Champions galore: The best Oakleigh Chargers team since 2000

A long list of famous names have enjoyed decorated AFL careers after graduating from the Oakleigh Chargers. We’ve named their best team of the past 25 years.

Recognise any of these young bucks? They’re among a galaxy of stars to feature in Oakleigh Chargers’ best team this century.

The Oakleigh Chargers have produced several AFL champions since their inception in 1995.

And there are many graduates carving up the big-time at the moment, making the Coates Talent League outfit arguably one of the most successful in recent years.

We’ve named the Chargers’ best team this century. The criteria? Players must have debuted from 2000 onwards.

BACKS

Dan Houston (Port Adelaide, Collingwood)

Selected: No. 45, 2016 rookie draft

All Australian in the past two seasons in a career taking in 169 games so far – most of those with Port Adelaide before his switch to Collingwood this season.

Sam Collins (Fremantle, Gold Coast)

Selected: No. 55, 2015 AFL draft

Solid as a rock in defence for the Suns, culminating in two club champion awards (2020, ’24) after shining brightly in the state leagues early in his career with two WAFL flags (2016, ’17), the Peel Thunder best and fairest (2017) and the Werribee gong (2018). Has played 127 games so far after starting his career at the Dockers.

Ryan Lester (Brisbane Lions)

Selected: No. 28, 2010 AFL draft

The 32-year-old has enjoyed a resurgence across the past two years. Delisted at the end of 2022 and later rookied, he’s since played in two grand finals – including the Lions 2024 premiership. Featured in 207 games and counting since his debut in 2011.

Sam Collins is often pitted against the game’s best forwards. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

HALF-BACKS

Josh Gibson (North Melbourne, Hawthorn)

Selected: Pick 7, 2005 rookie draft

Remembered as one of the best defenders of the past decade with a golden fist to boot. The former Surrey Park and East Burwood spent four seasons at North Melbourne after making the step from Port Melbourne in the VFL in 2005. But the Hawks came calling with a trade at the end of 2009 – and what a call it turned out to be. A critical part of the Hawthorn back six in a golden era for the club, where Gibson helped lift it to a threepeat of flags from 2013-15. But to win a club best and fairest in a premiership year is up there with one of the highest individual accolades – and Gibson did it twice, taking the honours in ’13 and ’15 to go with an All Australian gong in the latter.

Darcy Moore (Collingwood)

Selected: No. 9 (father/son), 2014 AFL draft

The son of Collingwood great Peter has become one of the AFL’s premier centre half-backs, captaining the Pies to the 2023 premiership. With a history of swinging forward earlier in his career, couple his versatility with his strong marking ability, speed and leap, and he’s one of the ‘Pies’ most important players.

Luke McDonald (North Melbourne)

Selected: No. 8, 2013 AFL draft

Currently North’s co-captain, the defender has put together 203 AFL matches across a decade in the system, taking home the Roos’ best and fairest in 2020. He wears the coveted No. 11 at North – and they don’t hand that out lightly.

Pies coach Craig McRae and captain Darcy Moore celebrate with the premiership cup in 2023. Picture by David Caird

CENTRE

Josh Daicos (Collingwood)

Selected: No. 57 (father/son), 2016 AFL draft

Has become one of the Pies’ most damaging players, often plying his trade on the wing. An All Australian honour in 2023 was eclipsed by a flag and perhaps the biggest individual honour in footy – a club best and fairest in a premiership year.

Jack Viney (Melbourne)

Selected: No. 26 (father/son selection), 2012 AFL draft

The tough, in-and-under midfielder has been central to the Demons’ engine room since his debut in 2013. Touted as a ready-made AFL player in his Chargers days, the son of Demon-great Todd has had no problem living up to the family name. His tenacious, fearless nature saw him take home Melbourne’s best and fairest in 2016 and ’24, also co-captaining the club from 2017-19. Named best on ground in a losing side in the 2011 NAB League grand final and was a key member of the Dees’ drought-breaking 2021 premiership.

Jack Sinclair (St Kilda)

Selected: No. 1, 2015 rookie draft

Two All Australian honours alongside two Saints best and fairests (2022, ’23) tells you all you need to know of the solid midfielder and defender, plucked from the rookie draft. And he wears one of the club’s most famous numbers – 35 – a testament to how highly he’s rated at Moorabbin.

What a career Jack Viney has kicked on to after his Chargers days. Picture: Michael Klein

HALF-FORWARDS

Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)

Selected: No. 5, 2014 AFL draft

Has made a name as a hard-nosed forward with X-factor, often drawing comparisons with ex-Richmond bull Dustin Martin. His breakout season came in 2018 when he topped the Collingwood goalkicking to help lift the club to a grand final appearance. Premiership player with the Chargers in 2014, kicking three goals in the grand final, before achieving the ultimate with an AFL flag in 2023.

Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

Selected: No. 73, 2016 AFL draft

What a find at 73. Topping the Roos’ goalkicking for the past four seasons, the centre half-forward was named All Australian in 2023, also winning the Frosty Miller Medal as the VFL’s leading goalkicker in ’18. At the time of writing, he has 118 games for 242 majors.

Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

Selected: No. 4 (father/son), 2021 AFL draft

An early fancy for the Brownlow this season, the mercurial father-son pick has collected back-to-back All Australian honours following his 2022 debut, winning a flag with the Pies in ’23. Took home the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award in ’24 alongside the club best and fairest.

North spearhead Nick Larkey (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

FORWARDS

Toby Greene (GWS)

Selected: No. 11, 2011 AFL draft

The livewire small forward has entertained since debuting in the Giants’ inaugural squad in 2012, making an impression from his first season where he finished runner-up in the club best and fairest award. He’s since hauled in a host of accolades, with three All Australian nods (2016, ’21, ’23 – the latter as captain), also taking out the GWS best and fairest in 2016 and ’23. Played in the Giants’ 2019 grand final side and remains one of the league’s most exciting players to watch, with a hard, competitive edge.

Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)

Selected: No. 55, 2006 AFL draft

Think ‘clutch’ players of the AFL in recent memory, and Gray springs to mind. The East Burwood product was a steal for Port Adelaide in the 2006 national draft at pick 55, where he played 271 matches (367 goals) and won three club champion awards (2014, 2015, 2016). The forward/midfielder earned a reputation as a big-game player taking in five Showdown medals, while he topped the Power goalkicking on multiple occasions. Awarded the AFL Coaches’ Association’s Player of the Year in 2014 and won four All Australian selections in 2014, ’15, ’17 and ’18. Hung up the boots at the end of 2022.

Darcy Byrne-Jones (Port Adelaide)

Selected: No. 52, 2013 AFL draft

A member of the All Australian team in 2020 as a half-back, the 29-year-old has swung into attack in recent seasons as a crafty small forward, kicking 28 and 18 goals across the past two years. Also won Port’s best and fairest in 2020.

Toby Greene is one of the top players in the game at the moment. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

RUCKS

Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne, Essendon)

Selected: No. 37, 2006 AFL draft

Premiership player for the Chargers in 2006, Goldstein went to become one of the AFL’s leading ruckmen after debuting in 2009 and even nabbed the record for most hit-outs at VFL/AFL level. Enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 where he earned an All Australian honour to go with North’s best and fairest award. Opposition ruckmen knew they were in for a tough day at the office when pitted against the North man-mountain. Finished with 329 games for 159 goals, with a season at Essendon at the end.

Marc Murphy (Carlton)

Selected: No. 1, 2005 AFL draft

The former Beverley Hills junior burst onto the scene with the Blues following his No. 1 selection at the 2005 national draft. Collecting a swag of honours including two club best and fairests (2011 and 2017), All Australian (2011), and an AFL Coaches’ Association Player of the Year gong (2011). Was hampered by injuries in the twilight of his career, but his peak best shouldn’t be forgotten as one of the league’s elite midfielders. Captained the Blues from 2013-18 and became just the sixth player in the club’s history to reach 300 games.

Luke Shuey (West Coast)

Selected: No. 18, 2008 AFL draft

One of the big finds for the Eagles over the past 20 years. The Marcellin College and Bulleen Templestowe product was skipper of the AFL powerhouse from 2020-23 after making his name as one of the comp’s premier midfielders in the 2010s. He’s a two-time Eagles best and fairest winner (2016 and 2019) to go with a Norm Smith Medal for his starring role in the 2018 premiership win over Collingwood. In fact, he sits in rare air as the only Norm Smith medallist to come out of the Oakleigh Chargers. Finished his career at the end of 2023 with 248 games and 142 goals.

Goldy was one of the league’s premier ruckmen. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

INTERCHANGE

Noah Anderson (Gold Coast)

Selected: No. 2, 2019 AFL draft

Named the Suns’ captain at just 24, the midfielder has enjoyed a rapid rise across the past five years, winning the club best and fairest in 2023 and the AFLCA’s best young player award in ’21, sailing past 100 AFL matches in 2024.

Andrew Gaff (West Coast Eagles)

Selected: No. 4, 2010 AFL draft

Was a regular feature of the Eagles’ midfield brigade for a decade carving out 280 matches as a renowned ball magnet on the outside before hanging up the boots last year. The Yarra Junior Football League and Kew Comets product took in two All Australian honours (2015 and 2018) to go with the club best and fairest in 2015. Being selected in the top few draft picks often comes with its share of external pressure, but Gaff certainly delivered.

Dan Hannebery (Sydney, St Kilda)

Selected: No. 30, 2008 AFL draft

Enjoyed a blistering start to his career with the Swans, taking out the AFL’s coveted Rising Star award in 2010 before a top 10 finish in the club’s best and fairest in 2011. Achieved the ultimate as a 21-year-old as Sydney claimed the 2012 premiership, featuring among a star-studded midfield. Later collected the AFL Coaches’ Association’s Champion Player award in 2015 and earned three All Australian gongs (2013, 2015, 2016). Was named among the TAC Cup’s all-time top 25 players in 2016, and it’s not hard to see why.

Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs, St Kilda)

Selected: No. 6, 2012 AFL draft

Holds the VFL/AFL record for most 30-plus disposal games in a row (15) – that’s how well the Bulldog-turned-Saint has been. The prime-mover has delivered three All Australian honours to go with a premiership in 2016 and the Gary Ayres Medal for best finals player in 2021.

David Mackay (Adelaide)

Selected: No. 48, 2006 AFL draft

A stalwart at the Crows across 248 games. Explosive at his career-best through the midfield, and so reliable as a utility through his later years, the former Beverley Hills junior didn’t leave a stone unturned to get the most out of himself. He’s top 10 for the all-time most games played at Adelaide, and he’s a life member of the club.

Matt Rowell (Gold Coast)

Selected: No.1, 2019 AFL draft

Suffered multiple injury setbacks in his five years in the AFL system, but he’s certainly made every post a winner when he’s been healthy. The midfield bull holds the record for most tackles in a VFL/AFL season (190 in 2023) and is closing in on 100 AFL matches. More often than not, he has the ball on a string, racking up the possessions.