Almanac Footy Teams: Old Dog’s Team with Character

 

Old Dog’s Team with Character

 

I’ve got a stupid amount on, but how can you not follow up a team of characters with a team of players with character? What are the guidelines? Tough, for sure. Endurance, grit, leadership, overcoming adversity… character. So much of the AFL is hype. It’s so hard to tell from the outside. Their teammates know. That’s what’s so good about them; player’s players.

 

Many an AFL geek has far more knowledge of off field stories to draw on than me. I mean, I know Stewart Sutherland has as much character as anyone who ever pulled on the boots for Otway Districts… because I know and am constantly inspired by him. The pain he plays through, the way he represents the club he loves. The way he throws his body into danger, the way he goes about it at training – character. I can see that behind the scenes stuff, because I’m behind the scenes, getting changed in the same rooms, on the same training track.

 

But that’s Otway.

 

This is the AFL. My calls may be superficial, yes. TV can lie. But I’m making them.

 

Backs:                   Liam Baker (WC)      Nick Vlaustin (Rich)         Caleb Daniel (NM)
Half Backs:         Changkuoth Jiath (Haw)   Brandon Starcevich (Bris)     Brayden Maynard (Coll)
Centre:                Steele Sidebottom (Coll)       Jack Viney (Melb)        Andrew McGrath (Ess)
Half Forwards:        Toby Greene (GWS)      Charlie Curnow (Carl)       Ben Long (Suns)
Forwards:              Angus Clarke (Ess)       Jack Higgins (St K)           Luke Parker (NM)
Followers:               Toby Nankervis (Rich)    Adam Treloar (WB)         Zach Merrett (Ess)

Bench:               Max Gawn (Melb), Bailey Smith (Geel), Travis Boak (Port), Jimmy Jess (Universal), Zac Butters (Port)

 

Back Pocket. Mick Martyn told me Libba Snr was the toughest player he had ever seen. More than Arch and Duck, because he was head high to impossibly fast, muscle-heavy knees and elbows, yet never once shirked anything. Caleb Daniels isn’t the player Libber was, but has that grit. And height. I’m putting him in here. Guts and will to win. He’s earned it.

 

Fullback. Vlaustin. Why? Man, just watch him play! Defying tides in a team at the bottom, giving heart and soul, week in, week out, putting his body on the line every minute of every game, standing under charging packs, playing to exhaustion, everything single thing about him. C.H.A.R.A.C.T.E.R!

 

Back pocket, the ultimate ‘character’ position. Blokes with no skill, but tough as nails, with force of will to make it in the big time despite limitations. History is littered with them. But one who is all that, WITH skills oozing out of him, is the little rubber man. The character with character, Liam Baker. A working man’s Wanganeen, a small fella, week-after-week, crashing into and dodging giants.

 

Back Flank. Changkuoth Jiath. I said to myself I was going to try and not include backstories. We all have them. Making AFL is no cakewalk. As big Lazar Vidovic told me, it’s just not a normal life. You have to give up so much as a young man that others take for granted. But this man survived a goddamn refugee camp of brutal proportions just to make it here. His story is amazing. He has every reason to be hard, yet he refuses to be anything other than happy, positive. Character.

 

Centre-Half-Back. The way Brandon Starcevich came back from having his opponent win the Norm Smith to being in the running to win one himself took character. To be humbled so badly on any footballer’s biggest stage, in front of the nation, often breaks people. Yet he came back so strong. Character.

 

Maynard’s a bit of a lair, loud, frankly, full of it. Not the same thing as character. Not the same as tough. He has that it, though. His teammates walk taller with him. Not the hugest fan, but credit where it’s due. Leadership, genuine passion, character.

 

Wing. Not all players with character have to be dour. Steele Sidebottom breaks more pain barriers with his running than anybody since the out wide man, Craig Bradley. But also wins the hard ball, and matches, and Premierships, with a likeable grin for everyone. Wing suits him.

 

Centre. Jack Viney, private school boy, grew up in the system – not his fault. A tough as a bull’s head. There are silkier, so what? Gives everything of what he’s got, and does so that much harder than anyone. I adore his footy!

 

Wing. What is it about Andrew McGrath that makes him the best defender in the AFL? His reflexes just cannot be as quick as they appear. He just seems to WANT it more than others. And as that bit more fierce PRIDE in how he uses it! You’d swear he was Quicksilver’s stunt double in that kitchen scene! Lots of AFL players are leg fast, but he is everything fast. He’s desperately needed down back for the Dons, they’d be even more rooted without him there. It’s a bit of the Roos at Fitzroy scenario. In a good team, Paul could have been freed to be one of the great half forwards. Our team’s not shabby. I’d put him on the wing and watch him win Brownlows.

 

Half Forward. Toby Greene. Smugness is not a crime. Like or loathe him, you can’t watch the way he plays and say he has no character.

 

Centre-Half-Forward. I loathe the way Charlie Curnow strikes a “Hero of the beach” flex every time he kicks a goal. Why not just vogue like Madonna? At least then you’d be taking the piss. It’s Stephen Milne all over again. But whatever. He THROWS his body at every contest like no other. Just fearless, tough, durable. Every pack, everywhere on the ground, covers as much turf as Nick Riewoldt, hits every pack like Brown or Carey. Just character. If Carlton can come up with a game plan beyond bombing it long to him, he won’t always have three players on him. He’ll last a decade longer. All the long-term greats had a foil. Lockett – Loewe, Dermi – every other Hawthorn forward! Geez, Hall, Bucky, Helmet Head, it was freaky. Buddy – Roughead, so on. Share the load, Blueboys. You’ll get more out of a champion.

 

Half Forward. I’m rolling the dice on the Sun’s Ben Long. His face oozes character. Only 27? Man he looks like that wise old bastard playing country footy, or someone in the WW1 trenches. But plays smart. Smart! Smart and hard. He just gives off that air. Knows how to get it, through no particular skill, just character.

 

Forward Pocket. What were Sydney thinking? I know you need new blood, that hard calls have to be made, but Luke Power brought things to a team beyond stats. And still does. He provides the character other aspire to. The force of will in key moments. The grit when needed. You can’t coach it, but it does rub off on teammate’s shoulders. They’ve fallen without him.

 

Full Forward. Jack Higgins overcame a lot to make the AFL, and did it with a goofy smile. His story is mighty. A flanker at best, turned key due to necessity. Not tall enough, fast enough, no jump on him, just character.

 

Forward Pocket. Sorry, another pick influenced by backstory! Angus Clarke. A boy, living in remote South Oz, cutting firewood to pay for the long drives to Adelaide, and even small light planes, just to get to footy. A kid with character.

 

Ruck and Captain, a few of you may moan, I obviously love the bloke, but there are reasons. I’ve coached more than one AFL player as a kid. But Nank has character. His teammates at Sydney worshiped the way he would land from the ruck full of hustle and bustle, splitting packs to clear a path for the runners. A softly spoken, extremely likeable man who knows his role; to be physically aggressive. The frees are dished out more than most, but the good his hard pack work he does is immeasurable. Stats don’t have a single thing on him. They lie.

 

Stats say his opponent got ten clear touches in the ruck, and he only got the same amount, but he never concedes. Watch closely. When his man does get to the front, he will thump the back of his hand, with solid palm and fingers, still steering the ball where he wants. Not always, but more than you’d reckon. And, if not, at least knocking it out of the path of his opponent’s choosing. It’s called ‘affecting the contest’. You don’t have to win every one, but can still shape the outcome of those you lose. Hate losing, hate losing, hate losing.

 

And when he does get a hand on it, zip, he’s the best at hitting targets.

 

One of the smallest three ruckmen in the league, can’t jump, yet, through sheer force of will, one of the best four every year for a decade. No other reason than work ethic. Character. Yes, Captain.

 

Ruck Rover. Adam Treloar. See the shit that was thrown at him when he left Collingwood? Or Collingwood left him. See how well he handled it! A real human being. Bont, Libba have character. I’m putting Adam in ahead of them. (Bont, so humble, what a champion!)

 

Rover. Zach Merrett, no fuss, no tatts, no flair, just gut running and lazer disposals. Just relentless. There’s something about him. That ‘it’. Character. Vice Captain, easy.

Bench. Max Gawn is not the best ruckman in the AFL. Sorry, he isn’t. Their first job is to hit it to rovers. Their second, to land like a bull, tackling and clearing paths for them. There are better. But that is masked by the fact he has the stickiest fingers in modern AFL history. It is a pure joy to watch him take pack mark after pack mark. A good leap, that not a lot of the more heavy-set ruckmen have, a great core, great balance, body always erect, and eyes forever on the ball, even at point of impact. That takes courage. You open yourself up to knees and elbows from every direction. I’ve never once seen his face flinch, or head duck, or run under it. Eyes to hands to ball, body a-framed, even when leaping, always. Snappy wrists, fingertips of glue. Rarely wastes the extra three inches with palm marking, as most mortals do. Just off charts! His marking wins and saves matches. Physically, no different to dozens of other bland, faceless private school boys born tall, flopping through 100 or so games of AFL as second ruckmen. The difference? Character. Also, like several captains on this list, he is a natural leader. A true test of character.

 

Bench. I’m still not fully convinced by Bailey Smith. A bit of Keith Greig with the headband, mining for the corner of the ump’s eye come vote time. I was no fan of it with Keith’s wrist bands, no fan of it with head gear. But to come back from a knee and personal problems like he has, and still be 100% his own person, takes great ticker. Cats have the grunt, but needed his run. A match made in heaven.

 

Bench. Butters, see the yap on him. Small and fast, but plays with real grit. Fearless. Just doesn’t care! Character.

 

Bench. Boak; character.

Bench. I know, I know, he played four decades ago, but fuck it, it’s my team. Jimmy Jess! The wire, the toughness, the desperation. A true backman. Character!

Bench. Matt Rowell. Those hard ball gets! A few more touches would be handy, but let’s leave that to the more flashy players, the ones out wide, and out back, the run and carry players. If the game’s an arm wrestle, tight, he’d be first picked. Just w.a.n.t.s it!

Coach: Francis Bourke. None better. Ever.

Assistant; Joel Selwood.

 

I’m aware the word character is subjective. I’ve tried to pick several TYPES, looked at no player lists, used no dial-a-friends. Just shot from the hip at 2am before work in the morning. Feel free to add anyone that’s missing.

*****

Lastly, a short story. I did a footy book, interviewed 171 legends of the game, spanning 8 decades. The 40s to now. Just talking honestly, footballer to footballer. Hands, McMahon, Skilton, Southby, Roos, Barassi, Simon Black, Riccuito, all of them. At the end of each chin wag, some going many hours, I would ask the same question; “We’ve talked a lot about footy, if you had to sum it up in one word, above all else, what is it about to you?” Many said mateship. A lot said Premierships. Some said family, opportunity. Oddly, of them all, only two gave the same answer I have: Character. If you get that right, everything else – the winning, flags, mateship – will fall in behind it.
Character is everything. In life, in footy.
I believe, anyway.

 

More from Matt Zurbo HERE.

 

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