Who were Queensland’s best 40 Aussie rules players in the last 40 years? Vote on your favourite
Who were Queensland’s best 40 Australian football players in the last 40 years? Today we present the 1990s. Vote on your favourite
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Who were Queensland’s best 40 Australian rules players in the last 40 years?
We asked experts from the AFLQ (previously the Queensland Australian Football League) and NEAFL, Shane Johnson, Marty King, John Blair, Mark Perkins and Jason Cotter, to come up with local club’s footy’s best 40 players over the last 40 years.
They used the criteria that nominated players must have played at least three seasons for Queensland clubs and also used the AFLQ Hall of Fame inductees as a starting point.
The squad is so rich with that talent that you could pick a dream team from those that missed out.
THE 1990s
BRAD EDWARDS
The Morningside defensive champion was a powerhouse for the Panthers as they challenged the fortress constructed by arch rivals Southport in the late 1980s and 1990s. Originally he landed at Esplen Oval via Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears and their loss was very much Morningside’s gain. On three occasions at end of season functions Edwards walked to the front of the room to collect Morningside best and fairest awards, milestones which say everything about his effort and contribution to the Panthers’ club.
TONY LYNN
A Morningside player originally, Lynn was an outstanding utility who earned a contract with the Lions in 1988, only to wait another five seasons for a recall to the top tier competition via Carlton. His promotion into the famous Carlton ranks came around stints in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland again. He finished his career back in Brisbane, rejoining Morningside in 1997. However, premiership glory came when he helped Mount Gravatt Vultures to a 2002 premiership. Lynn won the Joe Grant Medal as best on field with the Vultures and promptly announced his retirement.
DANNY DICKFOS
Dickfos had an elite career, playing more than 60 matches for the Brisbane Bears/Lions after starring for his local club, Windsor-Zillmere, in the QAFL. He was the youngest of three football playing brothers (Robbie and Michael), an outstanding defender who was a renowned effort man who never gave his opponent a moment’s rest. Dickfos was also a proud Queensland State of Origin representative.
DARYL BOURKE
Yet another player out of the Morningside stable in the top 40, Bourke was an elite centreman who won three premierships, two Grogan Medals and three Morningside best and fairest awards – an extraordinary career in anyone’s language. A Brisbane Bears foundation player, Bourke found his grove in the then QAFL, winning the first of his two Grogan Medals in 1989 after recovering from a knee injury. He captained the Panthers to the 1991 QAFL premiership, and promptly won another two flags with the Panthers. He was also a reliable ball distributor for Queensland.
DAVID BAIN
A West Australian native, Bain was a energised rover and four-time premiership with the Southport club whose batteries never seemed to run out. Bain initially gained mileage in his legs playing in Western Australia before being drafted to the Brisbane Bears where he played 86 matches before an AFL swan song season with Fitzroy. But rather than his career winding down after his AFDL career, Bain surged to arguably greater heights with the rampant Southport Sharks. Twice winner of the QAFL Grogan Medal, Bain spearheaded Southport to four titles before his retirement.
CRAIG EDWARDS
Edwards was an outstanding QAFL player with one of the premier clubs, Morningside. A hard-nosed, yet classy midfielder, Edwards was the engine room in three Morningside premiership winning efforts in a career that soared to almost 250 matches for the Panthers. He was also a eye-catching Queensland representative whose possession winning efforts were renowned.
MITCH HOWE
Yet another rock for the Morningside Panthers during the club’s almighty contribution to the QAFL final series through the 1990s. Out of a pack of outstanding players, and in a club where fellow Panthers would have been taking votes off each other, Howe rose to win the 1994 Grogan Medal.
BRAD JONES
Along with Vultures’ premiership player Tony Lynn and Frazer Neate (2019), Jones is one of only three Mt Gravatt Vultures to win the coveted Grogan Medal, sharing the winning podium with Southport’s David Bain in 1999. Remarkably on four occasions the gutsy rover, who led Mt Gravatt by example, was runner-up in the count.
DEAN EDWARDS
The word champion fits snugly in the same sentence as Morningside’s Dean Edwards who was an absolutely elite player for the Panthers in the QAFL during the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2003, Edwards had a 50 per cent win-loss record in grand finals, helping Morningside to four titles. Along the way Edwards won two club best and fairest awards, enormous achievements given the calibre of player at Morningside. He also claimed a Zane Taylor Medal for a grand final effort. A fantastic defender, Edwards also won the Grogan Medal in 1998.
CLINT WATTS
Gold Coast product Watts was an elite player for the Southport Sharks during a 12 year top flight career. The six-time winning premiership player had a glittering career, but no winter was more glistening than in 1998. That season the left footer Watt won his first senior premiership with Southport and picked up the Joe Grant Medal as best on ground in the QAFL grand final. IN 2002 he also was the Zane Taylor Medal as Queensland’s the best representative player.