Your top 10 favourite SANFL players
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:42 pmWho are your top 10 favourite SANFL players that you have most enjoyed going to the footy to watch over the years?
This is not neccessarily a list of the BEST players but the ones who through their skill, style, toughness, larrikinism, fondness for a punch-up or whatever would make you want to pay your hard earned at the turnstile just to see them in action. Your players can have also played at VFL/AFL level.
In my list below I have included WAFL as well as SANFL players because I'm from WA and have obviously watched more footy on this side of the country.
1.Paul Mifka (West Perth/WC Eagles) - Amazing poise and balance, could play tall or small either nullifying a gun full forward or playing on a wing. IMO one of the very best players of the modern era never to have played at the higher level if you forget 1 token game for the Eagles in the last round of the 1987 VFL season.
2. Neil Mildenhall (West Perth/Freo Dockers) - Incredible pace. Fastest player I've seen when on the chase. Accurate kick over distance and brilliantly balanced. Sandover Medal in 1993 underlined his talent. Hamstring injuries later took the edge of his speed.
3. Troy Wilson (West Perth/East Perth/ WC Eagles) - Huge strength and powerful overhead marking ability even in a pack situation. Very good kick on goal and ..stay out of his way if he's on a lead! Never touched the grog either which contributed to his superb fitness and physique.
4. Mark Naley (South/Carlton) - Classical rover and brilliant reader of the play. One of my most admired players. Fantastic year in his Margarey winning season in 1991 which was the only year I saw him play live.
5. Derek Kickett (West Perth/Claremont/Centrals/Essendon/Sydney/Subiaco) - Electrifying skills as everyone knows. Had a penchant for taking a hang in his early days at West Perth. Gifted natural who did it his way. Bit individualistic but when you're that good coaches leave you alone.
6. Troy Ugle (Swan Districts/ WC Eagles) - Tough, no-nonsense forward and strong mark overhead. Very intimidating to defenders. Laconic and good natured bloke off the field. A bit lazy and probably could have played more AFL footy with a bit more dedication and better work ethic.
7. Craig Nelson (West Perth/Torrens) - Gentle giant. Very good ruckman with a booming kick. Inspirational at times. Not sure how he went with West Torrens in his one season in 1990 but I think he played every game for them that year.
8. Ron Boucher (Swan Districts) - Legendary ruckman in the golden era of WAFL footy i.e. late 70's to early 80's and a strict enforcer. Loved a bit of biff!
9. Jon Dorotich (South Fremantle/Carlton) - Brilliant at positioning himself and using his body in a one-out contest. Accurate kick on goal with superb marking ability.
10. Brett Backwell (Carlton/Glenelg) - Ball magnet who uses the footy intelligently. Runs hard all game to get to the contest. Terrific to watch.
This is not neccessarily a list of the BEST players but the ones who through their skill, style, toughness, larrikinism, fondness for a punch-up or whatever would make you want to pay your hard earned at the turnstile just to see them in action. Your players can have also played at VFL/AFL level.
In my list below I have included WAFL as well as SANFL players because I'm from WA and have obviously watched more footy on this side of the country.
1.Paul Mifka (West Perth/WC Eagles) - Amazing poise and balance, could play tall or small either nullifying a gun full forward or playing on a wing. IMO one of the very best players of the modern era never to have played at the higher level if you forget 1 token game for the Eagles in the last round of the 1987 VFL season.
2. Neil Mildenhall (West Perth/Freo Dockers) - Incredible pace. Fastest player I've seen when on the chase. Accurate kick over distance and brilliantly balanced. Sandover Medal in 1993 underlined his talent. Hamstring injuries later took the edge of his speed.
3. Troy Wilson (West Perth/East Perth/ WC Eagles) - Huge strength and powerful overhead marking ability even in a pack situation. Very good kick on goal and ..stay out of his way if he's on a lead! Never touched the grog either which contributed to his superb fitness and physique.
4. Mark Naley (South/Carlton) - Classical rover and brilliant reader of the play. One of my most admired players. Fantastic year in his Margarey winning season in 1991 which was the only year I saw him play live.
5. Derek Kickett (West Perth/Claremont/Centrals/Essendon/Sydney/Subiaco) - Electrifying skills as everyone knows. Had a penchant for taking a hang in his early days at West Perth. Gifted natural who did it his way. Bit individualistic but when you're that good coaches leave you alone.
6. Troy Ugle (Swan Districts/ WC Eagles) - Tough, no-nonsense forward and strong mark overhead. Very intimidating to defenders. Laconic and good natured bloke off the field. A bit lazy and probably could have played more AFL footy with a bit more dedication and better work ethic.
7. Craig Nelson (West Perth/Torrens) - Gentle giant. Very good ruckman with a booming kick. Inspirational at times. Not sure how he went with West Torrens in his one season in 1990 but I think he played every game for them that year.
8. Ron Boucher (Swan Districts) - Legendary ruckman in the golden era of WAFL footy i.e. late 70's to early 80's and a strict enforcer. Loved a bit of biff!
9. Jon Dorotich (South Fremantle/Carlton) - Brilliant at positioning himself and using his body in a one-out contest. Accurate kick on goal with superb marking ability.
10. Brett Backwell (Carlton/Glenelg) - Ball magnet who uses the footy intelligently. Runs hard all game to get to the contest. Terrific to watch.
