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 1980s – part one. Vote on your favourite.
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Who were Queensland’s best 40 Australian football 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.
Gavin McGuane, a wonderful, four-time premiership winning Southport player, two-time Grogan Medal winner Ryan Davey and Morningside gun Paul Shelton missed, and so did Phil Harper, an on-ball player treasure for Mayne.
Elite Panthers’ goalkicking ace Darren Vickery, two-time Southport flag winner Ben McEntee, Rod McKay, Grogan Medal winning full forward/midfield sensation Paul O’Brien and Panthers spearhead Mark Russell were other terribly unlucky top 40 omissions.
Then you have Western Districts bullocking midfielder Corey Lambert, classy Windsor-Zillmere wingman and Grogan Medallist Cameron Buchanan, Southport’s Steve McLuckie, Morningside defender Steve Russ and Mt Gravatt/Broadbeach utility Dean Howard to consider.
So if they missed the cut, who made it?
Today in the first of a four-part series, we name the best of the 1980s – part one.
Vote on your favourite player.
THE 1980s – PART ONE
TERRY O’NEILL – COORPAROO
O’Neill is a decorated Queensland representative who played 25 interstate matches for the state, including several as captain. A Fitzroy and South Melbourne VFL player of the 1970s and early 1980s, O’Neill was a revelation when he moved north of the border to link with Coorparoo. He was a member of the 1984 Coorparoo premiership team and again a spearhead in the Roos’ march to the 1986 title. He also coached Coorparoo in 1987 and 1988, including as a captain-coach.
JOHN BLAIR – MORNINGSIDE
Blair has legendary status within the Queensland Australian rules football community and is a near king down at the Morningside Panthers. A VFL player with Fitzroy and South Melbourne, Blair moved to Queensland in 1981 had an immediate impact, winning the 1982 prestigious Grogan Medal. But he was forever entrenched in Morningside AFC folklore by steering the club to its first two grand final appearances in 1982 and 1984. While both were losing efforts, it signalled a new dawn for Morningside footy. As a player he farewelled football with a premiership playing with the powerhouse Windsor-Zillmere, kicking 96 goals in the season. During the 1980s he was also a regular interstate football representative, playing for Queensland 19 times. Later as a coach Blair led the Panthers to premierships in 2003, 2004, and then again in 2009 and 2010.
ZANE TAYLOR – SOUTHPORT
It is no coincidence that teams containing Taylor were a permanent fixture in finals football for almost two decades. A Southport junior and premiership winner, he was recruited to Geelong before returning to the Gold Coast. Such was his impact in the QAFL, Taylor made the Queensland Team of the Century named in 2003 as a half back flanker, although he was also a revered midfielder. Tough as teak and with skills to match, the 1985 Grogan Medallist was a prolific ball-winner and leader of the mighty Southport Sharks in three premierships. Taylor also played in 26 games and the medal given to the best Queensland representative player after interstate matches is now named in his honour.
KEVIN O’KEEFE – COORPAROO
The fearless O’Keefe was a teammate of the earlier top 40 entry Terry O’Neill during Coorparoo’s golden era of the mid-1980s and between the pair of them they were a pillar on which the Roos’ success was constructed. O’Keefe’s 15-year career spread from Fitzroy in the VFL to East Perth and back to Fitzroy before finishing his career with style playing for the Roos in Brisbane where he imparted his considerable knowledge on the next generation – both on and off the field. The courageous defender also became Coorparoo’s coach.
ROBBIE DICKFOS – WINDSOR-ZILLMERE
The middle of the Dickfos brothers, Robbie had the skill level to play in the AFL and although he never did, two premiership with his beloved Windsor-Zillmere – one in 1988 and another in 1995 – and playing QAFL with his brothers were milestone moments to cherish for this fantastic Queensland representative. Such was Dickfos’ impact on the competition in the late 1980s, he was regarded as the finest player in the QAFL, no mean feat given the quality of his peers. Dickfos won five Eagles’ Best and Fairest awards, and finished his career with a two-season stint with neighbouring Aspley Hornets.
DALE WOODHALL – MAYNE TIGERS
Woodhall was a prolific goal-kicker whose deeds in the then QAFL proved irresistible to Collingwood, with the Magpies recruiting him from the Mayne Tigers after Woodhall had topped the QAFL goal-kickers list on three occasions. After stints in the VFL and then with West Adelaide, the uncanny full forward appropriately finished his career with Mayne where he was revered around Windsor Park.
DARREN CARLSON – SOUTHPORT
A Brisbane Bears foundation player, Carlson was an outstanding wingman. A Surfers Paradise junior, Carlson shone for the mighty Southport Sharks in the 1980s where he was electrifying down the flank. Carlson contributed heavily in three club premierships and in doing so, earned a contract with the Brisbane Bears. After his Bears’ career, Carlson played most of his footy in the 1990s while in Adelaide, although his career was curtailed by injury.
MICK NOLAN – MAYNE TIGERS
A loveable giant who left an indelible mark on the QAFL – on and off the field. At North Melbourne Nolan was ruck in the Kangaroos 1975 premiership side and played a strong role in the club’s journey to the 1977 grand final, although not actually playing in the team on grand final day. Nolan was nicknamed “The Galloping Gasometer” by commentator Lou Richards because at 135kg in weight and 194cm tall, Richards’ jokingly said he resembled the imposing Gasworks near North’s home ground. He was recruited to Mayne in 1980 under a plan by the QAFL to sprinkle the competition in Brisbane with quality VFL players to help grow the game. Nolan proudly played for Queensland, and was a long time selector and mentor to many in the QAFL. He worked for Rothman’s, and an evening at the annual Grogan Medal Best and Fairest count at season’s end was not complete without seeing the well rounded Nolan enjoying a smoke and a beer in an ever tightening suit. Although he was a giant of a man with a gravelly voice, he had a big, warm heart.
CRAIG CROWLEY – SOUTHPORT
The Southport Hall of Fame inductee played in an incredible six premiership winning sides for the Sharks – and then took them to success as a coach. A Queensland representative, Crowley was a born leader who always seemed destined to enter the coaches box. He learned from one of the best coaches in Norm Dare, and it showed as he lifted Southport to titles and numerous grand final appearances. His playing premiership success included flags in 1983-85-87-89-90-92.
BRENDAN McMULLEN – COORPAROO
Few in QAFL history match the deeds of Coorparoo premiership gun whose 1984 winter was a season to remember. McMullen won the Grogan Medal, inspired Coorparoo to the premiership and to top it all off claimed the Roos best and fairest award. Try topping that. McMullen went on to win a second QAFL with his beloved Coorparoo two seasons later, churning award in the midfield to lay foundations for his team’s success.