Given that this is the week when we remember and salute our former and current brave men and women, it seems fitting to compile a team of on field warriors (who must not be compared to or considered the same as our ANZACs and ADF members).

Today's team is a mishmash of past and present, male and female, well known and obscure, Melbourne players and those from other teams who all appeared in at least one game of football at the highest level.

To confuse the enemy, the team has been named very much out of position and in completely random order.

They also have something else in common.  This is your mission, should you choose to accept.

Virtual medals will be awarded to the first three posters to solve the puzzle.

As always, your responses in a PM only please!  (I would politely ask you to refrain from posting your answers or hints on this page.)

 

==============================================================

 

B:       Tim Ruffles     Colin Love     Shelley Heath

H/B:    Cameron Ling     Ray Usher     Annle Lee

C:       Tahlia Read     Howard Okey     Charles Utting

H/F:    Bill Roach     Tyla Hanks     Lachie Ash

F:       Bob Rowse     Emma King     Barry Ough

R:       Stan Alves     Charlie Ross     Amber Ward

I/C:     Tony Hirst     Farren Ray     Bryan Rush     Frank Aked

SUB:   Phillip Early

 

The lone response to date is that all my team share a surname with baseball players.

Alas, that is not correct.  There is no sporting connection at all (just to narrow the field for you all).

Welcome back, @Demonstone!

Dame Nellie and 'The Voice', all rolled into one!

We have a winner and it comes as no surprise that it's @Timothy Reddan-A'Blew in first place.

He is hereby awarded the virtual Victoria Cross* for his outstanding work.

*  Not to be confused with the mood most of us will be in if it's a Port Adelaide v Brisbane Grand Final.  

You should get some award for reminding older supporters of Barry Ough. 

Picked for 1 match, sat on the bench, wasn't used then left the Club shortly after.

Bloody hard this one @Demonstone .

Coincidentally I went for a wander around the little town where I am at the moment, and I did see an ADF bus/coach with all the paraphernalia.

Wondered if they were recruiting school kids :)

 

A clue may be in order seeing as this is clearly a knotty problem for anyone not named @Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

Although not strictly a cryptic quiz, the solution does rely on an element of wordplay.

To find the answer, you will need to examine the names of my team members very closely.

Second prize has been snaffled by a brave but humble poster who shuns publicity and wishes to remain anonymous (subject to any change of mind).

Their award of the virtual Star of Gallantry will be forwarded by virtual mail.

 

Congratulations to @tilly18 who has filled third place by identifying the solution.

He can proudly wear the virtual Medal for Gallantry for his efforts.

I'll leave the teaser open for others to have a go should they wish to do so. 

The clue seems to have helped!

Anybody else who works it out will deservedly have a share of the virtual Commendation for Gallantry.

@DemonstoneI don’t think ‘zeitgeisty’ is a word. 🧐

zeitgeisty

adjective

1. Conforming to the zeitgeist, contemporary, trendy, modern

From Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. More at Wordnik

 

1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

zeitgeisty

adjective

1. Conforming to the zeitgeist, contemporary, trendy, modern

From Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. More at Wordnik

 

Hmm, nothing suspicious here at all…

It's a perfectly cromulent word which embiggens the thread title!

@grazman has solved the mystery.  I'll leave it up overnight and post the reveal sometime Monday morning.

We can add @Jumping Jack Clennett to the list of winners.

Solution to be revealed later this morning at some point.

13 hours ago, Demonstone said:

zeitgeisty

adjective

1. Conforming to the zeitgeist, contemporary, trendy, modern

From Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. More at Wordnik

 

+1 for Wiktionary.

The Harry Potter of dictionaries. 

14 hours ago, Demonstone said:

A clue may be in order seeing as this is clearly a knotty problem for anyone not named @Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

Although not strictly a cryptic quiz, the solution does rely on an element of wordplay.

To find the answer, you will need to examine the names of my team members very closely.

Very nice, @Demonstone

Wouldn't have got it without the clue

This teaser was different from most of the ones I've posted previously and is somewhat on the sneaky side.

Each player's first name initial combined with their surname creates a proper word.

Thus we have truffles, clove, sheath, cling and so on.

Thanks to all participants and apologies to others for the torment.  

Nice quiz, Demonstone. 

You now need to be wary of the RSL knocking on your door one night. They might be concerned that you've misused the word "ANZAC" which has some legal protection or ask you to pay a licensing fee for using it without receiving the RSL's prior consent. (Unless, of course, you did seek prior approval.)

👶😢 xs