I'd be tempted to have another ruck and it depends on the career.
If you look at their best you could argue Ottens + Stafford might trump Nank with one resting forward but that would leave us too tall imo
I thought about a second ruck on the bench but, like you said Andyy, that team would be too tall. The only way around it would be to take Richo out of the forward line and put him on a wing 2008-style and then shove an Ottens in as a resting ruck forward.
I reckon Matty Knights has to be in there somewhere.
Knighter's best was in the 90s up until 1998. By the early 2000s he was approaching the end of his career. That's why I didn't include him.
I can’t really argue with MT’s team but I have a few honourable mentions….
Andrew Kellaway was a top defender for a number of years . I think he was All Australia in 2000
The game has moved away from taggers - but Duncan Kellaway was the best in the business.
Mark Chaffey was solid down back .
If Leon Cameron is eligible …,then Broderick and Benny Gale could seamlessly fit into that team too.
Glad you brought up AK, matty. I thought about him as the 2nd tall defender vying against Astbury & Gaspar, but he really was more like a third tall type who was played at the time as a 2nd tall. So, based on that I had AK behind Grimes.
I wasn't a fan of Duncan. Yes, he could shut down opponents and earnt the nickname 'the glove', but with the ball he was a liability as he was arguably the worst kick I have ever seen play for the Tigers (he made George look a decent kick
).
On the other hand, I loved Brodders. Thought about him as well but just couldn't put him in ahead of the mids included. His main competition was Kane Lambert and I just couldn't leave Lambo out. Also, Brodders' best was the 90s. Similar to Knights. He only averaged 13 disposals per game in 2000-01 before he retired.
On Benny Gale - I saw him as a solid contributor over a long period rather than a gun player. Again, more a 90s player IMO.
Which leads onto Leon Cameron. If there was a softer element to our dynasty era it would be the wings. We used Brandon Ellis, Kmac, Caddy and Grigg. All role players rather than stars (AT would disagree about Brandon
). Occasionally, Sheds was placed on wing as well, but I've got Sheds at HF. So, Leon Cameron, who was still in his prime when he crossed over from the Dogs and a key to our 2001 finals run, got the gig on one wing. I put Cambo on the other wing as he played both centre and wing.
Chaffey was a solid B-grader who got the best out of himself IMO.