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Top 10 MFC Indigenous Players

spirit of norm smith
spirit of norm smith
in Melbourne Demons

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With Toby Bedford and Kozzzzzzy Pickett having an exciting round 1, I was thinking back at some of our past indigenous players. Some were super talents and super exciting but had their careers cut by injuries, home sickness or other personal reasons.
Here is my top 10

1- Jeff Farmer 

2- Aaron Davey

3- Nev Jetta

4- Andy Lovell

5- Liam Jurrah

5- Matthew Whelan

6- Colin Graham

7- Byron Pickett

8- Sean Charles

9- Jeff Garlett

10- Austin Wonamieri 

 

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    4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    With Toby Bedford and Kozzzzzzy Pickett having an exciting round 1, I was thinking back at some of our past indigenous players. Some were super talents and super exciting but had their careers cut by injuries, home sickness or other personal reasons.
    Here is my top 10

    1- Jeff Farmer 

    2- Aaron Davey

    3- Nev Jetta

    4- Andy Lovell

    5- Liam Jurrah

    5- Matthew Whelan

    6- Colin Graham

    7- Byron Pickett

    8- Sean Charles

    9- Jeff Garlett

    10- Austin Wonamieri 

     

    Take your pick of any 3 for the current team and why.

    Farmer - Freakish scoring power and marking ability. 

    Davey - Invented the manic defensive pressure for small forwards, and loved a goal.

    Jurrah - Shocking defensively and terrified of physical contact, but an absolute offensive weapon who would benefit from our current bomb it long inside 50s

     

    Hard done by. Matty Whelen - yesteryears Nev Jetta. Fantastic small defender who was great 1 on 1 and tough as nails.

     

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    14 hours ago, Swooper1987 said:

    Eddie Jackson would be somewhere near the top of this list.

    1948 premiership

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    16 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    With Toby Bedford and Kozzzzzzy Pickett having an exciting round 1, I was thinking back at some of our past indigenous players. Some were super talents and super exciting but had their careers cut by injuries, home sickness or other personal reasons.
    Here is my top 10

    1- Jeff Farmer 

    2- Aaron Davey

    3- Nev Jetta

    4- Andy Lovell

    5- Liam Jurrah

    5- Matthew Whelan

    6- Colin Graham

    7- Byron Pickett

    8- Sean Charles

    9- Jeff Garlett

    10- Austin Wonamieri 

     

    Just so much footballing talent in this list - very difficult to rank them but pretty well done as it stands. Boy, do we miss some of this footballing intent and team value. We should make a priority of these types of natural footballing talents in our recruitment processes - a very high percentage of skilful attributes contained in each. How good it is to reflect on these players and the games that each of them has played for the mighty MFC.

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    when you look at that, we really haven't had many indigenous players in comparison with other clubs, have we?

    i'd go:

    1. aaron davey
    2. nev jetta
    3. jeff farmer
    4. eddie jackson
    5. matthew whelan
    6. andy lovell
    7. jeff garlett
    8. sean charles
    9. liam jurrah
    10. austin wonnaemirri

    if may, kozzy pickett, and bedford become regular senior players they'll rocket into the top 10

    Edited by whatwhatsaywhat

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    • Author

    Yes I only had a top 10 from the players that I saw play. Agree on reading Eddie Jackson’s stats that he would probably be top 10 ranked. 
     

    Colin Graham was a super talent. Played seniors at just 17 in the very tough days. He had to contend with racism and blokes trying to knock him out. His skills were amazing , a beautiful kick (Left footers also seem smoothe).  I thought he was a relevation for the time.  It was a shame that he was barely 20 when he left the vfl. 

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    You talking about Scott Chisholm, JJC? 

    I think the only ones that haven't been mentioned are the Cockatoo-Collins twins (and not without reason).

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    4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    Yes I only had a top 10 from the players that I saw play. Agree on reading Eddie Jackson’s stats that he would probably be top 10 ranked. 
     

    Colin Graham was a super talent. Played seniors at just 17 in the very tough days. He had to contend with racism and blokes trying to knock him out. His skills were amazing , a beautiful kick (Left footers also seem smoothe).  I thought he was a relevation for the time.  It was a shame that he was barely 20 when he left the vfl. 

    And we could have had his cousin brother who was the real star of the family. (Source)

    Plenty of SANFL stars didn't translate to the VFL but tell me this wouldn't have come in handy... 

     

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    For a bit of fun I had a look at Jurrah's highlights on youtube, jeez he really was something special. I can't help but wonder if in a parallel universe there's a version of him who was able to be managed better and given a full AFL career. 

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    Just remembered another.  Les "Lally" Bamblett  won the Under 19s Morrish Medal then had one undistinguished year in the seniors and ended being traded to Footscray in return for Steven "Strawbs" O'Dwyer.  He kicked 51 goals for The Dogs in his second year before his career was ruined by injury.

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    59 minutes ago, demonstone said:

    Just remembered another.  Les "Lally" Bamblett  won the Under 19s Morrish Medal then had one undistinguished year in the seniors and ended being traded to Footscray in return for Steven "Strawbs" O'Dwyer.  He kicked 51 goals for The Dogs in his second year before his career was ruined by injury.

    Yes Les Bamblett (or Lelly Bamblett as he was named in the commentary  ) was one of the exciting news additions in 1983.
    He was Fast. A Goalkicker. Strong build even as a 18yo.

    Barrassi had bought in Templeton and Moore in a recruiting juggernaut.  Brian Wilson won the 1982 Brownlow. Flower was still supreme as one of the leagues very best player. Hopes were high. Very high.  Round 1 was Pies at the G was huge. It was a very hot day. 30+. The match was electric and Dees lost in a nail biter.  Bamblett has a great debut and could have been a star. 


    Bamblett had a rough time and wanted out and left to go to the Tigers.  I think he was only at the Dees originally due to the Goulburn Vslley zoning and wanted to be a Tiger. I can’t remember exactly why or how but yes he was swapped for Strawbs O’Dwyer from the Bulldogs zone. Ironic that Strawbs ended up a Tiger in the end. 

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    Henry Coles could play a bit.

    He must be close to the bravest footballer in the world.  About his last game he apparently had a punch up with Carl Ditterich in the changing rooms.  He was pretty feisty on the field but one would think lucky to survive a stand up with Carl

     

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    Well there you go.  I never realised that Henry was indigenous.  Have to be a brave man to take on Big Carl!

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    Colin Graham....simply for that 60 m torp at Moorabbin in the 70s to win it. 10 goal last Quarter. And Ross Brewer’s effort. 
     

    How many other ‘Landers there to witness that win?

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    Jeff Farmer is way out in front.

    Then Davey and Matty Whelan. Then others all have claims. But Jeffy was on top.

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    On 3/28/2020 at 6:27 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

    With Toby Bedford and Kozzzzzzy Pickett having an exciting round 1, I was thinking back at some of our past indigenous players. Some were super talents and super exciting but had their careers cut by injuries, home sickness or other personal reasons.
    Here is my top 10

    1- Jeff Farmer 

    2- Aaron Davey

    3- Nev Jetta

    4- Andy Lovell

    5- Liam Jurrah

    5- Matthew Whelan

    6- Colin Graham

    7- Byron Pickett

    8- Sean Charles

    9- Jeff Garlett

    10- Austin Wonamieri 

     

    Top 11

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    1: Farmer

    2: Whelan, Davey.

    3: Lovell, Garlett, Jetta.

    4: Jurrah, Charles.

    5: Wonamieri, H.Bennell, Pickett.

    6: Graham.

    7: Bamblett, Kennedy Harris,.

    8: Chisholm, Motlop, Barry. Francis.

    Unknown: May, Pickett, Bedford.

    I loved them all. I recall their highlights, really basked in the achievements of all of them. Hats off...

     

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    Charles before injury could have been a champion. Fast, agile and knew how to kick a goal! What could have been, we didn’t manage or treat injured players well back then. 

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    1 hour ago, Earl Hood said:

    Charles before injury could have been a champion. Fast, agile and knew how to kick a goal! What could have been, we didn’t manage or treat injured players well back then. 

    Who did? 

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    Agree. Many of our indigenous stars came and went too soon. Loved their excitement and cannot wait for Pickett and Bedford to show their amazing pace and skills. 

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