Legendary coach Chris Toner names his greatest local footy team

Chris Toner has directed some of local footy’s strongest sides and now he has squeezed his best ever side together. See who made it.

Narre Warren has never named a Team of the Century or Team of the Decade but if it was to have one, the crux of this side would be mighty close to it.

Future AFL-premiership players and local legends begun – or improved – their legacy under Chris Toner, as he orchestrated success at both Cora Lynn and Narre Warren.

From his flag-laden time coaching the Cobras and Magpies, here is Chris Toner’s greatest ever side …

FULL BACKS

Jarrod Anderson (Narre Warren): The courageous small defender was a certainty in Toner’s side after completing countless lockdown roles. “He was never beaten, incredibly fit and skilful,” Toner said.

Ryan Morrison (Narre Warren): Morrison becomes the first player to feature in more than one dream team. He begun with Toner at Narre Warren as a wiry defender, before turning into a colossal force on the last line for Noble Park. “I think he’s the best fullback outside of VFL right now, I don’t think there are many who have kept Marc Holt to zero goals, he just hated conceding,” Toner said.

Ryan Morrison in his early Narre Warren days. Picture: Chris Eastman

Ben Giobbi (Narre Warren): Giobbi won the respect of Toner when he declared he was good enough to play senior footy. “He’s turned into a fantastic midfielder now, but as a 16-year-old kid he demanded he played, he came up to me and said: ‘I am here, I am good enough, play me’, so we played him,” Toner recalled.

HALF-BACKS

Jackson Parker (Narre Warren): Parker won best afield honours in the Magpies’ extraordinary grand final win in 2012, before taking six famous bounces in the following grand finals dying seconds. “There was a three-year window where he was the best player in the comp,” Toner said.

Jackson Parker on the run for the Pies.

Kain Baskaya (Narre Warren): The versatile and tough defender continues the trend in this incredible spine. The lion-hearted centre half-back had no regard for his own safety if it would benefit his mates. “He would spill blood for his teammates, he would do anything for them,” Toner said.

Jack Allen (Cora Lynn): Despite suffering a nasty injury as a young player, Allen still earns a spot in Toner’s dream team. “He would’ve fit into any side I ever coached and been one of the absolute best,” he said.

CENTRES

Josh Tonna (Narre Warren): The five-time premiership-player and five-time best and fairest winner unsurprisingly slots onto the wing. “He coached himself … I think his courage is understated, he would do things that others wouldn’t, he would rank right up there in the best ever players in the club’s history” Toner said.

Michael Collins (Narre Warren, captain): Eight premierships and seven best-and-fairest awards. When asked what more he could say, Toner was brief: “Not much,” he joked. “There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do,” he added.

Michael Collins and Nick Scanlon won flags for fun. Picture: David Trend

Glenn Hamilton (Narre Warren, captain): Alongside Collins, Hamilton co-captains this side as a result of his skillset and spirit. “He bled black and white for a very long time,” Toner said.

HALF-FORWARDS

Toby McLean (Narre Warren): Before playing a role in the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 flag, McLean was cutting his teeth at Kalora Park under Toner. “His brother kicked eight in the reserves one day, Oakleigh were good enough to lend him to us, but he had to only play a half. He had eight (goals) at halftime, but he asked if he could beat his brother, so he went out there and kicked a goal in the first 30 seconds and ran off the ground, he was done for the day with nine 30 seconds into the third quarter,” he recalled.

Before he was involved in this iconic AFL picture, McLean was turning heads at Kalora Park. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Darren Sheen (Cora Lynn): The powerful forward booted 370 goals in three seasons at Cora Lynn. “He had beautiful hands, he kicked 10 in a last quarter against Bunyip one day, when he was 18, 19, 20 (years of age) he was as good as anyone going around,” Toner said.

Nick Scanlon (Narre Warren): Another accolade drenched Narre Warren star with an incredible seven premierships. “He could just turn games and do the freaky stuff, he would’ve played a lot of VFL if he had of hung in there, but he was just a mate’s mate,” Toner said.

FORWARDS

Mitch Cox (Narre Warren): Another player who made their senior debut under Toner before going on to become an AFL-listed player. Toner’s description of what Cox brought to the side was succinct: “Absolute X-factor,” he said.

Karem Baskaya (Narre Warren): The burly forward made an enormous impact for the Pies. Baskaya once kicked 22 in a match, but it was his finals performances that impressed Toner the most. “In all the finals he played for Narre Warren, he averaged six plus goals a game, so if you’re going into a final and you know you’ve got six already, you’re a long way to winning it … I think we’re splitting hairs with Marc Holt,” he said.

Hands like a vice: Karem Baskaya.

Aaron McIver (Narre Warren): McIvor complemented Baskaya tremendously, which Toner think worked through separation. “I think he knew where he had to be and that was as far away from ‘Bas’ as he could, there was some synergy there,” he joked.

FOLLOWERS

Steve Watson (Narre Warren): The workhorse competed tirelessly on his own and often outworked his opponents with relentless follow up. “You would often see him running the ball out of the centre square, bowl a few over and flick out a handball,” Toner said.

Col McNamara (Narre Warren): The tough and unassuming inside midfielder had the arsenal to contribute on the inside and the outside. He performed at a high-level for a long time, retiring in just 2019.

Magpies legend Col McNamara. Picture: Susan Windmiller

Andrew Soumilas (Narre Warren): Soumilas and league best-and-fairest awards came hand-in-hand. He made a late run for eligibility for this side, but his immediate impact earns him a place in the engine room. “He put blokes in better spots, he was just terrific,” Toner said.

INTERCHANGE

Chad Ingram (Cora Lynn): The winner of three best-and-fairest awards at Cora Lynn was never beaten. His skillset was his one-wood, as opposition players struggled to restrict his impact on either foot.

Ryan Davey (Cora Lynn): While Cranbourne was Narre Warren and Toner’s nemesis for the best part of five years, Toner had to put Davey in there for his impact at the Cobras. Such was his reliability; Davey once won a best-and-fairest despite missing eight games.

Before he was at Cranbourne, Davey was a major ball-winner at Cora Lynn. Picture: AAP/ Chris Eastman

Dylan Quirk (Narre Warren): Quirk famously kicked the winning point to defeat Cranbourne in the 2013 grand final and Toner feels he is forever in debt. “I have to put him in, he won a flag for me … there’s a lot of man love there,” Toner joked.

Dave Collins (Cora Lynn): The Cobras stalwart carved out an excellent career at Cora Lynn before moving to Casey VFL and making its Team of the Decade.

Luke Hughes (Cora Lynn): The ball-magnet averaged 35 disposals consistently for the Cobras. His leather poisoning was rewarded with a pair of best-and-fairest awards.