Brenton Sanderson
He played 199 games for the Cats and was always tough and fearless. A great team man who brings a lot of energy and character to the playing group. He has more style and charisma than anyone else I have met to date.
Matthew Scarlett
Simply the best one-on-one defender I have ever seen. I’m not kidding when I say I can’t remember seeing him ever lose a one-on-one contest at training or in a game since I have been at Geelong. He’s just a ruthless defender and a true champion.
Leith Teakle
A fantastic player for the East Fremantle Football Club, with more than 200 games. Drafted by Collingwood in 1999 but was struck down by chronic ankle injuries. He is very fast and possesses an incredible vertical leap.
HALF-BACKS
Corey Enright
Corey has an incredible work rate. He continually works to outnumber at the contest and is very reliable and consistent. He’s the man you want around when you need a laugh.
Matthew Egan
A sensational player whose career was cruelly grounded just as it was about to take flight. He is strong and fast and reads the game well. I will be forever grateful for the compassion and kindness that Ego showed to me when I first arrived at Geelong. He’s just an amazing human being who deserves nothing but happiness for the rest of his life.
John Reynolds
A tough, courageous junior footballer for Northampton and later for Railways in the GNFL. A ball magnet who always put his head over the ball.
CENTRE
Joel Selwood
Joel is tougher than nails. When he says he is sore you know things are bad. He has an unbelievable ability to absorb contact and remain upright. He’s always professional and tireless in his effort to help the team.
Mitch Arnold
The best junior footballer I have ever seen. Mitch was intimidating in so many ways. He was strong and attacked every contest as if his life depended on it. In fact, Mitch was hospitalised with internal bleeding on more than one occasion.
Adrian Curley
Adrian was a freakish talent. You couldn’t tackle him and he was lightning quick. I could never tell which foot was his dominate one, such was the accuracy of his kicking. He played in a similar vein to Chris Judd in a lot of ways.
HALF-FORWARDS
Kris Miller
Kris has the ability to read the game extremely well. He always knows which way the ball would bounce and is skilful around stoppages and the goals. He is the first picked for East Fremantle FC every week.
Jonathan Brown
You would struggle to find a more imposing figure in any sport. He is the best forward I have ever played on. He demands the football and is always trying to lift his side and kick the next goal. It’s hard to find his weaknesses, if he has any.
Paul Chapman
He is tenacious and determined. He has fantastic core strength and balance and rarely loses one-on-one contests. I would say he is nearly as good as Gaz Jnr. He’s just a tough individual I love playing with.
FORWARDS
Darren Jarman
I loved the Crows when I was growing up and Darren Jarman was one of my favourite players. He was so dextrous and strategic and could turn the momentum of a game with one flash of brilliance.
Dale Schultz
Dave could have been anything if circumstance went his way. He kicked 100 goals in 18 games in the GNFL under 16s, including 16 goals in a game. He was fast, strong and had a raw talent that others dreamt of.
Lance Franklin
Buddy is a scary player to match up on. The Hawthorn forward is so unpredictable, has pace, strength, height and power. He draws so many people to matches and will retire a great of the game.
FOLLOWERS
Ted Harvey
An athletic ruckman who had the biggest hands I have ever seen. He could instil fear into any opposition player. He defeated most opponents on reputation alone and was fast and highly skilful. The only thing that let him down was discipline, as he was yellow or red carded in nearly every game in the GNFL.
Cameron Ling
Ling is a superb leader who possesses astonishing will power. His ability to concentrate on one task and block out all other distractions is unique. A great team man who always strives for perfection in whatever he puts his mind to.
Gary Ablett Jnr
This guy is just amazing. He has the best peripheral vision in the competition. Gaz can read a situation and make the necessary decision based on those around him quicker and with more effect than anyone else ever born. He’s got an incredible natural fitness base and is already a champion. The closest thing to any supernatural being there is when he is on the football field.
INTERCHANGE
Adam Goodes
A sensational player who can play anywhere on an AFL ground. He seems to float when he runs and is the most powerful player I have played on. He is always dangerous especially at the stoppages and just a genuine superstar in the game of AFL.
Aaron Sandilands
The man described as being as big as a small tree is quickly becoming one of the most influential players in the AFL. He was very quiet when I first played with him at East Fremantle but has now evolved into a confident and dominant ruckman. He plays almost 100 per cent of game time most weeks and is a great asset to the Fremantle.
Revis Ryder
Paddy Ryder’s father was a smart, ruthless footballer who never showed any signs of fear in his entire life. He would stick up for anyone who wore the same colour jumper as he did. He was a very good leader who I always loved to watch play.
Dale Baynes
An exceptional athlete who takes more hangers than anyone else I know. He can play at either end of the ground. Dale has been unstoppable in the GNFL for the last five years.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
