Who are the greatest indigenous players to wear the Crows and Power colours
IN honour of the AFL’s Indigenous Round, Michelangelo Rucci looks at the top-10 Aboriginal players to represent the Crows and Port Adelaide.
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THERE is a memorable picture from the MCG at the end of the 2004 AFL grand final — a symbolic image that tells of the power of Aboriginal footballers on the big stage.
The photograph shows Norm Smith Medallist Byron Pickett, the best-afield in the grand final, celebrating Port Adelaide’s breakthrough AFL premiership with brothers Peter and Shaun Burgoyne and the Power’s inaugural AFL captain Gavin Wanganeen.
Less than a decade earlier, Andrew McLeod captivated the cameras — and his opponents — as he ran across the MCG with the ball sitting perfectly in his hands while his tireless legs pounded the turf to change the course of the 1997 and 1998 grand finals. His back-to-back Norm Smith Medals are one of the finest stories from Adelaide’s premiership glory.
As the AFL celebrates its “Indigenous Round”, the influence — and legacy — of Aboriginal footballers at both the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs is notable … and worthy of continually celebrating.
Who are the best 10 Indigenous players to represent the Crows and Power — with only their SA records up for consideration?
Here is a list to strike admiration of these great players more so than debate on their standing on a top-10 list.
TELL US BELOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHERS YOU WOULD ADD TO THE LIST
1. ANDREW McLEOD
AS a resume, Andrew McLeod’s journey in top-flight football puts him among the greats of all eras and all categories. A remarkable — and incredibly consistent — 340 AFL games, all with Adelaide after being foolishly passed over by Fremantle; two Norm Smith Medals, as best-afield in the 1997-98 grand finals; five All-Australian honours (1998, 2000, 2001, 2006 and 2007) with All-Australian captaincy in 2007; and three club championships with the Malcolm Blight Medal (1997, 2001 and 2007). Plus, the Hall of Famer was runner-up to Jason Akermanis in the 2001 Brownlow Medal.
So much of this was achieved on battered knees that would have worn down other players.
Standing out in McLeod’s superb journey is the modesty — and impeccable character — he carried as an AFL player … and still does in life.
2. GAVIN WANGANEEN
HE came to Port Adelaide with so many grand achievements already to his name — premiership player at Essendon (1993), Brownlow Medallist (1993) and three-time All-Australian (1992, 1993 and 1995).
In his 173 AFL games with the Power, Wanganeen carried the task of leading Port Adelaide as its inaugural national league captain, played a significant part in its only AFL premiership (particularly with his last quarter in the preliminary final and four goals in the grand final against Brisbane), earned another two All-Australian honours (2001 and 2003) and sealed his Hall of Fame status.
On their full records, the debate on which player to name at No. 1 — McLeod or Wanganeen — would be very tough to resolve.
3. PETER BURGOYNE
A MEMBER of the VFL-AFL Indigenous Team of the Century, Burgoyne thrived with exceptional skills and a strong competitive spirit as one of Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFL players.
His 240 AFL games put Burgoyne at No. 3 of the Power’s games count. He was a critical member of the breakthrough 2004 AFL premiership win — and has a Showdown Medal (2003).
4. EDDIE BETTS
AT Adelaide alone, the Carlton free-agent moved to the Crows at the right time to become the club’s first cult hero at Adelaide Oval.
Betts’ record of leading the Adelaide goalkicking list in each of the four years of his much-discussed first contract with the Crows (2014-17) make his original $500,000-a-season free incredible good value. He also was second in the Malcolm Blight Medal count as club champion in 2016 and third in 2015.
5. GRAHAM JOHNCOCK
MANY still wonder what might have been had Johncock ever been released from a defensive role to work in the midfield. There was the time he was considered by leading men at West Lakes as capable of winning a Brownlow Medal.
“Stiffy” is a classic grand bloomer from a late pick in the AFL national draft (No. 67 in 2000). He established a significant body of work in his 227 games while also leading the Crows goalkicking list in 2003 when Johncock proved he enjoyed kicking goals as much as he did stopping them.
6. BYRON PICKETT
ANOTHER with a strong record elsewhere (North Melbourne), “Choppy” Pickett ripped through his 55 games in three seasons at Port Adelaide like a typhoon. It was a grand start at the Power with second ranking on the goalkicking list in 2003, a premiership in 2004 and the Norm Smith Medal as best-afield in the 2004 grand final.
But in 2005 — as coach Mark Williams noted — Pickett was being made redundant as a hard-hitting AFL player by the crackdown on the bump.
7. CHAD WINGARD
EXTRAORDINARY start to this AFL career with the John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide club champion in his second season (2013). Has two All-Australian honours (2013 and 2015) and topped the Power’s goalkicking list twice (2015 and 2016).
Wingard has the ability to break open games, particularly as a menacing forward.
8. PATRICK RYDER
IT has been a stop-start career at Port Adelaide after leaving Essendon, particularly with the 2016 season wiped out by the WADA ban carried from the Bombers. Ryder’s rebound last season — to be the All-Australian ruckman for the first time — was exceptional.
Ryder has the ability to rise up these rankings before his time ends at Alberton.
9. SHAUN BURGOYNE
CLEARLY, the best of Shaun Burgoyne has unfolded at Hawthorn where he has achieved three AFL premierships.
But the younger brother of Peter did have a significant influence in Port Adelaide’s 2004 premiership — and later with a dynamic partnership with ruckman Brendon Lade. Remarkably, Burgoyne’s only All-Australian selection was while at Port Adelaide — in 2006.
10. TROY BOND
IT was short — and very sweet — for Troy Bond as he found his way to Adelaide after the fall-out with Carlton at the end of 1995. Two premierships — with four goals in the 1997 grand final triumph against St Kilda — were built by the Crows with Bond playing a strong role with match-winning goals, particularly in the second Showdown.
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