Heidelberg and North Heidelberg great Blair Harvey selects his best 22

Blair Harvey is a five-time premiership player at Heidelberg and won another with North Heidelberg. His dream 22 is full of elite local footy legends.

Blair Harvey selects his dream 22.

Blair Harvey, six-time premiership legend at Heidelberg and North Heidelberg

There’s no one better equipped to select a best 22 ahead of Saturday’s season-opening NFNL Division 1 derby.

Harvey made his senior debut with Northcote Park in 1996, spent time at Parkside, and the Bulldogs before making the fateful decision to join the Tigers in 2002.

He would go on to play in nine consecutive Division 1 grand finals between 2004 and 2012, winning five, including the Tigers’ 2006-09 four-peat.

He would return to North for one last hurrah with his cousins Shane and Brent, which culminated in the 2017 Division 2 flag.

His dream 22 is full of elite local footy legends and premiership teammates.

Blair and cousins Shane and Brent Harvey celebrate North Heidelberg's 2017 premiership. Picture: Tim Michell.

JAKE KING (North Heidelberg)

Won the best on ground in the 2005 premiership (against me). A tough, lockdown defender and rarely beaten one-on-one.

JASON KENNEDY (Heidelberg)

Captained Heidelberg and captained Vic Metro under Jason Heatley. Another lockdown defender, under-sized but played above his weight numerous times.

DEAN HAYDOCK (Heidelberg)

Five-time premiership player and won a Frank Smith Medal in 2001 and the best-on-ground medal in the 2009 premiership.

Dean Haydock in action for Heidelberg.

Heidelberg’s Dale Nolan can’t escape the tackle.

HALF-BACK

JOSH HOULIHAN (Heidelberg)

Came from Preston. He was all class, left and right foot, he could do it all and was rarely beaten one-on-one.

DALE NOLAN (Heidelberg)

Could play either end of the ground and won the best-on-ground medal in the 2006 premiership. He was just an unbelievable mark with the way he read the play and could play centre half-forward if needed.

JUSTIN MURPHY (Heidelberg)

His skills were elite. He was our quarterback, we’d get the ball in his hands and he’d deliver 10 out of 10.

Heidelberg coach Phil Plunkett and captain Blair Harvey celebrate the 2007 premiership. Picture: Mark Frecker

CENTRE

ANTHONY MARTELLO (North Heidelberg)

A running machine and really brave. His nickname was the rubber man, when he got hit he’d bounce straight back up. Hit the scoreboard as well.

BRENT HARVEY (North Heidelberg)

What can you say about the VFL/AFL games record holder. Just a superstar.

BLAIR HARVEY (North Heidelberg & Heidelberg)

Boomer has pushed me out of the centre. I was one of two players with Saul Caddy to both win best-and-fairests at Heidelberg and North Heidelberg and I think I’m the only one who’s won a premiership at both.

Brent Harvey on the run for North Heidelberg.

Shane Harvey playing his last game for North Heidelberg. Picture: Hamish Blair

HALF-FORWARD

BRENT HANCOCK (North Heidelberg)

Would be standing next to you and next thing you know he’s standing on your head taking a hanger. Tough as nails. Captain-coached North Heidelberg to the 2005 premiership and kicked 98 goals in one season.

SAUL CADDY (North Heidelberg & Heidelberg)

Under-sized at centre half-forward but had an unbelievable leap and really strong mark. Had a physical presence that opposition sides feared. Won best-and-fairests at both clubs.

SHANE HARVEY (North Heidelberg)

His ability to find the goals from any spot was uncanny. Freakish. Kicked 100 goals three times (108 in 2008, 120 in 2013, 106 in 2017) and reached 1000 goals for North Heidelberg last year.

Saul Caddy in action for North Heidelberg.

Saul Caddy takes the mark for Heidelberg.

FORWARD

JASON HEATLEY (North Heidelberg)

Kicked 100 at North Heidelberg as an 18-year-old (118 in 1992) before going off. A premiership player in 2005. In 2001, he played the first five games at centre half-back then took over as captain-coach and in 13 games kicked 110 goals. Never missed.

JAMIE SHAW (North Heidelberg)

He kicked 100s every year in the VFA and I was lucky enough to play with him in 1999 at North Heidelberg, he kicked 134 goals. In 1994 he kicked 161. More stay-at-home forward who didn’t miss. His nickname was Spider because his hands were so massive.

CHRIS HALL (Heidelberg)

Also kicked 100 goals in a season – 102 in 2005. An onballer’s dream, you’d look up and Hally was there to hit. Really hard lead and just tough.

Michael Gay in action for Heidelberg.

Danny Nolan celebrates Heidelberg’s 2008 premiership.

FOLLOWERS

MICHAEL GAY (Heidelberg)

Won the best-on-ground in the 2007 grand final and won multiple best-and-fairests at the club. A man mountain. He maxxed out the scales one day. Unstoppable.

DANNY NOLAN (Heidelberg)

There’s plenty to talk about Danny. Five premierships and four best-and-fairests. Could do it all and never got beaten.

LEIGH GRAY (North Heidelberg)

Won the Frank Smith Medal in 1999. A left-footer, hard-running, was tagged every game but got the job done week-in, week-out.

INTERCHANGE

JESSE TARDIO (North Heidelberg)

Played with him in 2017 and he was a rising star. He’s gone on to become one of the great midfielders in the competition.

MICHAEL BRUNELLI (Heidelberg)

I played with Bruiser when he was an up-and-coming kid. He took his game to a new level and won club best-and-fairests, league medal, premiership player and an absolute star before he became famous on MAFS.

SHANE ANTROBUS (North Heidelberg)

A centreman when I first started at North Heidelberg. The ultimate professional in the way he went about his training and consistently, week-in week-out played well.

ABE WILLIAMS (Heidelberg)

His career got cut short at 23 after he captained the 2009 premiership.