Graham Johncock
He’s been a solid defender for a number of years and gives Adelaide great rebound. He rediscovered his best football last season.
Ben Rutten
Another Crow I’ve watched closely over the years and I always thought he was one of the game’s best full-backs. At his best he can spoil everything and is a real general back there.
Shannon Hurn
‘Bunga’ has a massive penetrating kick and over the last couple of years he’s developed into a top-line AFL footballer. He’s up there with the best kicks in the league.
HALF-BACKS
Corey Enright
He’s been an amazing but underrated player for a long time now. He’s from the west coast of South Australia and has developed into a best-and-fairest winner and two-time premiership player.
Sam Fisher
This spot was tight between Fisher and Chad Cornes, but I reckon Fisher’s running ability and his accountability are two things that put him ahead in my team.
Beau Waters
He’s a real tough nut and you’d have him in any team. He’s desperate and hungry, but also finds the footy a lot. He gives everything on the field and is a great guy off the field. We love having him at our footy club.
CENTRES
Ryan Griffen
He’s a very good running player who has shown over the last two seasons that he can play some really good football. He uses the footy reasonably well, but it’s probably his speed that gets him into my team.
Bryce Gibbs
A No.1 draft pick - I reckon the way he reads the game and the way he plays is how football should be played. A high-quality inside midfielder, he can also get it outside and go on big runs.
Shaun Burgoyne
Once he’s over his injuries I reckon he’ll be able to rediscover his best football at new club Hawthorn. In peak form, he’s breaking lines and running through packs with some serious speed. He adds premiership experience to this side.
HALF-FORWARDS
Michael O’Loughlin
When he played at the Swans his strength was an ability to play tall or small in the forward line. He could lead up and take a strong grab or crumb and make goals out of nothing.
Matthew Pavlich
Pav is as good as they come in my books and another forward who adds versatility to this line-up. He can play as a key forward and kick goals or move into the midfield and turn a game from there.
Alan Didak
He’s like O’Loughlin in a way, but a little smaller. He makes goals out of nothing and his defensive pressure has really improved, so he brings that element to this side.
FORWARDS
Brett Ebert
I had to put my cousin in but I really think he’s the best forward pocket available in terms of South Australian players. He’s a player that can take strong pack marks and his left-foot kick is accurate.
Warren Tredrea
He’s been a key forward for over a decade and captained the Power’s 2004 premiership team. In the early 2000s he was as good as they came as a centre half-forward and re-emerged last year.
Jason Porplyzia
I rate him as one of the best forwards in the competition, let alone South Australia. The way he goes about it is pretty similar to Didak and Brett Ebert in many ways and he is as accurate as they come. He completes a really dangerous forward line.
FOLLOWERS
Brad Ottens
Playing at Geelong, I reckon Ottens has been one of the best ruckmen going around in recent seasons and he can push forward and kick some goals.
Adam Cooney
A Brownlow Medallist and another No.1 pick in my midfield - Cooney is a gun player. He’s got great speed and can break the lines but he’s also really good in close.
Simon Goodwin
His penetrating left-foot is a great weapon and he’s done it for over 10 years with Adelaide, winning a swag of best-and-fairests and All-Australian jumpers. He’s respected right around the country.
INTERCHANGE
Sam Butler
Sam is a really composed footballer and he reads the play well. Going down back has suited him and he has a great ability to be accountable but also drift off his opponent and launch attacks.
Brendon Lade
He wasn’t the best possession-winning big man going around but he was certainly one of best tap ruckman in the game for a number of years. His combination with Shaun Burgoyne would be a real asset to this team.
Scott Burns
An assistant coach with us now, I reckon when Scotty played he was really tough, hard and accountable - something any midfield needs. He’s been a wealth of knowledge for the midfield group.
Andrew McLeod
He played some footy at Port Adelaide in the SANFL and I used to marvel at his skills. He was so consistent over a number of years and he’s played really solid footy late into his career.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
