Local footy legend, Gary Moorcroft selects his best 22 from a decorated career

Gary Moorcroft took the AFL’s Mark of the Century and now after a legendary local footy career, with great difficulty, he’s selected his best 22.

Gary Moorcroft selects his best 22.

After a famous AFL career, Gary Moorcroft returned to suburban football and became one of the legends of local footy.

Five premierships, four league goalkicking awards and multiple club best-and-fairests and goalkicking honours.

The former Essendon and Melbourne forward started out at Silvan in the Yarra Valley league before joining Romsey in the Riddell District.

Then came a decorated stint at Northern league power Bundoora before short stints at Bright and South Morang.

He’s played along side of some of the best talents to run around local grounds but, with great difficulty, has whittled it down to his best 22.

Silvan celebrates its 2007 Yarra Valley Mountain District league premiership.

BACKS

BRENT MARSHALL (Bundoora)

Played in two premierships, good foot skills and reliable running out of defence. Captained the 2017 flag.

BEN SHELTON (Bundoora)

Always did his job, incredibly hard to play on as a lock-down full-back. Played in all three of our premierships.

MATT HYDE (Bundoora)

A really hard backman to play on. Read the ball really well and usually took the best forward. Played in the 2011 flag before going back to Greensborough.

HALF-BACKS

TRENT BARBARO (Bundoora)

A bit of a swingman but really strong when he played back. A great tackler and hard to move. Played in two premierships.

He played on me as well and he’s one of the toughest opponents I’ve played on when he moved to Hurstbridge.

AARON HENNEMAN (Silvan)

My former Essendon teammate speaks for himself at centre half-back. He’s a big boy and terrific mark. Played in the 2007 premiership.

SCOTT DOWELL (Bundoora)

Had dancing feet, basketball background, and some of the stuff he did was unbelievable. Would play on the best forwards as well and lock them down. Was a part of the 2017 premiership.

Bundoora celebrates its 2017 Northern league premiership. Picture: George Salpigtidis

CENTRE

JOSH GRABOWSKI (Bundoora)

Pretty slick, hard-running wingman. A great ball carrier and had great skills. Played in the 2017 premiership.

DAVID MITCHELL (Bundoora)

Won a league B&F but an under-rated player I feel. Got his hands dirty, got in the face of players and just accumulated possessions. Played in all three of the premierships.

RICKY DYSON (Bundoora)

What can I tell you about him? Great endurance, great kick, hard-at-it and a great leader. Played in two premierships and coached the 2017 flag.

Silvan’s quartet of recruits in 2007 (from left) Aaron Henneman, Gary Moorcroft, Marc Bullen and Ben Haynes.

HALF-FORWARDS

BEN HAYNES (Silvan)

Ex-Essendon and Richmond boy. One of the best players I’ve seen both sides of his body. Would have laced me out numerous times at Silvan. Played in two premierships, kicked 115 goals in 2007 and then coached the club to the flag in 2008.

CAMERON CLOKE (Bundoora)

Just a big brute of a forward, great contested mark, a game-changer. Was in the 20011 and 2013 flags and won the Rosbrook Medal and league goalkicking double in 2011.

BRAYDEN SHAW (Bundoora)

A phenomenal leader, led from the front and got everyone up and about. Reliable in front of goals. Played in two flags and captained them both, was best-on-ground in the 2013 win.

FORWARDS

DANNY YOUNAN (Bundoora)

Just strong, could go in the midfield but always hit the scoreboard. Played in the 2017 flag.

ISAAC MULLER (Bundoora)

Only played a couple of years but so strong and kicked three goals in our 2017 premiership. Really tough to beat one-on-one.

GARY MOORCROFT (Silvan, Romsey, Bundoora, South Morang)

Can’t leave myself out.

Danny Younan celebrates a goal. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Matt Dennis in action for Bundoora. Picture: Ian Currie

FOLLOWERS

MATT DENNIS (Bundoora)

What can you say about Matty, he’s been phenomenal at local footy level. It’s got me stuffed how he didn’t make the AFL ranks. Was an extra midfielder around the ground. Played in all three of the premierships, was best-on-ground in the 2017 flag and won three league B&Fs.

MARC BULLEN (Silvan)

Hard-running, in-and-under and great skills. Played in the 2007-08 back-to-back premierships, tied with me for the club best-and-fairest in 2007 and won the best-on-ground medal in the grand final in 2008.

NATHAN THOMAS (Bundoora)

Another phenomenal leader. One of the hardest players I’ve seen attack the footy, just no fear for his body at all. Won a flag in 2017.

INTERCHANGE

SHANNON GREEN (Silvan, Romsey)

Was at North Heidelberg but I got him across to Silvan and then Romsey. Ever-reliable, always had your back. Could play a tagging role but accumulated possessions as well and won a league medal in the Riddell in 2011.

CHRIS GOODLET (Silvan)

A local boy. Great kick, great running power. Captain of the 2007 and 2008 premiership sides.

ANDREW CARMUSCIANO (Bundoora)

Could play forward, midfield, back. Put his body on the line week-in, week-out. Played in the 2011 and 2013 premierships.

MICHAEL FARRELLY (Bundoora)

Onballer but always kicked goals. Could be a strong defender too. Was part of the 2011 and 2013 premierships.

DAVID BISSELS (Silvan)

A 6’1 ruckman that could take great hangers. A key part of our premiership success.