Steve Hughes names his greatest local footy team

Steve Hughes has coached some local footy greats at Bonbeach, Noble Park and Springvale Districts and now he’s tried to fit them into one side. See who made it.

Steve Hughes has coached a decent footballer or two.

He steered Springvale Districts to the title in 2007, directed Bonbeach to a grand final appearance in 2019 and – most recently – oversaw Noble Park to a famous Eastern footy league premiership in 2022.

Hughes has placed the magnet of some highly decorated footballers on his whiteboard, which has led to a new mini-series with Leader Local Footy, where successful coaches or administrators’ piece together the best ever side they have had at their disposal.

With the reigning premiership coach still making the decisions at Pat Wright Oval, his side will obtain an asterisk until he ultimately hangs up the whistle, but until then, here is Steve Hughes’ best ever 22.

FULL BACKS

Gary Carpenter (Bonbeach): Hughes described his back pocket as “tough, courageous and probably the most intelligent player I have coached”. He was known as ‘a son of a legend’ after his dad Dale ‘Possum’ Carpenter before paving his own path to become a legend of local footy himself.

Ryan Morrison (Noble Park): The honest defender gets the best forward every week for Hughes’ current outfit and more often than not comes away victorious. Morrison was crucial in the back end of Noble Park’s 2022 finals campaign, which understandably sits well with the Bulls coach.

Josh Tour (Noble Park): Hughes regularly states that Tour is one of the first picked in his current Noble Park side and admitted he was close to it in this 22 as well. Contrary to the approach of most modern footballers, Tour isn’t concerned about his stats, instead focuses on a team-first mindset each and every week.

Josh Tour of Noble Park.

HALFBACKS

Jackson Casey (Bonbeach): Prior to signing with Noble Park this off-season, Casey ran through the midfield as Bonbeach’s captain for the last eight seasons – including the five in which Hughes was coach. With imperious leadership credentials, Casey co-captains this side.

Waata Wells (Springvale Districts): A general of the back six who used the ball neatly and was a strong leader across halfback. Wells was an attacking rebound defender, who set the Springvale Districts side up not only in defence and attack but also culturally. “He created great relationships, which is incredibly important, I am forever grateful for Wellsy because without that we wouldn’t have won that flag,” Hughes said.

Mark Tyrell (Bonbeach): Tyrell took out the best-and-fairest in Hughes’ first year at Bonbeach with his “booming and beautiful kick”. His career was unfortunately cut short after a series of concussions, which is a testament to the hard-nosed brand of footy he delivered.

Mark Tyrell. Picture: Susan Windmiller

CENTRES

Mitch Gent (Bonbeach): After being a mainstay at VFL level, Gent returned to play a full season under Hughes at Bonbeach in his final season at the helm. “He works really hard, Mitch, that was his major asset … he had this ability to get from one contest to the next and accumulate a lot of the footy,” Hughes said.

Kyle Martin (Noble Park): At this point, superlatives for Martin are scarce. He is an obvious walk-up start for Hughes’ best 22 and co-captains this side alongside Jackson Casey. The Bulls premiership skipper – and arguably best local footballer ever – collected his ninth Noble Park best-and-fairest in 2022, meaning he averages the award every 18 games across his suburb career.

Beau Bailey (Bonbeach): Hughes gave Bailey his first game as a wiry teenager and filled the now former Frankston Dolphin with praise. “At local level, he (Bailey) is the best player below his knees that I have seen … he is super clean,” Hughes said.

Noble Park captain Kyle Martin. Picture: Andy Brownbill

HALF-FORWARDS

Trent Dennis-Lane (Bonbeach): Dennis-Lane came directly out of the VFL to be an assistant alongside Hughes at Bonbeach. The now Western Jets coach, who Hughes described as “cunning” and “a student of the game”, booted 171 goals from 60 matches under Hughes.

Ziggie Alwan (Noble Park): The recently retired forward front lines an athletic and potent centre-half trio. With the ability to play both tall and small, Alwan makes “his teammates walk taller around him”, according to Hughes.

Lachie Gill-Renouf (Bonbeach): The dynamic half-forward was a dexterous 18-year-old when Hughes debuted him for Bonbeach. Gill-Renouf excelled in big finals matches before shifting to an extremely successful career path. “It’s no secret that he is one of my favourites,” Hughes admitted.

FORWARDS

Gavin Vassallo (Springvale Districts, Bonbeach): Wherever Vassallo went, success followed. By booting three goals in the final quarter of the 2007 grand final, Hughes was happy to concede: “we would not have won that game without him.”

Mark Williams (Springvale Districts): Williams went to Springvale Districts in 2007 and kicked over 100 goals in the premiership-winning season. He spent most of his career at Noble Park, but the towering forward – and his compact set-shot routine – was extraordinary at Springy Districts.

Chris Horton-Milne (Noble Park): Such was his 2022, Horton-Milne earns a spot in Hughes’ best 22 after just one season with Noble Park. After winning the 2021 Ellis Medal as the Southern league’s best and fairest player with Dingley, Horton-Milne took his desire for the contest to Pat Wright Oval.

Mark Williams. Photo: Mark Wilson.

FOLLOWERS

Dylan Jones (Bonbeach): With an incredible tank, Jones was like an extra midfielder for Hughes at Bonbeach. Jones represented the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league interleague side regularly and was, according to Hughes, “the best ruckman in the competition, post Ash Eames”.

Jackson Sketcher (Springvale Districts, Noble Park): Hughes handed Sketcher his first senior game at age 15 at Springvale Districts in 2008 before watching him play a key role in the Bulls’ 2022 title triumph. The explosive on-baller more than holds his own in this star-stuttered midfield.

Shane McDonald (Bonbeach): McDonald has owned the MPNFL for almost two decades, collecting eight club – and two league – best-and-fairest awards. “I think he is in the conversation as one of the best players to ever play football on the MPNFL alongside Simon Goosey … there’s stars and champions, he’s a champion,” Hughes said.

Shane McDonald. Picture: Andy Brownbill

INTERCHANGE

Jack Beech (Noble Park): An intelligent second ruck who demands a lot from his midfielders. He fights out of his weight class regularly, including throughout the 2022 finals campaign. In a demonstration of Beech’s knowledge of the game, he will help coach Noble Park’s midfield this season.

Ben Marson (Noble Park): During this selection, Hughes labelled Marson “the best trainer at Noble Park”. Additionally, the defensive elements to Marson’s forward craft is what impresses Hughes the most. With all the ingredients, the Bulls coach is expecting big things from Marson in the coming years.

Robbie Burns (Springvale Districts): Widely regarded as Springvale Districts’ best ever player, Burns played under Hughes at the back end of his career. He missed out on the 2007 premiership due to a calf injury on the eve of the finals, but his selflessness that year has never gone unappreciated by Hughes. “I probably could’ve been convinced in my mid 20s to play him in the grand final underdone because of his status at the club, but he didn’t let me … he was all team.”

Jordan Marson (Noble Park): “When Jordy gets the footy, typically, his teammates get it next,” Hughes said. He only had 12 possessions in the 2022 Eastern league grand final but was certainly in Hughes’ best six on that day.