Named: The best Dandenong Stingrays team since 2000
Our Dandenong Stingrays team of the century features an astounding 16 players who are still playing AFL football — including a youthful quintet who all have immensely high ceilings.
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The future is now for our Dandenong Stingrays team of the century so far.
While the squad may be lacking some of the genuine starpower its Coates Talent League rivals have produced over the past 25 years, it can lay claim to some of the most exciting prospects in the game.
The likes of Cody Weightman, Sam De Koning, Hayden Young, Connor MacDonald and Mac Andrew all remain in the infancy of their careers and appear to be on the precipice of becoming genuine A-grade stars — if they aren’t already.
The Stingrays have also proved to be a breeding ground for defenders, with a plethora of potential candidates to sift through in the backline. Nick Haynes and Jacob Weitering got the nod in the two key position posts while Sam De Koning also made the interchange.
The midfield is tough with both Nathan Jones and Luke Parker in there — both were worthy captaincy options too but Parker narrowly got the nod — while Hayden Young and Adam Treloar will man the wings.
The forward line is tall, with Levi Casboult, Tom Lynch and Mac Andrew all included, while Dylan Shiel and Luke Davies-Uniacke were both squeezed in at half forward.
Andrew’s selection in the starting 18 may raise eyebrows given he is only a few years removed from playing for the Stingrays, but you could argue his ceiling is as high as any player in the league’s — as evidenced when he penned a monster contract extension with the Suns — and he also adds crucial versatility to the side as he can swing down back or play in the ruck.
Only three full-time forwards were picked in the starting forward line, which opened the door for the selection of another exciting prospect on the rise in Connor MacDonald.
Steven Salopek, Ryan Lonie, Nathan Lonie, Dylan Roberton, Ryan Bastinac and Matt Shaw were the players to miss out who had played over 100 AFL games.
Hunter Clark, James Harmes and Bailey Dale were among the others who came close but didn’t make the final cut.
BACKS
MICHAEL HIBBERD (Essendon, Melbourne)
Drafted: Pick 4, 2011 pre-season draft
Hibberd cracked the Stingrays best and fairest top-five in 2008 despite missing half the season through injury, but was overlooked at the national draft. After strong VFL showings with Frankston he was later picked up by Essendon in the pre-season draft. Notched 197 games across Essendon and Melbourne and was one of the 34 Essendon players to miss a season of footy as a result of the doping saga.
JACOB WEITERING (Carlton)
Drafted: Pick 1, 2015 national draft
A key pillar of Carlton’s spine, Weitering has established himself as one of the AFL’s top key defenders. Finally earnt an All-Australian blazer in 2024, having made the squad of 40 the four previous seasons and narrowly missed the final team on several occasions. Is also a two-time Carlton best and fairest winner
LACHIE WHITFIELD (GWS)
Drafted: Pick 1, 2012 national draft
Joins fellow number one pick Weitering in the backline of the side, and has enjoyed a strong career with 234 appearances to date for the Giants after he won the Larke Medal and the under-18 national championships top player in 2012. Has made a name for himself both at half-back and on the wing and is a two-time best and fairest and winner and two-time All Australian.
HALF BACKS
CHRIS NEWMAN (Richmond)
Drafted: Pick 55, 2000 national draft
Had a stint as Richmond captain and forged a strong career in the Tigers backline during a testing period for the Tigers. Registered 268 games and was as reliable as they come. Post playing he went on to coach Box Hill to the VFL flag in 2018.
NICK HAYNES (GWS, Carlton)
Drafted: Pick 7, 2011 national draft
Touted as a top prospect in his draft year, the top 10 pick has lived up to his billing. Played 211 games for the Giants and enjoyed a stellar 2020 season, where he was one of the competition's premier defenders and was rewarded with both an All-Australian blazer and a Giants best and fairest. Has joined the Blues on a one-year deal ahead of the 2025 season.
MATTHEW BOYD (Western Bulldogs)
Drafted: Pick 23, 2003 rookie draft
Was a key player as the Bulldogs became finals contenders under Rodney Eade in the mid to late 2000s and spent three years as the club’s captain between 2011 and 2013. Was a strong inside midfielder and a high possession getter who shifted to half-back in the latter stages of his career. Had a great career and was a three-time All Australian and three-time best and fairest as well as playing in the Dogs 2016 premiership. Exceptional returns for a rookie drafted player.
CENTRE
HAYDEN YOUNG (Fremantle)
Drafted: Pick 7, 2019 national draft
Is emerging as a top AFL talent on the wing and made his debut in the All-Australian squad of 40 last season. Now has 80 games under his belt and will be an exciting player to watch develop in the coming years. Very composed with the footy in hand.
NATHAN JONES (Melbourne)
Drafted: Pick 12, 2005 national draft
Was a pivotal player in the Dees rebuild and captained them through some tough times in his decorated 302-game career. The hard nut was a three-time best and fairest winner at Melbourne, and heartbreakingly missed out on its 2021 premiership.
ADAM TRELOAR (GWS, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs)
Drafted: 2010 GWS underage selection
The Noble Park product has now registered over 250 AFL games in a career that has spanned three clubs. Has found a happy home in the midfield at the Dogs and earnt maiden All-Australian honours in 2024 after cracking the squad of 40 three times prior, with his first appearance all the way back in 2016.
HALF FORWARDS
DYLAN SHIEL (GWS, Essendon)
Drafted: 2010 GWS underage selection
Had a strong Stingrays career form seven games, averaging 30 disposals and 13 contested possessions before he joined GWS ahead of their introduction to the AFL. Was an All-Australian with the Giants in 2017 and landed at Essendon in 2019 after attracting big money offers from several Victorian clubs.
LEVI CASBOULT (Carlton, Gold Coast)
Drafted: Pick 44, 2009 rookie draft
Casboult was the best contested mark in the AFL on his day and had hands like glue, but was let down at times by his inaccuracy from set shots. Regardless, he was Carlton’s leading goalkicker in 2017 and kicked 215 goals across his career. Managed 154 games for Carlton and a further 44 at Gold Coast after a late career switch.
LUKE DAVIES-UNIACKE (North Melbourne)
Drafted: Pick 4, 2017 national draft
Has now played 108 games for the Kangaroos and is fresh off winning the club’s best and fairest in 2024. Is already a clear A-grader and could establish himself as one of the top handful of midfielders in the AFL.
FORWARDS
CODY WEIGHTMAN (Western Bulldogs)
Drafted: Pick 15, 2019 national draft
The exciting small forward is still in the earlier stages of his career but has managed 126 goals to date from 76 appearances for the Bulldogs.
TOM LYNCH (Gold Coast, Richmond)
Drafted: Pick 11, 2010 national draft
Has been hampered by injury of late but on his day and when fully fit is one of the league’s best key forwards. Has played over 200 games across his career and has 462 goals, as well as two premierships, an All-Australian selection, and three club best and fairests.
MAC ANDREW (Gold Coast)
Drafted: Pick 5, 2021 national draft
Andrew is only in the infancy of his AFL career but his potential is off the charts, and arguably unlike any player that features in this side. The key position player shown that he can be damaging at both ends of the ground with his height and exceptional athleticism. After spending the majority of last season as a key defender, he was thrown forward late in the season and bagged seven goals in two games including an after-the-siren matchwinner against Essendon.
RUCKS
TOM DE KONING (Carlton)
Drafted: Pick 30, 2017 national draft
De Koning is only just entering his prime age and has already established himself as one of the AFL’s top ruckman. Has kicked 30 goals in 78 games for the Blues, and has the potential to be the competition’s premier ruckman in a few years time.
LUKE PARKER (Sydney, North Melbourne)
Drafted: Pick 40, 2010 national draft
The tough as nails midfielder has forged an exceptional AFL career and is closing in on the coveted 300-game mark, needing just seven more appearances this season at new club North Melbourne. He played in Sydney’s 2012 premiership and won three best and fairests with the club. Was also an All-Australian in 2016.
TOM SCULLY (Melbourne, GWS, Hawthorn)
Drafted: Pick 1, 2009 national draft
Played 187 games across his three-club AFL career after he was taken with the number one pick. Wsa an exceptional runner whose fitness deep into quarters set him apart. As a junior he made a strong impression at the Stingrays and was touted one of the program’s most exciting talents of the decade at the time.
INTERCHANGE
ADAM MCPHEE (Fremantle, Essendon)
Drafted: Pick 39, 2000 national draft
McPhee managed 223 games in his AFL career with Fremantle and the Bombers. Enjoyed a superb season in 2004 where he earnt an All-Australian selection as well as a club best and fairest at Essendon.
NIC NEWMAN (Sydney, Carlton)
Drafted: Pick 35, 2014 rookie draft
Took a while to develop after earning a list spot with Sydney via the rookie draft at 22 years of age. From there, Newman plied his trade in the NEAFL for two years before his first AFL opportunity came. He was traded to Carlton ahead of the 2019 season and has had an immense impact in the past two seasons after finding a role providing run and dash off half back. On both occasions he was runner up in the club’s best and fairest.
JOSH BATTLE (Hawthorn, St Kilda)
Drafted: Pick 39, 2016 national draft
Will start fresh at Hawthorn this season after 136 games with Saints. Has made a name for himself as a defender at AFL level but was potent underage forward for the Stingrays and kicked 24.13 across his TAC Cup career.
SAM DE KONING (Geelong)
Drafted: Pick 19, 2019 national draft
Still relatively inexperienced at AFL level with just 66 games after waiting until 2021 to debut, De Koning already has an AFL premiership to his name after playing a key role in Geelong’s 2022 triumph down back. Another with a very high ceiling.
CONNOR MACDONALD (Hawthorn)
Drafted: Pick 26, 2021 national draft
Another player still in the infancy of his career but with immense upside. MacDonald is a key member of Hawthorn’s four pronged mosquito fleet — arguably the most exciting forwardline heading into this AFL season.
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