St Francis named on a wing. Titus was named as an emergency
Our greatest country team
Warwick Green | April 05, 2009
THE Sunday Herald Sun has compiled a team of Victoria's best country footballers. Have we missed anyone?
Backs
Back pocket: Gary Ayres (Haw) Warragul, 1978-93, 269 games, 70 goals
Full back: Geoff Southby (Carl) 1971-84, 268 games 31 goals
Back pocket: John Rantall: (south Melb, North, Fitz, Cobden): South Melb 1963-72 and 1976-79, 260 games, 8 goals ; North Melb: 1973-75, 70 games, 2 goals: Fitzroy, 6 games, 0 goals
Half-backs
Half-back: Michael Tuck (Haw) Berwick (captain), 1972-91, 426 games,
320 goals
Centre half-back: Kevin Neale (StK) Warrnambool, 1965-77, 256 games, 301 goals
Half-back: Peter Knights (Haw) Longwarry, 1969-85, 267 games, 202 goals
Midfield
Centre: Greg Williams (Geel/Syd/Carl) Bendigo, Geel 1984-85, 34 games, 10 goals. Syd 1986-91, 107 games, 118 goals. Carl 1992-97, 109 games, 89 goals
Rover: Haydn Bunton (Fitz) Albury, 1931-37 and 1943, 119 games, 207 goals
Ruck: John Nicholls (Carl) Maryborough, 1957-74, 328 games, 307 goals
Ruck rover: Bob Rose (Collingwood, Nyah West), 1956-55, 152 games, 214 goals
Wing: Francis Bourke (Rich) Nathalia, 1967-81, 300 games, 71 goals
Wing: Nigel Lappin (Bris) Chiltern, 1994-2008 279 games, 174 goals
Half-forwards
Half-forward: Tim Watson (Ess) Dimboola, 1977-91 and 93-94, 307 games, 337 goals
Centre half-forward: Jonathan Brown (BL) Warrnambool, 2000-current, 161 games, 341 goals
Half-forward: Gary Ablett Sr (Geel/Haw) Drouin, Haw 1982, 6 games, 9 goals. Geel 1984-96, 242 games, 1021 goals
Forwards
Forward pocket: John Coleman (Ess) Hastings, 1949-54, 98 games, 537 goals
Full-forward: Tony Lockett (StK/Syd) Ballarat, StK 1983-94, 183 games, 898 goals. Syd 1995-99 and 2002, 98 games, 462 goals
Forward pocket: Bill Goggin (Geel) Geelong, 1958-71, 248 games, 279 goals
COACH
Allan Jeans (StK/Haw/Rich) Finley, StK 1961-1976, premiership 66. Haw 1981-1987 and 1989-1990, premierships 1983, 1986, 1989. Rich 1992
INTERCHANGE
Doug Wade (Geel/NM) Horsham, Geel 1961-72, 208 games, 834 goals. NM 1973-75, 59 games, 223 goals
Des Tuddenham (Coll/Ess) Ballarat, 1962-71 and 76-77, 182 games, 251 goals. Ess 1972-75, 69 games, 66 goals
Stuart Spencer (Melb) Portland, 1950-56, 122 games, 146 goals
Bernie Quinlan (Foot/Fitz) Traralgon, Foot 1969-77, 177 games, 241 goals. Foot 1969-77 177 games, 239 goals; Fitz 189 games, 576 goals
EMERGENCIES
Shane Crawford (Haw) Finley, 1993-2008, 305 games, 224 goals; Jack Titus (Rich) Castlemaine, 1926-43, 294 games, 970 goals; Adam Goodes (Syd) Horsham, 1999-current, 231 games, 230 goals
* The Victorian bush team was selected from players recruited from the Victorian Country Football League or country schools. The team includes two footballers – Haydn Bunton (Albury) and Shane Crawford (Finley) – from VCFL clubs in NSW’s Riverina district. Players from VCFL clubs in metropolitan Melbourne, such as Robert Harvey (Seaford) and Leigh Matthews (Chelsea) were not considered.
