 by Diablo Deemon

[Toot182 7]

Could be an interesting little project whist I am unemployed... Any ideas where we can get a list of players who pulled on the red and blue in the 10 year period?

Since Glenn McFarlane had a go at doing a team of the decade

Is Glenn McFarlane's done already and was it a Melbourne one? (sorry for the naivety on this, hadn't heard of it...)

[CarnTheDees 52]

The challenge with an exercise like this (and choosing AA) is that do you or don't you 'need' to get a balanced team?

For instance, individually all those players above were very good however that back-6 is way too short for any era of footy. I would think that Rivers might be in ahead of Wheatley and/or that Yze would get a gig in the midfield...

I don't want to steal your thunder so will hold off posting a 22 until you've completed yours...

[The Chazz 4,077]

Warnock would have to go close to slotting in there somewhere, I think he is a top defender, and wouldn't look out of place as our FB of the decade.

[Demonator 93]

Warnock would have to go close to slotting in there somewhere, I think he is a top defender, and wouldn't look out of place as our FB of the decade.

oh come on......is that a serious post?

[The Chazz 4,077]

oh come on......is that a serious post?

Yes. Why not? Just thought that he is one standout from a slim few years. Plays a big role in Frawley's development too.

[Toot182 7]

I would have to agree with Demonator here and say that you are jumping to conclusions on including Warnock - maybe next decade? I'm far from a hater of him, in fact, the point you made of him helping Frawley is true, but surely we have had better defenders in the last 10 years.

Just as a point of interest on Warnock: statistically speaking he's only played 38 games... That is equivelent to 17% of the games in the decade (excluding finals) which is actually 2 less than Frawley, so his (Chip's) inclusion could be justified as well... With all due respect to them both being good players, I don't think either should be in the team of our best 6 defenders, unless my memory is worse than I thought and our backline in this decade has been horrible...

I think if we could get a list of the players that have played, it would broaden the view on who has the potential to be included, rather than just looking at the last few years.

Edit: If someone wants to sift through this from 2000-2009 and filter the players into the list, that'd provide us with an accurate reflection (unless we have another option?) I've done enough procrastinating at work already today...

Edited November 18, 2009 by Toot182

[The Big Ticket 94]

Warnock would have to go close to slotting in there somewhere, I think he is a top defender, and wouldn't look out of place as our FB of the decade.

Not quiet, but he'll be up there at the end of next season.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Here's mine at quick stab covering 2000 to 2009:

Whelan Ingerson Bizzell

Bruce Rivers Brown

Yze Woewodin Johnston

Green Schwartz Davey

Farmer Neitz Robertson

White McDonald Leoncelli

Thompson S. Febey Wheatley Raffle it.

Very hard to pick a team of the decade for MFC when there were some good years and some poor years. Recent years have been forgettable.

I would like 7 or 8 of the existing list plus Scully and Trengove to be on the team of the decade list.

Warnock and Nicho were in the mix given the lack of real class we have had up back for most of the decade.

[Demonator 93]

Yes. Why not? Just thought that he is one standout from a slim few years. Plays a big role in Frawley's development too.

No doubt that he'll be a good player - but I don't think he's been the standout fullback over the last "decade?!" He's only been a regular senior player for 12 months.

[1858 285]

Warnock would have to go close to slotting in there somewhere, I think he is a top defender, and wouldn't look out of place as our FB of the decade.

Definitely ahead of Al Nicholson (although I always appreciated Al's efforts and thought he was unfairly treated at times). Ingerson is up there too as RR noted.

Question for all: if we had to list a 2nd ruck (on the bench) would it be Jolly or other?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Question for all: if we had to list a 2nd ruck (on the bench) would it be Jolly or other?

Its out of Simmonds, Jolly and Jamar. Jolly was raw and did little at MFC. Really White rucked single handedly up to the end of 2004 then with only sparing support from Jamar after that. Simmonds did not do enough for mine in the short time he was with MFC. The same could be argued about Jamar. I did not put a 2nd ruck in place due to the lack of a ruck deserving. The fact that we had only one ruckman during most of that decade reinforces that the team of the decade should only have one ruck.

[MikeyJ 60]

I'd go for something like:

B: Whelan, Nicholson, Walsh

HB: Rivers, Ingerson, Bizzell

C: Yze, Woewodin, Johnstone

HF: Green, Schwarz, Robertson

F: Farmer, Neitz, Davey

R: White, Bruce, J McDonald

Int: Leoncelli, Brown, McLean, Wheatley

To make this list, I reckon players needed to have played their best footy for the MFC in the 2000s. That ruled out the likes of Steve Febey.

The shortage of class in defence is one of the most striking things about this list, as well as the prevalence of NQR players. We really have lacked genuine quality in the past 10 years.

I reckon only Neitz, Farmer, Davey, White and Bruce would have commanded a regular spot in most other teams. Arguments could be made for Rivers, Green and Robertson but that's it. God bless Junior Mac but 15 other teams have players like him.

The prospect of our team of the 2010s being filled with names like Davey, Sylvia, Morton, Watts, Scully, Trengove, Grimes, Warnock, Garland, Jones, Jurrah and Bennell is a much more enticing prospect.

[1858 285]

I did not put a 2nd ruck in place due to the lack of a ruck deserving.

I go along with that too. It was more a hypothetical than a suggestion.

[The Chazz 4,077]

I go along with that too. It was more a hypothetical than a suggestion.

That's perhaps where Warnock may get a spot on the bench, as Big Al started at Melbourne in the ruck.

Apologies for my call on Warnock, from a majority of the posts it appears I wasted my time bringing his name up! So much for an opinion!

[Oxxx 0]

When selecting players, are you talking about biggest influence from 2000-2009 or best players that were on our list at any time from 2000-2009?

Because Ingerson & Farmer both left us in 2001, so you can't really include 2 years worth into a team of the decade.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

When selecting players, are you talking about biggest influence from 2000-2009 or best players that were on our list at any time from 2000-2009?

Because Ingerson & Farmer both left us in 2001, so you can't really include 2 years worth into a team of the decade.

Why not? Or can you only choose 10 year players???

Their 2000 seasons were very influential in MFC reaching its only grand final for the whole decade. How much more influential can you get????

And I cant think of players who have been better or more influential than either player over the course of the decade to take their positions. Can you?

[Gorgoroth 12,955]

Any one but Nicho surely

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Jurrah!

[Gippy Dee 48]

Jurrah!

Surely 9 games isn't enough to grant him access to MFC team of the decade. Talented as he is, I'm sure he'll be more of a star of the next decade.

Gippy

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Here's mine at quick stab covering 2000 to 2009:

Whelan Ingerson Bizzell

Bruce Rivers Brown

Yze Woewodin Johnston

Green Schwartz Davey

Farmer Neitz Robertson

White McDonald Leoncelli

Thompson S. Febey Wheatley Raffle it.

Very hard to pick a team of the decade for MFC when there were some good years and some poor years. Recent years have been forgettable.

I got bored and did a team of the decade for the 1990 to 1999 period. IMO this team is far superior than the team for noughties. Some real class all over the ground. However many of those stars suffered terrible injuries durring the latter half of the 1990s

Obst Wight Seecamp

B Lovett Neitz Prymke

Tingay G Lovett S Febey

Rohde Schwartz Lyon

Bennett Jakovich Farmer

Stynes Viney Lovell

Yeats Woey White M Febey

[Gippy Dee 48]

I got bored and did a team of the decade for the 1990 to 1999 period. IMO this team is far superior than the team for noughties. Some real class all over the ground. However many of those stars suffered terrible injuries durring the latter half of the 1990s

Obst Wight Seecamp

B Lovett Neitz Prymke

Tingay G Lovett S Febey

Rohde Schwartz Lyon

Bennett Jakovich Farmer

Stynes Viney Lovell

Yeats Woey White M Febey

No Darren Cuthbertson? ;-)

Ha! I crack me up!

Gippy

[WonnaJurah 5]

Troy Broadbridge should b in the team as we dont know how good he could of been

RIP Troy

[45HG 1,539]

Schwarz? Team of this decade? If anything, a massive underlining as to why we haven't gone anywhere - just as any study of recent MFC stars has been

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Schwarz? Team of this decade? If anything, a massive underlining as to why we haven't gone anywhere - just as any study of recent MFC stars has been

Its a fair point. But who has been a better CHF over the decade? Miller?

And its indicative in forming such a team of the decade. I am sure at least 13 other Clubs could assemble such a side that would make my selection blush for talent. I dont think Richmond or Freo could assemble a better team. Richmond had Richo and Freo have Pav and Sandilands but there's nothing really special after that. Given the decade they have had I think Carlton would also struggle to pitch a decent side. Given the hell they have had (and wasn't it great), still to perform player like Kruezer, Gibbs and Murphy would be shoo ins.

I have bolded the position where those selected have a flaky hold on their position for want of a better player. Either the quality of football they exhibited was for only a short period (2 years or less) or I could not come up with a better choice in the choice.

Whelan Ingerson Bizzell

Bruce Rivers Brown

Yze Woewodin Johnston

Green Schwartz Davey

Farmer Neitz Robertson

White McDonald Leoncelli Raffle