Best 21 that came from the VFL or WAFL to play for your club

[McAlmanac]

Pity the criteria doesn't include Tasmanians.

Down at Pecker Park:

F: R.Beecroft (Fitz) A.Jakovich (SFre) D.Klemm (C'mont)
HF: C.Hounsell (SM) A.Taylor (Foot) R.Perry (Moor)
C: A.Matheson (StK) D.Bolton (Gee) D.Panizza (C'mont)
HB: K.Crane (Rich) M.Parker (Foot) P.Cronan (SFre, WP, StK, Foot)
B: G.Linke (Gee) I.Abraham (Dand) N.Teasdale (NM)
1R: B.Goodingham (NM, SM) L.Richards (Fitz) D.Koop (SM)
Int: R.Boyanich (Rich) S.Grambeau (StK, Melb) B.Close (SwD)

Also: R.Mildenhall (Mord) C.Dowsett (Gee) R.Page (SM) R.Goode (NM) A.Evans (GeeW) P.O'Brien (Melb) D.Grant (Foot) K.Mansfield (Ess) S.Parsons (Rich) R.Briedis (NM)

Stephen Nichols is a curly one - a Victorian who came to Woodville via Sandy Bay, hence not considered.

Not sure David Bolton played a league game for Geelong before coming to Woodville. Also, how close was Barry Ion?

No, he didn't. I only realised the "played a League game" criteria after I posted it. Woodville trawled some dark places for players!

I meant to have Barry Ion in the "also" list.

[Interceptor]

I haven't given it a lot of thought and await other Norwood fans to remind me of players I've overlooked

Also, this is a team of players I've seen, not reputation from a previous era.

F: Neil Balme, Ian Brewer, Stephen Rowe
HF: Greg Parke, Ross Dillon, Graeme Dunstan
C: James Thiessen, Peter Laughlin, John Cunningham
HB: Robert Neill, Stephen Kerley, Scott Direen
B: Brett Zorzi, Dale Fleming, Bob Kingston
Ruck: Matthew Primus, John Wynne (captain), Anthony Harvey
Int: Craig Balme, Anthony Eames, Des O'Dwyer

Looks like a pretty strong team AH, although I have to admit I've never heard of Greg Parke.

According the Legends of the SANFL site, Graeme Dunstan was a Half Back Flanker. Is this correct?
If so, what about a swap with him and Robbie Neill?

There are a few other players I've thought of like Jeff Fehring and Steve Richardson, but they're not really contenders.

[McAlmanac]

Looks like a pretty strong team AH, although I have to admit I've never heard of Greg Parke.

According the Legends of the SANFL site, Graeme Dunstan was a Half Back Flanker. Is this correct?
If so, what about a swap with him and Robbie Neill?

There are a few other players I've thought of like Jeff Fehring and Steve Richardson, but they're not really contenders.

Dunstan was a pretty versatile player, from memory.

My "post" at the bottom of page 1 actually a reply from Adelaide Hawk! I suggested Adamson and his reply is the second paragraph. Very strange....

[Adelaide Hawk]

Looks like a pretty strong team AH, although I have to admit I've never heard of Greg Parke.

According the Legends of the SANFL site, Graeme Dunstan was a Half Back Flanker. Is this correct?
If so, what about a swap with him and Robbie Neill?

There are a few other players I've thought of like Jeff Fehring and Steve Richardson, but they're not really contenders.

Dunstan was a pretty versatile player, from memory.

My "post" at the bottom of page 1 actually a reply from Adelaide Hawk! I suggested Adamson and his reply is the second paragraph. Very strange....

Not strange at all ... I'm a moderator and keep hitting the "edit" button instead of the "Quote" button Bad habit.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I haven't given it a lot of thought and await other Norwood fans to remind me of players I've overlooked

Also, this is a team of players I've seen, not reputation from a previous era.

F: Neil Balme, Ian Brewer, Stephen Rowe
HF: Greg Parke, Ross Dillon, Graeme Dunstan
C: James Thiessen, Peter Laughlin, John Cunningham
HB: Robert Neill, Stephen Kerley, Scott Direen
B: Brett Zorzi, Dale Fleming, Bob Kingston
Ruck: Matthew Primus, John Wynne (captain), Anthony Harvey
Int: Craig Balme, Anthony Eames, Des O'Dwyer

Looks like a pretty strong team AH, although I have to admit I've never heard of Greg Parke.

According the Legends of the SANFL site, Graeme Dunstan was a Half Back Flanker. Is this correct?
If so, what about a swap with him and Robbie Neill?

There are a few other players I've thought of like Jeff Fehring and Steve Richardson, but they're not really contenders.

Good comments about Dunstan and Neill. Dunstan was recruited as a HF and played some games there. He was on the HF flank in the 1975 premiership side. Shifted to HB in 1977 and won state selection. Neill was recruited as a HB flanker and paved his way up forward, so I guess you could swap them around.

Greg Parke was a beauty. He only played one season for the Redlegs but he was a star CHF from Melbourne, a real high flier. Took some spectacular marks. Left Norwood in 1977 to have another crack at the VFL with Footscray. I picked him more on his overall ability rather than his performances with Norwood. He kicked 5 goals against Carlton in an NFL night game at Norwood Oval, and I remember him booting 6 against Central in one game as well.

[McAlmanac]

Greg Parke was a beauty. He only played one season for the Redlegs but he was a star CHF from Melbourne, a real high flier. Took some spectacular marks. Left Norwood in 1977 to have another crack at the VFL with Footscray. I picked him more on his overall ability rather than his performances with Norwood. He kicked 5 goals against Carlton in an NFL night game at Norwood Oval, and I remember him booting 6 against Central in one game as well.

He actually came from Footscray then went back for a year at Fitzroy.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Greg Parke was a beauty. He only played one season for the Redlegs but he was a star CHF from Melbourne, a real high flier. Took some spectacular marks. Left Norwood in 1977 to have another crack at the VFL with Footscray. I picked him more on his overall ability rather than his performances with Norwood. He kicked 5 goals against Carlton in an NFL night game at Norwood Oval, and I remember him booting 6 against Central in one game as well.

He actually came from Footscray then went back for a year at Fitzroy.

Actually, I think you are correct. It must be getting late, I'm going to bed!!!

[McAlmanac]

[GWW]

Adelaide Hawk, thats interesting that Rowe grew up in Norwood, i hadn't heard that before. How many games did he play in the WAFL before moving back to play for Norwood?

[am Bays]

W Henwood J Fidge G Bennett
P Maynard R Hart C Flower
P Tempay A Battison P Brown
S Hywood P Hamilton
R Gibbs

D Long D Bailey B McGowan

T McTavish D Read

I refuse to pick C Venables, D Strooper and W Ralph

Off to do some more research, over to you Maysie and Ecky...

[GWW]

[quote="Adelaide Hawk"]

F: Neil Balme, Ian Brewer, Stephen Rowe
HF: Greg Parke, Ross Dillon, Graeme Dunstan
C: James Thiessen, Peter Laughlin, John Cunningham
HB: Robert Neill, Stephen Kerley, Scott Direen
B: Brett Zorzi, Dale Fleming, Bob Kingston
Ruck: Matthew Primus, John Wynne (captain), Anthony Harvey
Int: Craig Balme, Anthony Eames, Des O'Dwyer

[quote]

Stephen Richardson??, half forward flanker in mid to late 80's, saw him play some great games against my side (Port).

[Ebert, Evans & Me]

F T Malakellis / T Evans / Knight
HF Spalding / Granger / Tredrea
C West / J Clayton / Darcy
HB Foster / Leys / Angove
B Rizonico / / Curtis

R Johnston / T Brown / Clifford
I / Martyn / Morgan

Couple spots missing. Other people would do a better job

I think Fragomeni was from WAFL so he could probably fit into a back pocket or on the bench.

Ambrose could probably slot into full back.

Not sure there'd be room for Wes Fellowes though

I certainly had Fragomeni in my side, as well as Ray Huppatz (if allowed under the rules), Robert Whatman, Garry Smallridge, Ryan O'Connor and a certain Hayden Bunton Snr. I'd also slip in Mark Lawson as he stayed at our place when he first moved to Adelaide to play for Port.

Z

[Adelaide Hawk]

Adelaide Hawk, thats interesting that Rowe grew up in Norwood, i hadn't heard that before. How many games did he play in the WAFL before moving back to play for Norwood?

He played 27 games for South Fremantle.

[SimonH]

F: Neil Balme, Ian Brewer, Stephen Rowe
HF: Greg Parke, Ross Dillon, Graeme Dunstan
C: James Thiessen, Peter Laughlin, John Cunningham
HB: Robert Neill, Stephen Kerley, Scott Direen
B: Brett Zorzi, Dale Fleming, Bob Kingston
Ruck: Matthew Primus, John Wynne (captain), Anthony Harvey
Int: Craig Balme, Anthony Eames, Des O'Dwyer

Thanks for reminding me of Peter Laughlin, who was #19 IIRC. A terrific player who I loved watching, and who is well-deserving of the centre spot; for some reason I'd completely forgotten him. Of your list, I never saw Brewer, Parke or Kingston play, so couldn't comment on any of them.

You just have to include Brian Adamson; in his own short-lived way, the king of all imports! Achieved a lot more in a Norwood jumper than one N. Balme, and at his best was far better than C. Balme, so one of them can give way.

Other names of blokes, not previously mentioned, from my time who I reckon were Vic/WA imports: Simon Eastaugh, Rob deJong and Andrew Hill of course, Steve Hoffman, Paul McCormack, Cristian O'Brien (?). Of that list, only Eastaugh and McCormack would be a shot at selection. I'd give Eastaugh a go as a genuine 2nd ruck on the bench over Des O'Dwyer, who I recall as a mid-sized, mid-paced, mid-quality player in some really good Norwood teams of the '80s. Actually, what they hey: McCormack on the bench and Eames out as well.

Stephen Almond, Greg Rix, Wayne Schmaal, Grant Zubrinich are all possible imports, but I can't decide if they were ring-ins or not. Again, none of them would get a gig, with Rix and Zubrinich the closest.

I think that the VFL/VFA/WAFL thing is unduly restrictive; anyone from an interstate league should qualify. For example, Jason Millar from Qld (not that he'd get a game in this company) and Bryce Campbell from ACT (might go close).

[XXXXRooster]

McAlmanac, Stephen Nicholls played 7 games for Geelong so does that make him eligible?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Thanks for reminding me of Peter Laughlin, who was #19 IIRC. A terrific player who I loved watching, and who is well-deserving of the centre spot; for some reason I'd completely forgotten him. Of your list, I never saw Brewer, Parke or Kingston play, so couldn't comment on any of them.

Stephen Almond, Greg Rix, Wayne Schmaal, Grant Zubrinich are all possible imports, but I can't decide if they were ring-ins or not. Again, none of them would get a gig, with Rix and Zubrinich the closest.

Alby Menzel wanted 19, so he swapped with Peter Laughlin who wore 15 in the 1984 GF.

Stephen Almond came from West Torrens.
Greg Rix was recruited from the Riverland
Wayne Schmaal was from Karoonda
Grant Zunrinich was a Norwood junior, but I can't recall if he was local or country.

[GWW]

Wouldn't Stephen Richardson get a game in the Norwood side? He was one of the best half flankers i saw in the SANFL in the 80's, was recruited from the WAFL I believe.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Wouldn't Stephen Richardson get a game in the Norwood side? He was one of the best half flankers i saw in the SANFL in the 80's, was recruited from the WAFL I believe.

I thought Stephen Richardson played some good football for the Legs, and had one very good year, but in general I found his form to be inconsistent. Could play some brilliant footy, but also played too many poor games in the mix.

[McAlmanac]

W Henwood J Fidge G Bennett
P Maynard R Hart C Flower
P Tempay A Battison P Brown
S Hywood P Hamilton
R Gibbs

D Long D Bailey B McGowan

T McTavish D Read

I refuse to pick C Venables, D Strooper and W Ralph

Off to do some more research, over to you Maysie and Ecky...

Gotta have Colin Rice - Geelong premiership player! No Max Kruse?

Is P.Tempay Paul Temay who played for St Kilda in the 80's?

[Magpiespower]

I only realised the "played a League game" criteria...

Damn.

Means we can't have John Abley at full-back...