NAB League: Darren Flanigan names his best Stingrays team of all time
Dandenong Stingrays talent manager Darren Flanigan has named his best Stingrays team of all time — and it’s star studded.
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Darren Flanigan knows talent when he sees it.
As a Geelong ruckman he played alongside the great Gary Ablett Snr — “He was just an amazing athlete, he would have been a superstar in whatever era he played in.’’
In his job as Dandenong Stingrays talent identification manager, Flanigan has seen the early signs of greatness.
In two stints at the Stingrays across 13 years, he’s helped the likes of Luke Parker, Nathan Jones, Tom Lynch, Dylan Shiel and Lachie Whitfield on their path to the big time.
“It’s a really strong footy region,’’ he said.
Flanigan recently had a crack at picking his best Stingrays side of all time.
He said it was an enjoyable but difficult task.
Flanigan’s star studded Stingrays team (with an extended interchange bench) includes five premiership players, five No. 1 draft picks and 15 current day players, among them Parker, Whitfield, Jones and Adam Treloar.
And his number one pick?
“Probably Leppa (Justin Leppitsch),’’ Flanigan said.
“For what he’s achieved — a three-time premiership player, he played over 200 games, he’s been a star.
“Then you’ve got the unheralded ones like Matty Boyd and Chris Newman who didn’t go early (in the draft) but made it off a rookie (list) like Milney (Stephen Milne) and still made a massive impact on the AFL.’’
Darren Flanigan’s greatest Stingrays side:
B: Chris Newman (Richmond, 268 games), Trent Croad (Hawthorn, Fremantle, 222), Adam McPhee (Fremantle, Essendon, 223).
HB: Aussie Jones (St Kilda, 226), Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane, 227), Adam Ramanauskas (Essendon, 134).
C: Travis Johnstone (Melbourne, Brisbane, 209), Luke Parker (Sydney, 204), Lachie Whitfield (GWS, 142).
HF: Nathan Jones (Melbourne, 289), Tom Lynch (Gold Coast, Richmond 165), Tom Scully (Melbourne, GWS, Hawthorn, 182).
F: Dylan Shiel (GWS, Essendon, 163), Brendan Fevola (Carlton, Brisbane, 204), Stephen Milne (St Kilda 275).
Foll: Jeff White (Fremantle, Melbourne, 268), Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs, 292), Adam Treloar (GWS, Collingwood, 168).
I/C: Chad Morrison, David Hille, Shane Savage, Shane Tuck, Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Levi Casboult, Andrew Williams, Dylan Roberton, Ryan Bastinac, Zak Jones, James Harmes.
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