McKay brothers, Goddard, Pendlebury and Dunkley makes best Gippsland Power team
A set of brothers, premiership stars and live-wire forwards headline the Gippsland Power’s greatest team since 2000. We reveal the best 23.
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The Gippsland Power have consistently helped to produce AFL footballers since 2000.
Picking a best 23 has proven difficult, but we’re confident it’s a side which could match any other Coates Talent League region.
From premiership winning players to likely Hall of Famers, this team has it all.
We reveal our best 23 below.
BACK
Sean Dempster (St Kilda/Sydney)
Drafted: No. 34, 2002 AFL draft.
A versatile defender who could play in multiple positions. Dempster played 54 games with Sydney and won a premiership in 2005. He then moved to St Kilda and played another 158 matches over 10 seasons. Dempster played in two grand finals for St Kilda in 2009 and 2010 and was an All Australian in 2012.
Ben McKay (North Melbourne/Essendon)
Drafted: No. 21, 2015 AFL draft.
One of the best key defenders to come from the Power in the past 25 years. McKay has played 94 games for North Melbourne and Essendon and is the identical twin of Harry McKay, who is also on this list. He is one of the highest paid players in the game after moving from the Kangaroos to Essendon in 2023.
Sam Docherty (Brisbane/Carlton)
Drafted: No. 12, 2011 AFL draft.
A player who has overcome plenty of adversity to become one of the best players for Carlton over the past few years. Docherty started his career at Brisbane before moving to Carlton in 2014. Docherty would then become one of the best half backs in the game. He won the 2016 best and fairest before making the All Australian team in 2017. Since 2017, he’s had to overcome some hard times including three ACL injuries in 2018, 2019 and 2024. He also battled testicular cancer.
HALF BACK
Luke Ablett (Sydney)
Drafted: No. 24, 2000 AFL draft.
A premiership winner who played 133 games for Sydney from 2000 to 2009. Ablett was a key player in Sydney’s 2005 success. The cousin of Gary Ablett Jr was a midfielder who could also play in defence. Post-career Ablett has become a public speaker talking about preventing men’s violence.
Tyson Goldsack (Collingwood)
Drafted: No. 63, 2006 AFL draft.
Capable of playing in multiple roles in defence, Goldsack played 165 games for Collingwood during his 13-season career. He played a part in Collingwood’s 2010 premiership, playing in the replay after missing the drawn grand final. His career ended in 2019 when he moved to Port Adelaide to become a development coach. Later on he would coach their SANFL side.
Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
Drafted: No. 8, 2010 AFL draft.
Heppell played 253 games with Essendon and was an All Australian. Heppell became Essendon’s first AFL Rising Star winner after a dominant first year. He made the All Australian team in 2014. This year he’ll play for Port Melbourne in the VFL and his home club, Leongatha, in the Gippsland league after retiring at the end of last season.
MIDDLE
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Drafted: No. 5, 2005 AFL draft.
Collingwood’s all-time record games holder. Pendlebury has played more than 400 games and won two premierships. He’s also a six-time All Australian and five-time best and fairest. Will be an AFL Hall of Famer.
Brendon Goddard (St Kilda/Essendon)
Drafted: No. 1, 2002 draft
The only number one draft pick from the Power who had a brilliant career with St Kilda and Essendon, playing 334 matches. He made the All Australian team twice and just fell short of a premiership with the Saints Kilda. Goddard won a best and fairest at Essendon in 2013. A midfielder who knew how to win the ball, Goddard was also an elite defender who could pinch hit up forward.
Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs/Brisbane)
Drafted: No. 25, 2015 AFL draft
A two-time premiership midfielder who is hitting his peak. Dunkley played 116 games for the Bulldogs before moving to Brisbane at the end of 2022. Last season he averaged more than 25 disposals a game and more than six tackles a game. A hard and tough player who won the 2022 Dogs best and fairest.
HALF FORWARD
Jarryd Blair (Collingwood)
Drafted: No. 27, 2008 AFL rookie draft
A livewire forward who played 157 games for Collingwood and kicked 121 goals. Blair was part of the 2010 premiership after making his debut earlier that year. In 2011, he had his best year at the club, kicking 26 goals. Blair retired in 2018 and now plays and coaches his home club Wonthaggi in the Gippsland league.
Harry McKay (Carlton)
Drafted: No. 15, 2015 AFL draft
McKay has played 129 games and kicked 253 games during his career. In 2021, he won the Coleman Medal and was part of the All Australian team. He has also been the leading goalkicker for the Blues three times. A forward capable of going into the ruck.
Tim Membrey (Sydney/St Kilda/Collingwood)
Drafted: No. 46, 2012 AFL draft
On the verge of kicking 300 goals in the AFL after playing for three clubs. Membrey was a leading forward at St Kilda and is now playing for Collingwood. He’s played 181 games and was the leading goalkicker at the Saints three times.
FORWARD
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Essendon)
Drafted: No. 22, 2015 rookie draft
A livewire forward who will be remembered for his pace and flair. McDonald-Tipungwuti played 133 games and kicked 157 goals. He led the goalkicking in 2020. The former Bomber is now playing country footy in Victoria and helped Imperial to the Sunraysia league premiership last year.
Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
Drafted: No. 2, 2004 AFL draft
One of the AFL’s best forwards since 2000. Roughead played 283 games, kicked 578 goals and won four premierships with the Hawks. He was an All Australian twice. Capable of playing in the ruck also, Roughead kicked 72 goals in 2013 to win the Coleman Medal. He also led the Hawthorn goalkicking three times during his career. Roughead is now back at Hawthorn, helping with drafting and free agency at the Hawks. He previously was a coach at St Kilda.
Tom Papley (Sydney)
Drafted: No. 14, 2016 AFL rookie draft
Papley has played 185 games for Sydney and almost kicked 300 goals. Papley made the All Australian team in 2021 and has led Sydney’s goalkicking three times. He has also played in two grand finals.
RUCK/FOLLOWERS
Nathan Vardy (Geelong/West Coast)
Drafted: No. 42, 2009 AFL draft
A premiership player who played for two clubs as a ruckman. Vardy started his career at Geelong in 2011 before moving to West Coast in 2017. He played in West Coast’s 2018 premiership, helping Scott Lycett with ruck duties. In 2019, he retired after playing 77 games. Vardy is currently playing country footy in Victoria. He is the player/coach at North Warrnambool in the Hampden league.
Dale Thomas (Collingwood/Carlton)
Drafted: No. 2, 2005 AFL draft
The only player in AFL history to play 100 games for both Carlton and Collingwood in his career. Thomas played 258 games and kicked 155 goals. He started as a small forward before moving into the midfield. Thomas was part of Collingwood’s 2010 premiership before making the All Australian team the next year. After his career finished, in 2019, Thomas moved into the media.
Caleb Serong (Fremantle)
Drafted: No. 8, 2019 AFL draft
One of the AFL’s rising stars. An elite midfielder who has played more than 100 games for the Dockers since debuting in 2020. Serong made the 2023 and 2024 All Australian teams.
INTERCHANGE
Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast)
Drafted: No. 4, 2016 AFL draft
In the top-10 for games played and goals kicked by Gold Coast players in its short history. Ainsworth has played 135 games and kicked 114 goals. The 27-year-old has become a vital link between the midfield and the forward line.
Jason Gram (Brisbane/St Kilda)
Drafted: No. 19, 2001 AFL draft
Gram played 156 games for two clubs, Brisbane and St Kilda, but his best football came at the Saints. He played 154 games for them and was a talented midfielder who could also play in defence. Gram finished second in the St Kilda best and fairest in. His AFL career finished in 2012 before he played country footy for North Albury in 2013.
Jason Winderlich (Essendon)
Drafted: No. 11, 2002 AFL draft
Played 129 games for the Bombers over 13 seasons and was an explosive midfielder/forward with pace to burn. But injuries hampered his career. In only two seasons during his career did he play 18 games or more. Post-retirement, Winderlich returned home to play and coach for his junior club Thorpdale. He suffered a serious neck injury last year during a game against Toora.
Xavier Ellis (Hawthorn/West Coast)
Drafted: No 3, 2005 AFL draft
A half back who could also play in the midfield. Ellis played 120 games for Hawthorn and West Coast and won the 2008 premiership with the Hawks. He played in three grand finals during his 10-season career, which was ended with injuries, forcing him to retire in 2016. Since retiring Ellis has been involved in media and breakfast radio in Perth.
SUB
Sam Flanders
Drafted: No. 11, 2019 AFL draft
Has played 66 games for the Suns since debuting in 2022. Had a breakout year in 2023 before turning into an elite midfielder last year.
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