Tasmanian players recruited to the VFL-AFL from the Apple Isle (The Mercury)

[one-eyed]

Tasmanian players recruited to the VFL-AFL from the Apple Isle
Geoff Poulter
The Mercury
March 28, 2010

GEOFF Poulter has pored over the history books to find Tasmania's top team through the decades. He's picked a tough, classy side with some surprising omissions .....


BACKS:

Barry Lawrence (St Kilda) 1969-76
Strong, tough and versatile. Leigh Matthews rated him one of his toughest opponents.

Robert 'Tassie' Johnson (Melbourne) 1959-69
Full-back in two Melbourne premiership sides, back pocket in another. Text book drop-kick.

Ivor Warne-Smith (Melbourne) 1919 and 1925-32
Two Brownlows in 1920s. Early handball ace, superb high mark. From same club (Latrobe) as Darrel Baldock.

HALF-BACKS

Rodney Eade (Hawthorn/Brisbane) 1976-87 and 1988-90
Quick, clever and adaptable. Played in four Hawthorn premierships, 259 AFL games.

Laurie Nash (South Melbourne) 1933-37 and 1945
Legendary performer. CHB in South's 1933 flag. Kicked 18 goals for Victoria in a state match.

Verdun Howell (St Kilda) 1958-68
Dashing, high-flying attacking defender. Also used as effective pinch-hit full-forward.

CENTRES

Graham Wright (Collingwood) 1988-98
One vote off winning the Brownlow in 1990, Collingwood's premiership year. Fast, relentless hard-runner.

Ian Stewart (St Kilda/Richmond) 1963-70 and 1971-75
Three Brownlows. Most followers rated him the best centre. Neat, courageous, creative.

John Greening (Collingwood) 1968-72 and 1974-76
Outstanding Collingwood wingman, ahead of his time. Cut down in prime with serious head injury.

HALF-FORWARDS

Darrel Baldock (St Kilda, captain) 1962-68
Regarded by many as Tassie's greatest player. Dazzling ball-handler with rare skills.

Royce Hart (Richmond) 1967-77
Spectacular high mark, reliable kick. Big occasion match-winner. CHF in AFL's Team-of-the-Century.

Matthew Richardson (Richmond) 1993-2009
Exciting performer through 282 AFL games. Athletic and mobile with a breath-taking leap.

FORWARDS

Alastair Lynch (Fitzroy/Brisbane) 1988-93 and 1994-2004
With 306 (equal with Paul Williams) shares record of most AFL games by a Tasmanian. Spearhead in three Brisbane flags.

Peter Hudson (Hawthorn) 1967-74 and 1977
Consummate professional full-forward. Freakish, deadly kick, uncanny play reader.

Darrin Pritchard (Hawthorn) 1987-97
Polished, speedy, superb pass. Wingman in three Hawthorn flags. Also represented Victoria.

FOLLOWERS

Peter 'Percy' Jones (Carlton) 1966-79
Four-time Carlton premiership player, 249 AFL games. Clever palmer and ruck technician. Accurate shot for goal.

Brent Crosswell (Carlton/North Melbourne/Melbourne) 1968-75, 1975-79 and 1980-82
Brilliant finals performer through two flags with Carlton and two with North Melbourne. Displayed his wizardry in several positions.

Paul Williams (Collingwood/Sydney) 1991-2000 and 2001-06
Very fast and was still able to drill accurate passes while travelling at high speed. Clever, damaging, 306 AFL games.

INTERCHANGE

Michael Roach (Richmond) 1977-89
Copybook long, accurate kick for goal. Richmond's leading goalkicker seven times, twice Coleman medallist.

Brendon Gale (Richmond) 1990-2001
244 AFL games. Hard-striving ruck and more than capable forward. Son of an All-Australian back pocket.

Steven Febey (Melbourne) 1988-2001
Consistent, efficient utility player. Remarkable longevity with 258 games and always competitive.

Daryn Cresswell (Sydney) 1992-2003
Renowned for his courage. Remember when he dramatically ''undislocated'' his knee and carried on playing? 244 AFL games.

Paul Sproule (Essendon/Richmond) 1968-71 & 1972-75
1973-74 Grand Final star for Richmond. Clever, elusive, smart play-reader, great disposer.

Darryl Sutton (North Melbourne/Richmond/Sydney) 1973,1976-80 & 1982-83 & 1983
1979 All-Australian and 1977 North Melbourne premiership half-back. Huge leap and long kick both sides.

John Bonney (St Kilda) 1967-69, 1971-73 & 1976
As Jack Dyer might say could blind turn on a ''thrippence''. A miniature Baldock, beautiful kick with both feet.


UNLUCKY TO MISS SELECTION

Scott Clayton (Fitzroy) 1981-90
Matthew Armstrong (Fitzroy/North Melbourne) 1987-94 & 1995-96
Doug Barwick (Fitzroy/Collingwood) 1984-87 & 1988-91
Stephen Macpherson (Footscray) 1982-95
Paul Hudson (Hawthorn/W Bulldogs/Richmond) 1990-96 & 1997-2001 & 2002
Craig Davis (Carlton/North Melbourne/Collingwood/Sydney) 1973-5 & 1977-78 & 1979-83 & 1988
Stephen Carey (Essendon/Geelong) 1980-86 & 1986
James Manson (Collingwood/Fitzroy) 1985-92 & 1993-95
Brad Green (Melbourne) 2000-06
Russell Robertson (Melbourne) 1997-2006
Jamie Shanahan (St Kilda/Melbourne) 1992-97 & 1988-99
Peter Marquis (Melbourne) 1953-58
Noel Clarke (Melbourne) 1951-55
Arthur Hodgson (Carlton) 1948-52
Berkeley Cox (Carlton) 1958-65
Ray Stokes (Richmond) 1946-51
John Chick (Carlton) 1952-60
Adrian Fletcher (Geelong/St Kilda/Brisbane/Fremantle) 1989-91 & 1992 & 1993-97 & 1998-2001

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tasmanian-players-recruited-to-the-vfl-afl-from-the-apple-isle/story-e6frf9ox-1225846425804

[jackstar is back again]

What about Justin Plapp and Trent Nichols ?????????????????????????

[mightytiges]

What about Justin Plapp and Trent Nichols ?????????????????????????

Nichols was actually a very good footballer in the Richmond U19s. One of the first picked every week. He just didn't have enough tricks at senior level. From memory had a few injuries too.

[Hellenic Tiger]

What about Justin Plapp and Trent Nichols ?????????????????????????

Nichols was actually a very good footballer in the Richmond U19s. One of the first picked every week. He just didn't have enough tricks at senior level. From memory had a few injuries too.

Had a stint at West Coast and North.

Plapp went to St Kilda after he left us.
I remember Plapp kicked 10 goals in his first two games and then the RFC disease struck.