Chris McDermott and Michelangelo Rucci select their ultimate Port-Adelaide Showdown sides

TO mark the 20th anniversary of Port and Adelaide clashes, we asked Chris McDermott and Michelangelo Rucci to pick teams of the best 22 Showdown performers from each team. CAST YOUR VOTE

Who wins the ultimate Showdown?

TO mark the 20th anniversary of Port and Adelaide clashes, we asked Chris McDermott and Michelangelo Rucci to pick teams of the best 22 Showdown performers from each team.

We’ve also asked Champion Data to pitch the teams against each other in a hypothetical Showdown to end all Showdowns. We’ll reveal the results of that clash in The Advertiser on Saturday.

Readers of advertiser.com.au will also have the chance to pick their ultimate Showdown team, and pick a combined best 22 Showdown performers.

We’ll also reveal that team in the paper on Saturday morning, so scroll to the bottom of this story to cast your vote.

Check out the teams, read how Rucci and McDermott came to their selections and then scroll to the bottom to cast your vote in the ultimate combined Showdown team.

Here’s how the two teams would line-up.

Here’s what Rucci and McDermott think of their teams

A TEAM TO BEAT ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME

By Chris McDermott

Showdowns are, without doubt, the greatest event on the South Australian sporting calendar.

From Football Park to Adelaide Oval, with a stop off at the Ramsgate Hotel in between, they have captured the imagination of the football world.

Everyone loves a Showdown.

Be the margins close or be they a blow-out, these games are always fascinating contests.

Play well in a Showdown, you can play well in any game.

They are a true test for every player. And every coach.

And wouldn’t it be a thrill to coach this team of Crows’ all-time Showdown greats.

Tony Modra loved the occasion and although his time in Showdowns was brief, it was memorable.

Seven goals in the first Showdown further rubber-stamped his greatness.

Modra was good enough to push Taylor Walker to a pocket and, with the mercurial Eddie Betts alongside the duo, they forms a full forward line comparable to anything the AFL has ever seen.

Matthew Robran is a must selection at CHF while the genius of Tyson Edwards and the unselfishness of Tom Lynch make them a must in an unstoppable forward line capable of breaking the 20-goal barrier with ease.

It’s a captain’s centre line with Kane Johnson, captain Mark Ricciuto and Rory Sloane.

Stop them if you can and, if somehow the forwards don’t kick a score, this mercurial centre line will.

The defence is rock solid but full of run and rebound. Simon Goodwin can start off a flank but roll forward or into the middle he is equally brilliant in every spot on the ground.

Daniel Talia is a lock across half back while Ben Rutten would continue his domination of Warren Tredrea.

Sam Jacobs has won more hit outs than any other in Showdown history and had to be given the nod to lead the ruck. Dangerfield and Andrew McLeod complete a handy on ball division that can also impact the scoreboard.

I’ve run out of fingers to count the number of Brownlow Medals, best and fairests, All Australians and premierships this team possesses.

This is a 22 that has flexibility, variety and absolute football brilliance. I’m happy for it to play anyone, anytime and anywhere.

PREPARE THAT WHITE FLAG OF SURRENDER

By Michelangelo Rucci

PORT Adelaide won 16 or more games across four consecutive AFL minor rounds (2001-2004), an achievement noted by Bruce McAvaney as deserving far more credit.

But the AFL is about trophies more so than wins and losses. And in this four-year period, the Power began to note the Showdown trophy was sitting in a groove in the grand trophy cabinet at Alberton.

There were seven consecutive wins — a streak never repeated nor challenged by the Crows — from Showdown VIII to XIV after which the derby count was 10-4 in Port Adelaide’s favour.

So the all-time, best Port Adelaide line-up for the 20th anniversary Showdown Classic is naturally dominated by the Power players who achieved a psychological edge on the Crows.

The line-up has 14 of the 2004 premiership heroes who ended the first great dynasty of the 21st century from Brisbane — Peter and Shaun Burgoyne, unbeaten Showdown Medallist Josh Carr, Chad and Kane Cornes, Stuart Dew, the ultra-skilful Roger James, Brendon Lade, Brett Montgomery, Norm Smith Medallist Byron Pickett, Hall of Famer Warren Tredrea, Darryl Wakelin, Brownlow Medallist Gavin Wanganeen and 1997 Rising Star winner Michael Wilson.

It includes two players who, had knee injuries not sidelined them in 2004, would be premiership heroes — lead ruckman Matthew Primus and 2002 Brownlow Medal runner-up, Josh Francou.

Primus not only was so dominant that the AFL changed the rules to counter him as a ruckman, but he is quickly nominated by Adelaide’s premiership ruckman Shaun Rehn as the one man he could not and did not beat.

The Showdown Classic starts well from the opening bounce.

The premiership class of 2004 is enhanced by six current players who savour the Showdown moment — current Power captain Travis Boak, All-Australians Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard, the versatile pair Justin Westhoff and Jackson Trengove and new midfield blaster Ollie Wines.

Is that a white handkerchief to wipe away the sweat from fear or a flag of surrender that Chris McDermott is reaching for?

NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN TO PICK

So now, cast your vote to help us select the ultimate Showdown 22 — a combination of the best Port Adelaide and Adelaide Showdown performers.