Robert Walls and David Parkin select the greatest VFL/AFL team of the past 50 years

FOOTY legends David Parkin and Robert Walls rate Gary Ablett the best they’ve seen but fans were surprised by a few omissions in their best team of the past 50 years. SEE THE TEAM and VOTE

GREG Williams, Jason Dunstall and James Hird were among the big names to miss out when David Parkin and Robert Walls selected their greatest VFL/AFL team of the past 50 years.

Asked by the Sunday Herald Sun to pick an ultimate line-up from the previous half a century of footy, the two luminaries finally settled on their best 22.

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But some big names missed out.

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Fans are voting on who is unluckiest to miss the team, with former Geelong, Sydney and Carlton great Greg Williams leading the vote.

Hawthorn spearhead Jason Dunstall and Essendon champ James Hird were also considered unlucky — along with a host of champs from yesteryear — with both victims of an abundance of talent in their positions.

Parkin and Walls have experienced most facets of football over the past 50 years.

The pair put their minds together to come up with the best VFL/AFL team of the past 50 years and, when it comes to paying to watch just one player in that period, Parkin and Walls both stop at a Geelong legend.

“Gary Ablett Sr is the best player I’ve ever seen, the only player I’ve regularly paid to watch, which I used to do when he would appear at the MCG. No player gets near his level of talent,” Walls said.

Gary Ablett Sr is the only player Robert Walls and David Parkin have ever regularly paid to see.

And Parkin?

“Over a six or seven-year period I would go to the MCG on a Sunday afternoon to watch Gary Ablett Sr and I don’t think he ever let me down. Just his combination of strength, speed and sheer athleticism was unbelievable,” he said.

Both have been asked to combine and select the best side they have seen, both having been involved in the game in some capacity since 1967 when Walls made his Carlton debut at age 16 as a skinny back pocket.

Robert Walls pored over a list of hundreds of players to pick his best AFL team of last 50 years. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Former Hawthorn and Carlton coach David Parkin joined Walls in the selection process.

Walls played in three premierships for the Blues (1968, ’70 and ’72) and also coached them to the 1987 flag.

Parkin captained Hawthorn to glory in 1971 before coaching the Hawks to the 1978 flag and the Blues to premierships in 1981-82 and 1995.

Perhaps surprisingly, their views were remarkably consistent — only three positions created much real debate. For instance the small back pocket was quickly decided in favour of Gavin Wanganeen, despite the claims of men such as John Rantall, Chris Johnson and Ian Nankervis.

Gavin Wanganeen was an easy choice in the back pocket.

They picked the same at fullback — Stephen Silvagni, who they coached in Carlton premiership teams. Alongside him, Matthew Scarlett was a unanimous choice ahead of champions in David Dench, Geoff Southby and Dustin Fletcher.

Half-back flank? “Bruce Doull,” Parkin said. “Next,” said Walls.

And that was centre half-back. Peter Knights played in a premiership team in 1978 under Parkin and was opposed to Walls on numerous occasions.

“I found it embarrassing playing on him at times — in fact it was a nightmare,” Walls said. “But obviously Paul Roos, Glen Jakovich, Ross Glendinning and Justin Leppitsch should be considered.” That debate ended when Parkin agreed on Knights.

Stephen Silvagni was an easy choice at full back.

Corey Enright’s level of consistency, best-and-fairest winner in two premiership years, six-time All-Australian, flexibility and extraordinary consistency saw him quickly round out the halfback line.

On one wing Chris Judd was selected ahead of champions Keith Greig, Peter Matera and Robbie Flower, and Richmond champion Francis Bourke was considered as a wingman and defender.

Ian Stewart played 135 games in the period since 1967 and won one Brownlow Medal and one best-and-fairest. Sam Mitchell has played 317 games, won five-best and-fairests, four premierships and one Brownlow.

The other wing was contentious, Walls was strongly in favour of Jason Akermanis while Parkin was a Doug Hawkins man. They agreed to differ, with one going to the interchange bench.

Walls and Parkin were divided over the wing position, leaving out Doug Hawkins.

They ended up going with Jason Akermanis at the spot. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Wayne Carey at centre half-forward and Ablett Sr on a forward flank involved little conversation, and Gary Ablett Jr nudged Alex Jesaulenko out of starting on a flank.

There was no debate on Leigh Matthews in a forward pocket, and Parkin and Walls ended up coming back to Tony Lockett at full-forward ahead of Jason Dunstall and Peter Hudson.

Either Dunstall or Hudson could have slotted in alongside Lockett in a forward pocket, but the coaching hats came into play with Bernie Quinlan, who had the ability to play most areas of the ground.

There could only be one legendary full forward and that man was Tony Lockett.

Simon Madden was a standout selection in the ruck ahead of Dean Cox, Gary Dempsey and Len Thompson. Carlton great John Nicholls was deemed to have played most of his best football before this era.

The ruck-rover position as it was known when Parkin and Walls first played could have gone to players such as Nathan Buckley, Joel Selwood, Adam Goodes, Simon Black or Michael Tuck. In the end both were both very comfortable with Michael Voss, pointing to his leadership as a compelling factor.

Kevin Bartlett, who Parkin played on when the Richmond rover took an occasional spell in the forward pocket, was selected for his longevity, acceleration, reading of the play and ability to kick goals.

GREATEST VFL/AFL TEAM OF PAST 50 YEARS

Originally published as Robert Walls and David Parkin select the greatest VFL/AFL team of the past 50 years