mo64

Great job once again Deespic. No controversial selections. But we did fork out some considerable draft capital and utilise salary cap space to acquire Lever and May. Without them, I doubt we finish as minor premiers let alone win a flag. However I can't agree with your initial Paul Roos narrative, in particular his supposed progressive training structures. If you listen to podcasts with current players and Goody, they're not so generous in their praise of Roos. To say that Goody followed Roos' methods is selling him short. Watts and Hogan were poster boys under Roos, but Goody was quick to move them on. And the team was better for it.

Love your work Tim. Would never have got the 2 above. Bring on the cricket version!!!!

11. Dean Kent. Lament (keen) Blemish (dent)

OK, my brain has recovered, and I'm going again. 2. Brad Campbell. Heel (Cad) P#@*k (Bramble)

Is 10. Clay Sampson. Get another gaoler. Say Clamps On.

No. 6 is Brayden Preuss. Batman's hit on creep. Preyed On Bruce.

Just beat me to it Stone.

Oh, Len Glove It. Glenn Lovett.

Jeremy Howe? How is he? I've missed the Spoonerism.

13. Tony Martyn

17 and 19 are killing me. All I can think of is Lobby Loyde and Len Maddocks, but can't get the connection.

3. Wayne Lamb

8. Darryl Cox ?

18. Darren Kowal

Damn. And I thought that was a gimme. This is heaps tougher than todays Age cryptic xword.

3. Nick Carter

Hmm. Dawid Malan would make sense if the clue was "I took from his second name to create an animal. Edit. You're correct. The "i" comes from his first name.

1. is Mike Brearley. Be (B) right (R) before time (early).

12. is Phil Tuffnell

Is 4 Liam Plunkett? Took i away from first name becomes Lam. 🤷‍♂️

Strongly disagree. Only May, Lever, Gawn, Petracca and Oliver would be certainties for our best 22 since 1976. The 8 players from the 2021 Premiership team that were 21 and under, are still unproven in real terms. Aside from the players you mentioned, surely Jeff Farmer gets in ahead of either Spargo or Pickett. Brett Lovett ahead of either Rivers or Salem. Laurie Fowler or Alan Johnson ahead of Bowey. Alan Jakovich ahead of Fritsch. Greg Wells ahead of Viney. Todd Viney ahead of Harmes. I could go on because Hibberd, Petty, Langdon, ANB, Sparrow and Jackson are not close to making best 22. The 2021 team is easily the best Melbourne team we've seen, but it's not made up of 22 stars.

Great work Deespic. No real surprises in the rankings. My only comment is that too much is made of the timing of Jack Watts' debut, and how it ruined his career. Not sure how many weeks it was prior to his debut, but he had an outstanding game for Casey against the Coburg Tigers (aligned with Richmond at the time). He deserved to be selected. At the end of the day, I just saw Jack Watts as a player with talents who didn't have the desire or natural competitiveness to get the best out of himself. The QB narrative is overplayed.

43/57. Rushed it a bit. Had 9 minutes left.

Max mentioned that he'd be attending JT's wedding on Dylan Buckley's Podcast.

Just like Mike Sheahan's Top 50, these lists will always be open to debate. Attended my first Dees game in 1972, so at least I can say I saw all of them play. The biggest headscratcher so far is Tony Elshaug at 99. He represented the Big V whilst at Melbourne, and was a very good footballer. I'd rate him ahead of almost all those ranked 81-98.