Named: The best Eastern Ranges team since 2000

A long list of names have enjoyed decorated AFL careers after graduating from the Eastern Ranges. We’ve named the Coates League club’s best side this century.

Plenty of famous AFL names have come out of the Eastern Ranges.

The Eastern Ranges have produced several AFL champions since their inception in 1992.

From premiership players, Norm Smith and Brownlow winners and more, we’ve named the Coates Talent League club’s best 22 of the past 25 years.

The criteria? Players must have debuted from 2000 onwards.

BACKS

Nick Malceski (Sydney, Gold Coast)

Selected: No. 64, 2002 AFL draft

Sublime disposal packaged with offensive and defensive nous – the Sydney Swans pounced on a bargain with Malceski’s pick 64 selection in the 2002 draft. Took some time to establish himself at AFL level after injuring his knee and requiring a reconstruction in just his second year, and such hurdles would present a few times more during his career. But that didn’t deter the former Park Orchards junior on his way to 176 matches for the Swans from 2002-2014, and a further 34 for the Gold Coast Suns across 2015-16. Think the 2012 AFL grand final, and you’ll likely remember the impact Malceski had – particularly his snap for goal late in the match ensuring the Swans the flag. All-Australian in 2014.

Michael Firrito (North Melbourne)

Selected: No. 10, 2003 AFL rookie draft

Eastern Ranges captain and best and fairest in 2001 before cracking on to VFL with the Box Hill Hawks in 2002. But it wouldn’t be long before the uncompromising defender would win a spot on North Melbourne’s list via the rookie draft the next season, where he would spend the next 14 years for 275 games. ‘Spud’ started out in the No. 24 guernsey at North – and finished in 11 – later inheriting Shinboner of the Century Glenn Archer’s coveted number.

Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn)

Selected: No. 44, 2015 AFL draft

The tough-as-nails 28-year-old is a staple in the Hawks’ back six and is tough to beat in the contest. Chalking up 173 games so far, Hardwick has twice run second for Hawthorn’s best and fairest.

Michael Firrito played 275 games for the Kangaroos.

HALF BACKS

Kade Simpson (Carlton)

Selected: No. 45, 2002 AFL draft

Carved out 342 AFL games – the most of any Eastern Ranges draftee. The slightly-built Simpson arrived at Princes Park following his selection in the fourth round of the 2002 draft at pick 45. While team success at the Blues wasn’t a common theme for the former Emerald junior with just four finals appearances across his 2003 to 2020 stretch, the one constant was Simpson’s courage and commitment to the cause, playing 158 consecutive matches from 2005-12. He’s ranked third for all-time games played at Carlton, behind only Bruce Doull and Craig Bradley. Winner of the Blues’ best and fairest in 2013 in a career which took in 138 goals, eight International Rules appearances including a Jim Stynes Medal (2008) and the Carlton vice-captaincy.

Daniel McStay (Brisbane, Collingwood)

Selected: No. 25, 2013 AFL draft

The 195cm talent began his career at centre half-back before swinging to the opposite end of the ground. Carved out 161 matches for the Lions from 2014-2022 ahead of a move to Collingwood where he has played a further 20 across the past two seasons. Desperately unlucky with a medial collateral ligament injury in the 2023 prelim, missing Collingwood’s flag the next week, before rupturing an ACL and missing most of the 2024 season.

Lindsay Gilbee (Western Bulldogs)

Selected: No. 43, 1999 AFL draft

Dead-eye, pinpoint kick. At his best, there were few, if any at all, better than Gilbee at it in the AFL. A steal for the Bulldogs at pick 43 in the 1999 national draft, the former Coldstream Cougar would go on to play 206 matches for the Bulldogs from 2001-2012 and made his name as a prolific rebound defender. Represented Australia in International Rules on four occasions, and earned an All-Australian honour in 2006.

Was there a better field kick than Gilby in his day?

CENTRE

Christian Petracca (Melbourne)

Selected: No. 2, 2015 AFL draft

The only former Ranges player to have won a Norm Smith Medal, Petracca continues to perform as one of the AFL’s top inside bulls following his No. 2 selection in the 2015 draft. His immediate years before his drafting had quite a build-up, taking out the Larke Medal in 2014 for the best player in the AFL’s under-18 championships. Earned a rising star nomination in his debut season, and has since featured in almost 200 matches for the Demons. Best afield in Melbourne’s drought-breaking premiership in 2021, Petracca claimed four consecutive All-Australian honours (2020, ‘21, ’22, ‘23) and has won two best and fairests at the Demons (2020, 2023).

Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, West Coast)

Selected: No. 36, 2001 AFL draft

The Mooroolbark product and current Hawks coach is the only Brownlow medallist to come out of the Eastern Ranges, retrospectively tying for the 2012 top honour in 2016. A two-time Ranges best and fairest winner across 1999 and 2000, he would develop into a midfielder of the Greg Williams mould – but would be remarkably overlooked in the 2000 national draft. Not blessed with athleticism or pace which the game at the elite level had begun to demand by the start of the 21st century, but an accumulator of possessions and deadly by hand or foot.

Mitchell earned an opportunity at Box Hill, and would play in the VFL outfit’s 2001 flag. It wasn’t long before Hawthorn pounced at the 2001 draft, nabbing Mitchell at pick 36. Finished up at Hawthorn at the end of 2016 after 307 matches, and played a further 22 for West Coast to end his career on 329 matches.

Four AFL premierships including one as captain, three All-Australian selections, five Hawthorn best and fairest medals, the VFL’s league best and fairest in 2002 and the AFL’s rising star award in 2003. Not bad for someone once thought to be too slow.

Adam Cerra (Fremantle, Carlton)

Selected: No. 5, 2017 AFL draft

The former Eastern league Norwood junior became an important part of Fremantle’s midfield brigade following his selection at pick No. 5 in the 2017 national draft. Twice finished top five in the Dockers’ best and fairest across his four-year stint in Western Australia, before his trade to Carlton at the end of 2021 where he’s since made 53 appearances of his 129 overall. Named in the AFL’s 22 Under 22 team on three consecutive occasions from 2020-2022.

Former Hawthorn player Sam Mitchell (left) is retrospectively awarded the 2012 Brownlow Medal by 1999 Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford in 2016. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

HALF FORWARDS

Paul Seedsman (Collingwood, Adelaide)

Selected: No. 76, 2010 AFL draft

The Rowville product played 132 AFL matches from 2011-2023, kicking 66 goals. In his five-year stay at Collingwood, the versatile wingman took home the Anzac Medal in 2015 before switching to Adelaide the next season, featuring in the Crows’ 2017 AFL grand final side.

Tom Boyd (Greater Western Sydney, Western Bulldogs)

Selected: No. 1, 2013 AFL draft

Immortalised in Western Bulldogs folklore for his premiership-sealing long-range goal in the final quarter of the 2016 AFL grand final as the club snapped its 62-year flag drought. Tall, versatile and tough to match up on at his best. Originally drafted by Greater Western Sydney, Boyd played 61 matches at AFL level before announcing his retirement in May of 2019. Originally from Norwood in the Eastern league.

Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood, North Melbourne)

Selected: No. 6, 2017 AFL draft

Burst onto the AFL scene following his No. 6 selection by Collingwood at the 2017 draft as a pacy, electric small forward, taking out the AFL’s rising star award in ‘18 after playing every game in his debut season, including the grand final. Looked to have the ball on a string early in the ‘18 decider, with two opening quarter goals on the biggest stage of all. Traded to North Melbourne at the end of 2020, finishing his AFL career with 122 matches last year. Twice named in the AFL’s 22 Under-22 team.

Boyd’s last-quarter goal in the 2016 GF is an iconic moment in the Bulldogs’ history. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

FORWARDS

Jonathon Patton (GWS, Hawthorn)

Selected: No. 1, 2011 AFL draft

The key forward was the top pick in the 2011, going on to play 95 matches for 133 goals, mostly with Greater Western Sydney before a season at Hawthorn. In 2017 he was the Giants’ leading goalkicker.

Travis Cloke (Collingwood, Western Bulldogs)

Selected: No. 39 (father/son), 2004 AFL draft

In his prime, he was one of the AFL’s top forwards – quick on the lead, vice-like hands and tough to manoeuvre one-on-one – Collingwood’s father-son selection in the 2004 national draft delivered in spades across a 12-year career in the black and white. Topped the Magpies’ goalkicking on four occasions, took home the club best and fairest in 2007, earned two All-Australian honours and was an integral part of the 2010 premiership team. The former Park Orchards junior finished up at Collingwood at the end of 2016 and played a further 10 matches for the Western Bulldogs in 2017 before retiring with 256 career games and 452 goals to his name.

Sam Weideman (Melbourne, Essendon)

Selected: No. 9, 2015 AFL draft

A decade in the AFL system for 76 games and 77 goals as a key post at the Dees and later the Dons, it’s no surprise the former Vermont junior’s phone ran hot when his stretch in the big-time finished at the end of last season.

Cloke’s 12-year career took in plenty of highs. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

RUCKS

Matthew Lobbe (Port Adelaide, Carlton)

Selected: No. 16, 2007 AFL draft

The 200cm talent played 100 AFL matches from 2010-2019 – including 92 with the Power before finishing his career at the Blues. He was also Port’s No. 1 ruck option through the club’s 2014 season when it missed the grand final by a whisker.

Liam Shiels (Hawthorn)

Selected: No. 34, 2008 AFL draft

Arrived at Hawthorn fresh off the club’s surprise 2008 premiership where he would have to contend for a spot among a midfield that included the likes of Mitchell, Lewis, Sewell and soon Shaun Burgoyne. But after 255 games (90 goals) from 2009-2022, Shiels more than left his mark as a leader and an integral cog in the Hawks’ three-peat of premierships from 2013-15. Hawks snagged themselves a bargain here, taking Shiels at 34 in the second round of the 2008 national draft after hailing from The Basin in the Eastern league. His career extended a further two seasons at North Melbourne, adding 33 matches.

Rory Sloane (Adelaide)

Selected: No. 44, 2008 AFL draft

Before he served as Adelaide Crows captain, Sloane led the Eastern Ranges as a top-age player in 2008 where he had begun as a 16-year-old via Upwey-Tecoma. A crucial cog in the Crows’ midfield after debuting in 2009, Sloane played 255 matches (136 goals) before his retirement at the end of ’24. Won two club best and fairest awards and an All-Australian honour in 2016, featured in the Crows’ 2017 grand final side, and represented Australia at International Rules that season.

Shiels was a crucial cog in Hawthorn’s three-peat. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

INTERCHANGE

Leigh Adams (North Melbourne)

Selected: No. 3, 2007 rookie draft

‘Patch’ etched his name on the No. 13 locker at Arden St, playing 104 matches for 72 goals from 2007-2015. The midfielder later coached South Croydon to its first top-division Eastern flag in 2017, and North Melbourne for five matches in 2022.

Matthew Bate (Melbourne)

Selected: No. 13, 2004 AFL draft

Winning the Morrish Medal in 2004 as the TAC Cup’s best and fairest player, the midfielder/forward would go on to play 102 games for 98 goals across eight seasons. Finished top-three for the Dees’ best and fairest in 2007 before a runner-up finish for the VFL’s top honour in ’11.

Hayden Crozier (Fremantle, Western Bulldogs)

Selected: No. 11, 2011 AFL draft

The former Rowville junior carved out 142 games for 48 goals across the Dockers and Bulldogs from 2012-2023, beginning his career as a forward before switching to a rebounding half-back role.

Heath Hocking (Essendon)

Selected: No. 20, 2006 AFL draft

The hard-at-it midfielder was regarded as one of the game’s best taggers during his 126-game career, with his collection of shutdown scalps even including dual Brownlow medallist Chris Judd. Product of Mooroolbark.