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 two. 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. Click here to see who were unlucky omissions.
THE 1980S - PART ONE. Read the first 10 nominations here
THE 1980s - PART TWO
JASON COTTER
SOUTHPORT
A Surfers Paradise junior who was to become a Southport Sharks champion, Cotter is one of the finest footballers to lace on a boot in the QAFL over the last 40 years. Cotter’s extraordinary record, stretching from the 1980s into the 1990s, speaks for itself. The ruck rover twice won the Grogan Medal and was a member of nine premierships as a player and coach. He was also an elite Queensland representative between 1986 and 1993, a record which also endeared him to QAFL’s Hall of Fame judges.
TONY BECKETT
MAYNE TIGERS
Of a lean build but with a pounding big heart, Beckett was one of the QAFL’s best during the Tigers glory years of the early 1980s. An Everton District junior, he progressed to play senior football with the Mayne Tigers whom he helped to the 1982 premiership. Beckett was an automatic selection for Queensland across 18 matches and only injury prevented the left footer from representing his state on more occasions. Such was his standing in the code, he one was of a handful of local Queenslanders drafted into the Brisbane Bears inaugural VFL season in 1987. His first of six appearances came in round five against Melbourne at Carrara Oval when he had 19 disposals and kicked a goal.
CRAIG BRITTAIN
WINDSOR ZILLMERE
Talk about hard-nosed competitors. Against high class opponents from Southport and Morningside in particular, Brittain was in the engine room of the Windsor-Zillmere outfit, a prime mover who moved heaven and earth to snap the domination of the Sharks and Panthers during his era. The Grogan Medal winner is a fantastic addition to the top 40 list.
GRAHAM ADAMS
SANDGATE/WINDSOR ZILLMERE
The nuggety back pocket defender arrived on the QAFL scene aged just 15 playing for his local club, Sandgate Hawks Adams then enjoyed more success with cross suburb rivals Windsor-Zillmere who matched the powerhouse Southport and contenders Morningside stride-for-stride in the late 1980s. A veteran of more than 20 games for Queensland, Adams’ winning magic has remained, and only two years ago he coached Park Ridge Pirates to a premiership.
GARY MADDISON
MAYNE TIGERS
A Mayne Tigers legend who was to the forefront of the club’s march toward the 1982 QAFL premiership. Maddison was the king of versatility during the heady days of Tigers success, and was particularly eye-catching as a midfielder. Maddison was an automatic selection in Queensland teams, including as captain when Queensland won the 1984 series on a three in a row series winning streak.
MARC HOUSLEY
KEDRON
The Kedron Red Legs legend was an outstanding player for the Anderson Oval-based club whose endeavour earned him 24 interstate matches for Queensland. A goalkicking rover, Housley was Mr Persistence, an effort player who earned respect wherever he played. A Kedron AFC junior, he finished just one vote short of capturing a Grogan Medal.
MICHAEL GIBSON
COORPAROO
A stout defender, Gibson etched out an outstanding career highlighted by two premierships with his junior club, Coorparoo, in 1984 and 1986. In between those successes, the a half back flanker had a season with Fitzroy in the VFL, but later in the decade found his feet in the big league again as a Brisbane Bears foundation player. A veteran of 15 games for Queensland prior to his foray into the VFL and AFL worlds, Gibson spent five seasons helping lay a foundation for the fledgling Brisbane club.
PHIL MCGARRY
SOUTHPORT
Champ by nickname, champ by nature, McGarry was a focal point for Southport’s attack during the Sharks’ stampede across the QAFL in the 1980s and 1990s. McGarry played in Southport’s 1987 premiership winning team as a strong marking backman and was a Queensland representative of note who later became a Brisbane Lions trainer.
PETER GUY
SOUTHPORT
The spring-heeled ruckman was a three-time premiership winner for Southport. At the centre bounce Guy reigned supreme and his mobility around the ground gave the Sharks an additional marking tall. Around him the well oiled Sharks roving and midfield machine worked away with the likes of Jason Cotter, Zane Taylor and Gavan McGuane and co trailing Guy through toward premiership success.
DEAN WARREN
WILSTON GRANGE
Warren was a gun ruck rover in his day for Wilston-Grange, winning the 1987 QAFL Colt of the Year award and later claiming the 1993 Grogan Medal which he shared the award with esteemed peers Daryl Bourke (Morningside) and Jason Cotter (Southport). In a white-hot field Warren matched it with the best rovers in the competition, and was rewarded with multiple selections in the Queensland interstate teams. Off the field Warren also etched out a career as a junior development office and is now the head man at AFL Queensland.