Team of the Century (so far)

[DeeZone 10,573]

On 01/02/2025 at 18:40, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Robbo gave me many great memories.

He kicked over 400 goals won a game off his own boot down at Cardinia park and a Melbourne great to boot. If Kozzie stays with us and kicks 400+ he will be an automatic inclusion. 😁

[Go Ds 313]

12 hours ago, 58er said:

It not about individual honours in one year but a succession of years is needed. 

So not the same with an All Australian nod? Were Frawley's other Melbourne years comparable to 2010. I can't remember.

[Go Ds 313]

13 hours ago, Loose Men Everywhere said:

Yes he was. If we look at his record compared to Garry Lyon's it is almost identical.

 Lyon 226 games 426 goals. Robbo 228 games 428 goals. 

Garry is considered one of the greats and Robbo gets little respect from many.

Weird!

Is that like for like? Didn't Lyon most years play higher up the ground leaving player such as Darren Bennett, Jakovich and Farmer to be the main forward. Who were the main forward during Robbo's years?

[58er 6,870]

1 hour ago, Go Ds said:

Is that like for like? Didn't Lyon most years play higher up the ground leaving player such as Darren Bennett, Jakovich and Farmer to be the main forward. Who were the main forward during Robbo's years?

To be fair Gaz was a CHF far at least  half his career and Robbo was mostly a FF or FPocket playing like a FF. 

But that doesn’t cheapen Robbo’s contribution over his career as he was not as tall as most key forwards. He had extraordinary jumping and marking skills for a player. My only beef with Robbo was he hardly ever picked up the ball from the ground so we needed crumbing smalls to mop up and on some occasions they were not front and centre or just not there. 

Kossie can be so much better if he can stop flying in the air without marking and sharpening his snapshots at goal. Playing in the centre and on the ball as well as cameos at full forward should round him off to be an AGrader. 
Hopefully it happens this year. 

[58er 6,870]

2 hours ago, Go Ds said:

So not the same with an All Australian nod? Were Frawley's other Melbourne years comparable to 2010. I can't remember.

No James had an exceptional year in 2010 and was AA but so did Jamar in ruck Green as half forward. I don’t think either 3 performed as well in any other year. My point in another post is one AA year or say a place in B and F in one year makes you a walk up for this Team of the Century. Players should only be rewarded with consistent years of excellence in the team over 8 or 10 years or say 5 years like Allan Jackovich.

In my mind Trent Rivers should not be in our starting team at least nor should Jeremy Howe be in as a hdd as half  back. 
Both only have played about 5 years at a very good level and Jeremy played most of his footy at the Dees on the forward line. Yes he was lauded for his defensive ability ( and his marking) in defence for his last season at Melb and his 6/7 seasons including his premiership year at  C’wood in 2023.  
I think there was a 150 games limit ( minimum ) or similar so Kossie or Riv would not have made it. 

Many have left Gerard Healy out of our Team of the Century for limited games but certainly not limited performance. Allan Jackovich is similar. 

Trent and Kossie ate certainties to be in a team at 2030 if they maintain their form and development but both can go another level this year and maintain that to be AGraders IMO, 

 

[Ungarieboy 456]

Jetta              May          Frawley   

T Rivers.        Lever        Salem   

Brayshaw     Oliver       Langford   

Robertson    Tmac        Petracca

Davey            Neitz          Fritsch  

Gawn            Viney         Jones     

Int:J.McDonald Woewodin 

Hibberd Petty

Sub: Bruce

You should start with the premiership side and then improve it; noting that to even be in a premiership side requires a lot more skill and ability than starring in a bottom side!!!!

CHF was the position I struggled with, and was tempted to put Robbo there, so that Green could be fitted in.

Tried to pick players in their actual positions / roles; allowing for Petty to provide relief in ruck and both ends of the ground as a tall.

Probably only need one of Junior or Jones, if desperate to get Green in.

Woewodin can also provide additional outside coverage.

Picket is not yet in Davey's class.

Was really tempted to put ANB in for the role he fullfilled in a premiership year; and consistently since.

 

[Salems Lot 2,692]

12 hours ago, Demonstone said:

Liam burned very brightly but, alas, burned very quickly.

Still the most gifted player i have seen pull on the Red and Blue. 

[Go Ds 313]

6 hours ago, 58er said:

To be fair Gaz was a CHF far at least  half his career and Robbo was mostly a FF or FPocket playing like a FF. 

But that doesn’t cheapen Robbo’s contribution over his career as he was not as tall as most key forwards. He had extraordinary jumping and marking skills for a player. My only beef with Robbo was he hardly ever picked up the ball from the ground so we needed crumbing smalls to mop up and on some occasions they were not front and centre or just not there. 

Kossie can be so much better if he can stop flying in the air without marking and sharpening his snapshots at goal. Playing in the centre and on the ball as well as cameos at full forward should round him off to be an AGrader. 
Hopefully it happens this year. 

I'm not fussed if Robbo is in the team or not. I just think Lyon was a much better player.

[Fat Tony 5,337]

I have picked a team based on best and fairest results and All Australian honours.

B	Frawley	May	Hibberd
HB	Vince	Lever	Woewodin
C	Johnstone	Jones	Yze
HF	J McDonald	Robertson	Petracca
F	Green	Neitz	Davey
Fol	Gawn	Oliver	Viney
Int	White	J Rivers	Bruce	Farmer
Sub	Moloney
Emg	Jamar	Garland	N Brown	McLean

 

 

Year	B&F	2nd B&F	All Australian Team
2000	Shane Woewodin	Jeff White	Jeff Farmer
2001	Adem Yze	David Neitz
2002	David Neitz	Cameron Bruce	David Neitz, Adem Yze
2003	Cameron Bruce	James McDonald
2004	Jeff White	Nathan Brown	Jeff White
2005	Travis Johnstone	Russell Robertson
2006	James McDonald	Cameron Bruce	James McDonald
2007	James McDonald (2)	Nathan Jones
2008	Cameron Bruce	Brock McLean
2009	Aaron Davey	Brent Moloney
2010	Brad Green	James Frawley	James Frawley, Mark Jamar
2011	Brent Moloney	Jared Rivers
2012	Nathan Jones	Jack Grimes
2013	Nathan Jones (2)	Colin Garland
2014	Nathan Jones (3)	Dom Tyson
2015	Bernie Vince	Jack Viney
2016	Jack Viney	Nathan Jones	Max Gawn
2017	Clayton Oliver	Jack Viney	Michael Hibberd
2018	Max Gawn	Clayton Oliver	Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver
2019	Clayton Oliver (2)/Max Gawn (2)		Max Gawn
2020	Christian Petracca	Steven May	Max Gawn, Christian Petracca
2021	Clayton Oliver (3)	Christian Petracca	Max Gawn (captain), Jake Lever, Steven May, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca
2022	Clayton Oliver (4)	Christian Petracca	Steven May, Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn, Christian Petracca
2023	Christian Petracca (2)	Jack Viney	Christian Petracca
2024	Jack Viney (2)	Max Gawn	Max Gawn

[layzie 34,527]

More b-crud clickbait.

If Jeremy Howe is in our best team this century ahead of Jared Rivers, James Frawley and even Lynden Dunn then we can all just go to school. 

[58er 6,870]

On 03/02/2025 at 05:54, Ungarieboy said:

Jetta              May          Frawley   

T Rivers.        Lever        Salem   

Brayshaw     Oliver       Langford   

Robertson    Tmac        Petracca

Davey            Neitz          Fritsch  

Gawn            Viney         Jones     

Int:J.McDonald Woewodin 

Hibberd Petty

Sub: Bruce

You should start with the premiership side and then improve it; noting that to even be in a premiership side requires a lot more skill and ability than starring in a bottom side!!!!

CHF was the position I struggled with, and was tempted to put Robbo there, so that Green could be fitted in.

Tried to pick players in their actual positions / roles; allowing for Petty to provide relief in ruck and both ends of the ground as a tall.

Probably only need one of Junior or Jones, if desperate to get Green in.

Woewodin can also provide additional outside coverage.

Picket is not yet in Davey's class.

Was really tempted to put ANB in for the role he fullfilled in a premiership year; and consistently since.

 

Clearly it is hard to include some rather than others either a games say 100 plus or AA or B and F placings. 

But some players have to be there because of the fabric of their footy and Club heroics and performances and also as fan  favourites and impact around the Club  at that time. . 

Ungarie Boy am sure that Petty Rivers Frawley and who’s Langford ? On the wing. Are very near selection or emergency maybe. 

What about Tingay Schwartz Green ( is he better than Nibbla for instance ?) 

Love Tmac at CHF for his 2018 year and his role in 2021 flag. Perhaps if he plays this season and is in another Glag team he would make it I reckon. 

Also Ungarie some positional changes would add to this team. 

First ruck criminal not to have one of our elite champs Clarry or Trac in it. Centre yes is good but start with our best. 

Viney as HF would be ok but Robbo as FP and Davey either HB or HF better. Salem as IC or EM. 

JMac on forward line ok also Brayshaw as HB and Hibbo as starting back a plus. 

it’s all a bit nit picking as all are worthy players and Demon Spirited to their bootstraps. We all see different reasons and favourites but Angus and Farmer both deserve a spot plus for short term greats May and Lever are shoe ins  together. Yze also is hard to leave out for his freakish skills back or forward. He is IMO better than Salem who could claim injury has diminished his footy legacy. 

perhaps an analysis after 2/3 weeks of contributions might get some popular favourite team of the 21st century.! 

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,679]

2 hours ago, 58er said:

Clearly it is hard to include some rather than others either a games say 100 plus or AA or B and F placings. 

But some players have to be there because of the fabric of their footy and Club heroics and performances and also as fan  favourites and impact around the Club  at that time. . 

Ungarie Boy am sure that Petty Rivers Frawley and who’s Langford ? On the wing. Are very near selection or emergency maybe. 

What about Tingay Schwartz Green ( is he better than Nibbla for instance ?) 

Love Tmac at CHF for his 2018 year and his role in 2021 flag. Perhaps if he plays this season and is in another Glag team he would make it I reckon. 

Also Ungarie some positional changes would add to this team. 

First ruck criminal not to have one of our elite champs Clarry or Trac in it. Centre yes is good but start with our best. 

Viney as HF would be ok but Robbo as FP and Davey either HB or HF better. Salem as IC or EM. 

JMac on forward line ok also Brayshaw as HB and Hibbo as starting back a plus. 

it’s all a bit nit picking as all are worthy players and Demon Spirited to their bootstraps. We all see different reasons and favourites but Angus and Farmer both deserve a spot plus for short term greats May and Lever are shoe ins  together. Yze also is hard to leave out for his freakish skills back or forward. He is IMO better than Salem who could claim injury has diminished his footy legacy. 

perhaps an analysis after 2/3 weeks of contributions might get some popular favourite team of the 21st century.! 

It's interesting how blessed we've been with really great players - multiple genuine options in all positions. This quarter century, then, particularly between '06 and '18, tells a story about our difficulty in bringing enough of them together at the same time and under the right conditions...

[deegirl 1,584]

On 01/02/2025 at 22:00, Little Goffy said:

This thread has struck me in a weird way - I want to assemble some kind of 'team of the century so far' entirely of players who were never in the top echelon of the team they were in. The depth team of the century? No, that's not quite it. And I don't mean useless, overrated, or draft failures. Players who warrant respect but were definitely never stars. The kind of team captained by Nathan Brown. There's also a few who are in on the basis that if they'd had any kind of a run at it, or if their career hadn't been Neeld'd, they might have been that much more.

So, here's a first sketch at it on a few minutes' effort;

B:      Troy Broadbridge   Alistair Nicholson   Neville Jetta (vc)

HB:    Clint Bizzell     Adam Tomlinson    Paul Wheatley

C:      Simon Godfrey  Nathan Brown(c)   Joel MacDonald,

HF:    Kyle Cheney   Cameron Pederson   Aaron Vandenberg

F:       Steven Armstrong    Ben Holland       Brad Miller

FOLL: Paul Johnson  Jack Trengove   Jordie McKenzie

INT:    Clint Bartram   Dean Kent   Colin Garland   Matthew Warnock

Respectfully noting that Guy Rigoni misses out only because he was more a 90s player. And I just... looking at past player lists and remembering how promising and earnest Troy was, I had to include him. Jared Rivers was disqualified by winning the Rising Star award. Contradicting myself a bit, Trengove was included despite being a top pick because he was just so personally unlucky and this team was really in desperate need of mids.

Note also that I support the case for Neville Jetta being in the 'other' team. The living embodiment of underrated.

Of our current list I'd nominate Dan Turner, Taj Woewodin and Jake Bowey as very likely to force their way onto this team and to improve it significantly.

Yikes, there's a few good ordinary footballers in there

Kent always looked like he shoulda been but never quite got there.  I always remember during our horrible run of 400 consecutive losses at Marvel my Dad shaking his head in disgust and saying 'for a bloke who's wearing Big Bob Johnson's number he'd want to lift his game' 😂

 

[Ungarieboy 456]

6 hours ago, 58er said:

Clearly it is hard to include some rather than others either a games say 100 plus or AA or B and F placings. 

But some players have to be there because of the fabric of their footy and Club heroics and performances and also as fan  favourites and impact around the Club  at that time. . 

Ungarie Boy am sure that Petty Rivers Frawley and who’s Langford ? On the wing. Are very near selection or emergency maybe. 

What about Tingay Schwartz Green ( is he better than Nibbla for instance ?) 

Love Tmac at CHF for his 2018 year and his role in 2021 flag. Perhaps if he plays this season and is in another Glag team he would make it I reckon. 

Also Ungarie some positional changes would add to this team. 

First ruck criminal not to have one of our elite champs Clarry or Trac in it. Centre yes is good but start with our best. 

Viney as HF would be ok but Robbo as FP and Davey either HB or HF better. Salem as IC or EM. 

JMac on forward line ok also Brayshaw as HB and Hibbo as starting back a plus. 

it’s all a bit nit picking as all are worthy players and Demon Spirited to their bootstraps. We all see different reasons and favourites but Angus and Farmer both deserve a spot plus for short term greats May and Lever are shoe ins  together. Yze also is hard to leave out for his freakish skills back or forward. He is IMO better than Salem who could claim injury has diminished his footy legacy. 

perhaps an analysis after 2/3 weeks of contributions might get some popular favourite team of the 21st century.! 

Sorry, for some reason I couldn't edit the post to correct Langdon, include Jeff White instead of Petty and Yze (though not sure for who).  

There's always fan favourites (mine is Tingay, who I would pick first everytime) but in my opinion an objective assessment should prioritise their football ability in comparison to the strongest opponents and team mates - a premiership player will therefore automatically start you higher than most.  Normally in team of century, decades, etc achievements count for more than favourites or highlights. 

Still all your suggestions are worthy of consideration and can be very easily argued for.

Question is a premiership Tmac more deserved than a post injury Schwarz?

[Roost it far 10,041]

On 01/02/2025 at 14:09, Demonland said:

F: Davey Schwartz Farmer

HF: Lyon Neitz Robertson

C: Langdon Oliver Johnstone

HB: Tingay Lever Yze

B: Jetta  May  Hibberd

R: Gawn Petracca Brayshaw

I/C: Fritsch, Charles, Green, Bruce

SUB: Viney 

EM: White, Prymke, Jurrah, Jones

Edited February 5 by Roost it far

[Demonstone 23,541]

Lyon, Tingay, Charles and Prymke last played for Melbourne in the 1990s.

[Roost it far 10,041]

25 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

Lyon, Tingay, Charles and Prymke last played for Melbourne in the 1990s.

I know but I started my century a bit back because of the dearth of talent prior to the current crop

[Dee*ceiving 1,738]

Thoughts on those selected 

• Robbo was a gun, has to be in. 428 goals for the Dees! 
• Davey did play a few games off half back/wing, Back pocket is clearly a mistake 
• Shwarz best was behind him post 2000 
• Rivers not yet but probably eventually
• Cam Bruce definitely, was a gun  
• Howe can GAGF

Stiff to miss out

• James McDonald  
• Travis Johnstone 
• Kozzy, but maybe a season or two more in red and blue needed 
• Nev Jetta 

Some from left field/what might have been 

• Mitch Clark
• Jack Grimes
• Jack Trengove 
• Matty Whelan
• Bernie Vince (loved Bernie)

Further left field (wild card emergencies)

• Ricky Petterd 
• Luke Tapscott 
• Troy Broadbridge
• Steve Powell 

Edited February 5 by Dee*ceiving

[Roost it far 10,041]

25 minutes ago, Dee*ceiving said:

Thoughts on those selected 

• Robbo was a gun, has to be in. 428 goals for the Dees!✅ 
• Davey did play a few games off half back/wing, Back pocket is clearly a mistake✅ 
• Shwarz best was behind him post 2000 
• Rivers not yet but probably eventually✅
• Cam Bruce definitely, was a solid citizen who had done stand out game here and there
• Howe can GAGF✅

Stiff to miss out

• James McDonald  ✅✅
• Travis Johnstone ✅✅✅
• Kozzy, but maybe a season or two more in red and blue needed 
• Nev Jetta ✅✅✅✅

Some from left field/what might have been 

• Mitch Clark❌❌❌❌❌
• Jack Grimes❌
• Jack Trengove ❌
• Matty Whelan✅
• Bernie Vince❌ (loved Bernie)

Further left field (wild card emergencies)

• Ricky Petterd ❌❌❌❌
• Luke Tapscott ❌❌❌❌
• Troy Broadbridge❌❌❌
• Steve Powell ❌

 

[Little Goffy 14,944]

Melbourne football club to 2015; 7 All-Australian selections.

Max Gawn. 7 All-australians.

Actually, that reminds me that I had a theory that our great problem for the 2000s run (before the wheels came off) was that our team had so many players who were on the edge of greatness but never quite put it together for various reasons.

Can you imagine, for example, putting the best periods of Bruce, Green, Yze, Johnstone, Woewodin, Leoncelli, Moloney. Powell and McDonald out there at once as your midfield and mid-sized utility mix?

If they had all peaked at the same time the result would have been liquid fire. Particularly frustrating because there would have been times they were all in the side together (except Moloney & Woewodin) and it just didn't quite catch.

Two things linger with me;

- this pattern of players having peaks and fading and coming back put a pretty serious strain on our salary cap.

- if we had had proper facilities and an full support staff for conditioning and fitness and so forth, would these players have had not only slightly better performance, but more consistency over their career so that the magic overlap could have more chances to happen?

[58er 6,870]

13 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

Melbourne football club to 2015; 7 All-Australian selections.

Max Gawn. 7 All-australians.

Actually, that reminds me that I had a theory that our great problem for the 2000s run (before the wheels came off) was that our team had so many players who were on the edge of greatness but never quite put it together for various reasons.

Can you imagine, for example, putting the best periods of Bruce, Green, Yze, Johnstone, Woewodin, Leoncelli, Moloney. Powell and McDonald out there at once as your midfield and mid-sized utility mix?

If they had all peaked at the same time the result would have been liquid fire. Particularly frustrating because there would have been times they were all in the side together (except Moloney & Woewodin) and it just didn't quite catch.

Two things linger with me;

- this pattern of players having peaks and fading and coming back put a pretty serious strain on our salary cap.

- if we had had proper facilities and an full support staff for conditioning and fitness and so forth, would these players have had not only slightly better performance, but more consistency over their career so that the magic overlap could have more chances to happen?

Who is saying we were short of support staff back earlier in the 2000’s ?? 

[Little Goffy 14,944]

1 hour ago, 58er said:

Who is saying we were short of support staff back earlier in the 2000’s ?? 

The possum that fell out of the ceiling doesn't count as support staff.

[Lord Travis 10,817]

On 03/02/2025 at 01:43, 58er said:

In my mind Trent Rivers should not be in our starting team

You've got Trent Rivers confused with Jared Rivers. J Rivers was a Rising Star winner who played 150+ games for us in the 2000s and was a great rangy CHB type. He's definitely in the conversation for this team. Trent Rivers is nowhere near it. He's had a few good but not outstanding seasons, but is young and has a long way to go to be at this level. He may well get there in years to come.

There's a number of players mentioned in this thread like Garry Lyon who didn't play in this century, so aren't part of this discussion. One named is Schwarz. I loved him as a kid, and his 1994 season is one of the best ever, but he only played 2000-2002 and was average at best due to his body being shot. Basically went at a goal a game at the end of his career and is nowhere near this conversation. Others like Febey brothers, Tingay, Charles, S White aren't eligible either.

My 21st team thus far would be as follows:

B: Jetta May Hibberd

HB: Salem Lever Yze

C: Johnstone Oliver Langdon

HF: Bruce Robertson Green

FF: Davey Neitz Farmer

R: Gawn Jones Petracca

Interchange: McDonald White Viney Fritsch

[58er 6,870]

46 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

You've got Trent Rivers confused with Jared Rivers. J Rivers was a Rising Star winner who played 150+ games for us in the 2000s and was a great rangy CHB type. He's definitely in the conversation for this team. Trent Rivers is nowhere near it. He's had a few good but not outstanding seasons, but is young and has a long way to go to be at this level. He may well get there in years to come.

There's a number of players mentioned in this thread like Garry Lyon who didn't play in this century, so aren't part of this discussion. One named is Schwarz. I loved him as a kid, and his 1994 season is one of the best ever, but he only played 2000-2002 and was average at best due to his body being shot. Basically went at a goal a game at the end of his career and is nowhere near this conversation. Others like Febey brothers, Tingay, Charles, S White aren't eligible either.

My 21st team thus far would be as follows:

B: Jetta May Hibberd

HB: Salem Lever Yze

C: Johnstone Oliver Langdon

HF: Bruce Robertson Green

FF: Davey Neitz Farmer

R: Gawn Jones Petracca

Interchange: McDonald White Viney Fritsch

Which McDonald ? Tmac or James Mac? 

Also I didn’t get T and J Rivers In the team mixed up. I was commenting on a post with T.Riv named on the HBF. I reckon he could be in the Team but in the em or I/c.

Upon reflection I may well have I underestimated Jarred R but are happy with Jake Lever at CHB to be honest. 

[Demonland 74,288]