Local footy: Best 10 to play in the Sunraysia Football League
Countless gun players have strutted their stuff in the Sunraysia Football League before graduating to the VFL/AFL ranks. Our top 10 includes two Brownlow medallists. Did we get it right?
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A long list of star players have plied their trade in the Sunraysia Football League before going on to enjoy decorated AFL careers.
The Sunraysia competition comprises nine clubs – Mildura, South Mildura, Imperials, Irymple, Red Cliffs, Merbein, Robinvale-Euston, Ouyen United and Wentworth.
The league is based around Mildura and also stretches into southwest NSW.
Here are the best 10 players to play in the competition since it was formed in 1945.
10. JOSH HUNT
A reliable backman and capable of kicking the ball 60m on his trusty left foot, Hunt called time on his 14-year AFL career at the end of the 2014 season. He enjoyed plenty of success at Geelong, featuring in the club’s 2007 and 2011 flags (he missed the 2009 triumph because of a serious knee injury). He spent his last season with GWS, leaving the elite level with 212 games to his name. He played for Imperials before coming through the Bendigo Pioneers.
9. ROBBIE TARRANT
Tarrant has been one of North Melbourne’s most reliable performers since he was snapped up at pick 15 in the 2007 National Draft. He has established himself as one of the elite defenders in the modern game after failing to make a senior appearance in his first two seasons and, at 31, still has some good football ahead of him. Tarrant, who came through South Mildura, was crowned the Kangaroos’ best-and-fairest winner in 2016.
8. CHRIS TARRANT
A top-quality key position player who performed admirably at both ends of the ground during his 268-game career for Collingwood and Fremantle at the top level. Tarrant’s best season came with the Magpies in 2003 as he bagged a career-best haul of 54 goals from 25 games and was rewarded with All-Australian selection. He claimed the Mark of the Year in the same season, was Collingwood’s leading goalkicker on five occasions (from 2001-05) and collected the Anzac Day Medal in 2001.
7. ANDREW EMBLEY
Embley was a star wingman/half-forward during his 250-game AFL career, displaying countless courageous acts and an ability to run all day. He played a key role in West Coast’s success, was a member of its premiership side in 2006 and crowned the Norm Smith Medal winner in his team’s nailbiting triumph over Sydney. Embley also booted, finishing second in his club’s goalkicking in 2003 and 2006. While Embley was born in WA, he spent time at Robinvale before graduating to the top level.
6. MARK LEE
Out of Mildura, Lee was one of the champion big men of his area and made 233 VFL/AFL appearances for Richmond from 1977-1991. He was a member of the Tigers’ 1980 premiership side and a runaway winner of the club’s best-and-fairest in 1984. He was also a three-time All-Australian (1980, 1983 and 1985), captained Richmond for two seasons (1985 and 1986) and represented Victoria on six occasions.
5. MATTHEW KNIGHTS
Knights racked up possessions at will during his 279-game career with Richmond. He was a smart player and neat user of the football over 15 years, departing in 2002 as a dual best-and-fairest (1990 and 1992). He was also named in Richmond’s Team of the Century, was an All-Australian (1998) and captained the Tigers for four seasons. After retirement, he led Essendon for three season and is a VFL premiership coach at Geelong.
4. HAROLD ‘HASSA’ MANN
A legend of the Melbourne Football Club, Mann was a star centreman during the Demons’ golden era. He featured in the club’s 1959, 1960 and 1964 premierships and claimed the best-and-fairest on three occasions (1962, 1963 and 1967) after coming out of Rutherglen. He was named in Melbourne’s Team of the Century, held the captaincy for four seasons and finished in the top 10 in the Brownlow Medal four times. Mann is also a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
3. DALE WEIGHTMAN
The man nicknamed ‘Flea’ overcame his lack of size (he was listed at 170cm and 69kg) to become a champion at VFL/AFL level. He often combined with gun Richmond ruckman Mark Lee and was known for his handballing ability and reading of the play. Weightman kicked 344 goals from 274 games, featured in Richmond’s 1980 flag and was a three-time All-Australian (1985, 1986 and 1988). He is a member of the Tigers’ Team of the Century, a dual best-and-fairest winner and a member of the Australian Football and Richmond’s Hall of Fame. It is a glittering resume.
2. JASON AKERMANIS
A member of the Brisbane Lions’ ‘Fab Four’ during its premiership era, Akermanis was capable of racking up possessions in the midfield and lethal in the forward half. The highly-skilled South Mildura product booted 421 goals from 325 games for the Lions and Western Bulldogs, claiming the Brownlow Medal in 2001 and starring through Brisbane’s premiership three-peat. He earned All-Australian nods four times (1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004) and was a dual best-and-fairest at his first club (1999 and 2005). He spent the last four years of his career at the Bulldogs on the back of off-field controversy and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
1. ADAM GOODES
A decorated utility who showcased his unquestionable skill and running power during a decorated 372-game career. Goodes could be a threat in any part of the ground, and finished his career with 464 goals, booting 40 or more majors three times in a season. He left the AFL at the end of 2015 as a two-time Brownlow medallist (2003 and 2006), dual premiership player (2005 and 2012) and three-time club best-and-fairest (2003, 2006 and 2011). He also earned All-Australian selection four times (2003, 2006, 2009 and 2011) and was Sydney’s leading goalkicker in three consecutive seasons (2009, 2010, 2011). He was also an AFL Rising Star in 1999 and selected in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
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