What's your best combined Melbourne team from the players that you've seen?

[Macca 17,032]

Here's mine ...

B:        Alan Johnson           Sean Wight               Steven Febey

HB:     Brett Lovett               Gary Hardeman        Rod Grinter

C:        Stan Alves                Greg Wells                Rob Flower

HF:      Brian Wilson             David Schwartz         Garry Lyon

F:         Allen Jakovich          David Neitz               Jeff Farmer

R:        Jim Stynes                Todd Viney                Nathan Jones

IN:       Travis Johnstone       Laurie Fowler           Adem Yze        Jeff White


Emer:   Stephen Tingay,  Russell Robertson,  Matthew Febey,  Danny Hughes,  Ray Biffin,  Greg Parke,  Gerard Healy,  David Williams,  Graham Yeats,  Steven Stretch,  Brad Green,  Cameron Bruce,  Earl Spalding     

 

Not many from more recent times but what is interesting is that 8 of the above came to the club during RDB's time and another 6 players came to the club from the end of 1985 through to 1987.   So in the space of only 6 or 7 years during the 80's the club recruited 14 decent footballers. 

Let's hope that history can repeat itself in the current era ... that will mean that we'll need to recruit well in the next 2/3 years and our last 3 or 4 years worth of recruiting will need to bear fruit as well.

Another interesting point is that only 1 player from our 1980 list managed to last until the 1987 season ... I stand corrected on that point but regardless, it does highlight that Barassi turned over our list to a level not seen previously.  Roos did something very similar within his 3 year tenure.  The parallels between both coaching stints by both men are quite profound.

Those who saw our run of premierships during the Norm Smith era would no doubt have a vastly different team. 

 

            

Edited January 1, 2017 by Macca
Forgot about Tingay, Stretch and have also decided to include Gerard Healy

[Return to Glory 8,447]

26 minutes ago, Macca said:

Here's mine ...

B:        Alan Johnson           Sean Wight               Steven Febey

HB:     Brett Lovett               Gary Hardeman        Rod Grinter

C:        Stan Alves                Greg Wells                Rob Flower

HF:      Brian Wilson             David Schwartz         Garry Lyon

F:         Allen Jakovich          David Neitz               Jeff Farmer

R:        Jim Stynes                Todd Viney                Nathan Jones

IN:       Travis Johnstone       Laurie Fowler           Adem Yze        Jeff White


Emer:   Russell Robertson,  Matthew Febey,  Danny Hughes,  Ray Biffin,  Greg Parke
             David Williams,  Graham Yeats,  Brad Green,  Cameron Bruce,  Earl Spalding     

 

Not many from more recent times but what is interesting is that 8 of the above came to the club during RDB's time and another 6 players came to the club from the end of 1985 through to 1987.   So in the space of only 6 or 7 years during the 80's the club recruited 14 decent footballers. 

Let's hope that history can repeat itself in the current era ... that will mean that we'll need to recruit well in the next 2/3 years and our last 3 or 4 years worth of recruiting will need to bear fruit as well.

Another interesting point is that only 1 player from our 1980 list managed to last until the 1987 season ... I stand corrected on that point but regardless, it does highlight that Barassi turned over our list to a level not seen previously.  Roos did something very similar within his 3 year tenure.  The parallels between both coaching stints by both men are quite profound.

Those who saw our run of premierships during the Norm Smith era would no doubt have a vastly different team. 

 

            

Either Travis got lucky here Macca or, as you touch upon, we've been pretty mediocre for a bloody long time.

[Macca 17,032]

1 minute ago, Return to Glory said:

Either Travis got lucky here Macca or, as you touch upon, we've been pretty mediocre for a bloody long time.

You put a team like this out there and there is bound to be disagreement - that stands to reason RTG

I had a real dilemma putting Laurie Fowler on the bench though - he gave the club great service and won 3 B & F's.  The other tough ask was coming up with enough decent backmen.  Especially tall backmen.  But for Hardeman (who was a champ), I might have had to put Neitz at CHB.

[Return to Glory 8,447]

18 minutes ago, Macca said:

You put a team like this out there and there is bound to be disagreement - that stands to reason RTG

I had a real dilemma putting Laurie Fowler on the bench though - he gave the club great service and won 3 B & F's.  The other tough ask was coming up with enough decent backmen.  Especially tall backmen.  But for Hardeman (who was a champ), I might have had to put Neitz at CHB.

It's a great effort Macca. My immediate thought was 'Travis Johnstone, are you kidding' but it's hard to think of an immediate replacement. I'd have Aaron Davey as an emergency fwiw

Edited January 1, 2017 by Return to Glory

[Gator 17,449]

Very good effort, except for Travis Johnstone.  If I had a second 22 I doubt he'd make it.

You've ommitted Gerard Healy and he'd be one of my first picked.  

I'd also remove Grinter from a half-back flank and replace him with Tingay, who could play both wing and HB.

Edited January 1, 2017 by ProDee

[Sir Why You Little 37,120]

Good Side Macca. 

I would have Danny Hughes at Full Back with S Wight replacing Balls who on interchange could also play forward

[Return to Glory 8,447]

6 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Very good effort, except for Travis Johnstone.  If I had a second 22 I doubt he'd make it.

You've ommitted Gerard Healy and he'd be one of my first pickef.

I'd also remove Grinter from a half-back flank and replace him with Tingay, who could play both wing and HB.

Sean White also unlucky.

Wight's in

Edited January 1, 2017 by Return to Glory

[Gator 17,449]

1 minute ago, Return to Glory said:

White's in

So he is.

And I can't believe I spelt Wight White !!

[Macca 17,032]

21 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Very good effort, except for Travis Johnstone.  If I had a second 22 I doubt he'd make it.

You've ommitted Gerard Healy and he'd be one of my first picked.  

I'd also remove Grinter from a half-back flank and replace him with Tingay, who could play both wing and HB.

I didn't forget about Gerard Healy but should have put him on the list of emergencies ... him leaving for the Swans went against him.   Same for Spalding although he was included in the list of my emergencies.  Jakovich didn't play a lot of games but he's in - it's all a bit subjective with these things.

Tingay missing was an oversight on my part though ... injuries cruelled what could have been a stellar career.  I've gone back and included him on the list of emergencies (as well as Gerard Healy)

Your idea of Tingay for Grinter has merit but Grinter was a pure backman and also added a fair bit of mongrel.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

Love the thread and that team. 

I know many won't agree but I would have Matthew Whelan over Steve Febey. 

 

[Macca 17,032]

The part of the OP that jumps out is that premiership teams are built on the back of having enough good/top players on a list ... the above team has a number of top players but many of them played in completely different era's ... when we had enough of those good players playing together, we played finals.  We've never had quite enough of those good players to snag a flag though.

Fast forward to today and I believe we're bringing in enough talent so as to play finals again - maybe even this season if our youngsters can take a extra step or 3.  We've got about 10 players (Viney,  Hogan,  Jones,  Tyson, Lewis,  Gawn,  Vince,  T-Mac,  Watts & Jetta) who could be classed as being good to excellent but we're going to need much more than that if we're going to win a flag in the foreseeable future.

We need to continue to recruit well - every year.  We can't afford to have an off year.  Ever.

Edited January 1, 2017 by Macca

[Gator 17,449]

24 minutes ago, Macca said:

I didn't forget about Gerard Healy but should have put him on the list of emergencies ... him leaving for the Swans went against him.   Same for Spalding although he was included in the list of my emergencies.  Jakovich didn't play a lot of games but he's in - it's all a bit subjective with these things.

Tingay missing was an oversight on my part though ... injuries cruelled what could have been a stellar career.  I've gone back and included him on the list of emergencies (as well as Gerard Healy)

Your idea of Tingay for Grinter has merit but Grinter was a pure backman and also added a fair bit of mongrel.

We'll agree to disagree. 

Healy was a star at Melbourne.  He won a B&F, played 130 games and kicked almost 200 goals.  If he retired after his 130 games at the Dees he makes this team every day of the week.

He played 80 games more for the MFC than Jakovich, so 130 games obviously qualifies.

And Tingay was a much better footballer than Grinter.

But, it's all subjective, and you've done a good job.

Darren Bennett also deserves a mention.

[daisycutter 29,707]

left out two brownlow medallists..............but that's ok, i agree......lol

let's hope that in 3-5 years we can replace half that team

[Macca 17,032]

4 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

left out two brownlow medallists..............but that's ok, i agree......lol

let's hope that in 3-5 years we can replace half that team

Woewodin had a terrific year in the season that he won the Brownlow and Moore was more than serviceable in his time at the Demons ... his Brownlow year was a standout year too. 

The real issue is not who should be in or out of the aforementioned team but more so us not having enough decent footballers on the list at the same time.

If we can get at least half of the following players ... Hunt,  Harmes,  Oliver,  Weideman,  Petracca,  Brayshaw,  Oscar,  Frost,  Salem & Stretch stepping it up to a good/very good level in the next year or so, we'll be well on our way.  There are others who might reach that level too.  As always, a club's best 14-15 players govern outcomes.

[Vogon Poetry 2,095]

The forward line is elite but top heavy and the backline is ordinary for a team picked over a long period.

And of course the midfield "rovers" are ordinary by "elite" standard.  It's why we've struggled to really impose ourselves over the journey. I reckon when history is written we've got a couple of midfielders in our team at the moment that will make that team. Actually I reckon there are a lot that could.  Oliver, Viney J, T Mac, Petracca, Hogan and Hunt have shown me enough to indicate they'd give it a real push in time.  Oh, and of course Gawn.  It all bodes well for the future.

Like Pro Tingay and Healy are musts for me for Grinter and Travis.

[daisycutter 29,707]

Interesting too, macca, that only 12 out of the 22 were one-team players

[Biffen 12,944]

Great team Macca.

I would have Grinter in any team ,one of the first picked because he struck fear into opponents.

He was also a highly skilled player.

Steve Stretch maybe on the list somewhere too for his run .

Toddles was a bit of a butcher although he was a great competitor every time.

Edited January 1, 2017 by Biffen

[dieter 3,325]

I've done this team in my head often.

I have Steve Smith at full back, Wight in the back pocket, Febey instead of Grinter, Tingay instead of Johnstone and Davey instead of Yze.

[Macca 17,032]

46 minutes ago, Biffen said:

Great team Macca.

I would have Grinter in any team ,one of the first picked because he struck fear into opponents.

He was also a highly skilled player.

Steve Stretch maybe on the list somewhere too for his run .

Toddles was a bit of a butcher although he was a great competitor every time.

I forgot about Stretch too ... this is what happens when you've had too much cognac (the night before)

I was a real fan of Strawbs O'Dwyer too ... another one with a mean streak.  And tough.  And what about 'Big Carl'?

[Gator 17,449]

43 minutes ago, dieter said:

I've done this team in my head often.

I have Steve Smith at full back, Wight in the back pocket, Febey instead of Grinter, Tingay instead of Johnstone and Davey instead of Yze.

Yze had a far better career than Davey.

No comparison really.

Yze annoyed me in his latter years, but for a period of 3-4 years he led the entire competition for kicks.

He's a bit too maligned.

It's funny how people see players differently. 

Steve Smith played 200 games, but was a disappointing player in my eyes.

[Demon_spurs 1,867]

I would have moved Alan Johnson to the half forward flank, I don't believe he was a back pocket player and put Anthony Ingerson or Ray Smith in the back pocket. I would have left out Brian Wilson. 

Edited January 1, 2017 by Demon_spurs

[special robert 438]

Alan Johnston      Tassie Johnston      B Lovett

S Tingay          Doc Roet          G Hardemann

R Flower         G Lyon          G Farmer

D Schwartz    D Neitz          Barry Vagg   

 A Yze         A Jakovich      Twinkle Toes Townsend

M Gawn     Frank Adams  R Barassi

[Adzman 2,154]

I was born in 83 so my memory of some of the greats are limited. Some controversy with my lineup. Woewodin played 138 games for us, and 100 of those were sublime. Ingerson still is to this day one of the best backman I have ever seen. If he didn't do his knee he would have played more than 5 seasons and gone down as one of the all time greats at the club.

 

B:        Graham Yeats           Sean Wight               Steven Febey

HB:     Brett Lovett               Anthony Ingerson       Rod Grinter

C:        Nathan Jones                James McDonald      Shane Woewodin

HF:      Russell Robertson        David Schwartz         Garry Lyon

F:         Allen Jakovich          David Neitz               Jeff Farmer

R:        Jim Stynes                Todd Viney                 Aaron Davey

IN:       Travis Johnstone       Brad Green          Adem Yze        Jeff White


Emer:   Stephen Tingay,  Matthew Febey,  Steven Stretch,  Cameron Bruce,  

[picket fence 17,479]

19 hours ago, Macca said:

Here's mine ...

B:        Alan Johnson           Sean Wight               Steven Febey

HB:     Brett Lovett               Gary Hardeman        Rod Grinter

C:        Stan Alves                Greg Wells                Rob Flower

HF:      Brian Wilson             David Schwartz         Garry Lyon

F:         Allen Jakovich          David Neitz               Jeff Farmer

R:        Jim Stynes                Todd Viney                Nathan Jones

IN:       Travis Johnstone       Laurie Fowler           Adem Yze        Jeff White


Emer:   Stephen Tingay,  Russell Robertson,  Matthew Febey,  Danny Hughes,  Ray Biffin,  Greg Parke,  Gerard Healy,  David Williams,  Graham Yeats,  Steven Stretch,  Brad Green,  Cameron Bruce,  Earl Spalding     

 

Not many from more recent times but what is interesting is that 8 of the above came to the club during RDB's time and another 6 players came to the club from the end of 1985 through to 1987.   So in the space of only 6 or 7 years during the 80's the club recruited 14 decent footballers. 

Let's hope that history can repeat itself in the current era ... that will mean that we'll need to recruit well in the next 2/3 years and our last 3 or 4 years worth of recruiting will need to bear fruit as well.

Another interesting point is that only 1 player from our 1980 list managed to last until the 1987 season ... I stand corrected on that point but regardless, it does highlight that Barassi turned over our list to a level not seen previously.  Roos did something very similar within his 3 year tenure.  The parallels between both coaching stints by both men are quite profound.

Those who saw our run of premierships during the Norm Smith era would no doubt have a vastly different team. 

 

            

 

I like it but out Johnson, Febey, and Trapper  for Spalding and Tingay and Laurie Fowler.

Captain ??? Rob Flower VC Stan Alves, DVC David Nietz

Edited January 1, 2017 by picket fence

[binman 43,717]

Hard to go past stynes and white but i reckon strawbs odywer was a terrific player. And a very important one in a relatively successdul era as highlifhted in this article

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/strawbs-short-changed-on-dees-night/news-story/7d2b161345fbb2b31c5c7d5e075b1255