Robert Hyde names his best team from his 40 years of coaching local footy
Reducing a 40-year coaching career down to 22 names is near impossible but local footy great Robert Hyde has taken up the challenge, picking his best team.
Northern
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It’s an almost impossible job given Robert Hyde’s highly decorated 40-year coaching career.
However, like he did on numerous occasions on the field, he got the job done and has named the best 22 players he’s coached.
After finishing his career as a player, which included 63 games for Collingwood and Essendon and a Copeland Trophy, Hyde began his coaching journey at West Coburg in the Essendon Football League.
Hyde would return to his junior club Greensborough in 1983 and captain-coach the club to back-to-back Diamond Valley premierships in 1983-84.
A second stint at War Memorial Reserve would deliver a third flag in 2014.
There were also stops at VAFA club North Old Boys and Northern sides Bundoora and Eltham.
Hyde is perhaps best known for his time as Calder Cannons coach – the club’s best-and-fairest is named in his honour – but he has not selected any players for this exercise.
He also coached Vic Metro at the Under-18 National Championships, Northern Bullants and Fitzroy under-19s.
BACKS
BRUNO CONTI (NOBS)
A VAFA legend. Captained the club under Hyde. Represented the amateurs on multiple occasions and won two best-and-fairests at North.
DAN McLINDEN (Greensborough)
Tall, athletic defender who was rarely beaten. Among Greensborough’s best in the 2014 premiership triumph.
BRIAN HYDE (Greensborough)
Rob’s brother. A premiership player in 1983 and 1984 and a Greensborough Hall of Famer.
HALF-BACKS
MATT HYDE (Greensborough)
Had the privilege of captaining Greensborough’s 2014 premiership, playing under his old man. Keeping the family tradition alive having taken on the coaching mantle at War Memorial Reserve this season.
KALEV VANN (Bundoora)
The former Fitzroy VFL and Preston VFA star was Bulls captain under Hyde. A tough player and great leader.
JACK JOHNSTON (Greensborough)
A 2014 premiership player as a rising star. The current Borough captain is one of the best defenders in the NFNL, earning five Division 1 Team of the Year honours and three club best-and-fairests.
CENTRES
FRANK SUBAN (West Coburg)
A powerful, hard-running midfielder who covered the ground well.
CHRIS KEATING (Bundoora)
A Frank Smith Medallist in 1990 and 1992 and five-time club best-and-fairest with the Bulls.
TIM JONES (NOBS)
A clever, skilful wingman and strong leader. Jones and Matt Hyde both wore No.2 during their time at North.
HALF-FORWARDS
GERARD WILSON (Greensborough)
A premiership player in 1983 and 1984 and one of the club’s best leaders. One-time club best-and-fairest winner.
GLENN TOWNSEND (Greensborough)
The dominant forward in the 1984 premiership team and would kick 103 the following season to win the league goalkicking medal.
NEIL BRINDLEY (Greensborough)
The club legend broke into the senior side in 1984 and was a part of the premiership that season. Would go on to help the club win back-to-back titles in 1988-89 and claimed a Frank Smith Medal in 1991. Three-time club champion.
FORWARDS
ANDREW HAMER (Bundoora)
A Bulls legend who played more than 500 games and won eight premierships for the club. Made 248 senior appearances and a member of the club’s 1995 and 1996 premierships.
TONY BOYD (Bundoora)
A talented forward who’s career was cut short by injury.
PAUL CONSIDINE (NOBS)
A club great. Two-time best-and-fairest winner and two-time leading goalkicker.
FOLLOWERS
MICHAEL HOOPER (Greensborough)
A dominant ruckman in Greensborough’s 2014 premiership triumph, winning the grand final medal, and the club best-and-fairest that season. As assistant coach in Eltham’s Division 2 premiership last year but has returned to the Borough to work under Matt Hyde this season.
WAYNE DOBSON (Greensborough)
One of the premier midfielders of the time. A premiership player in 1983, 1984 and 1988 (as captain), won the Frank Smith Medal twice – 1983 and 1987 – and won the club best-and-fairest in 1979, 1980 and 1983.
BRETT FOWLER (Greensborough)
Together with Dobson formed a formidable one-two punch. A member of Greensborough’s 1983 and 1984 flags under Hyde before winning two more in 1988 and 1989, captaining the later. Won the club B&F four times, including 1983.
INTERCHANGE
GLENN MEREDITH (Greensborough)
A premiership player under Hyde in 1984, he would also win back-to-back titles in 1988 and 1989 and won a club champion award in 1985. A versatile player who could make an impact anywhere on the ground.
MIKAEL AVRAMOV (Eltham)
The sole Eltham representative, highlighting his impact under Hyde. A tough, disciplined midfielder. A member of the Panthers Division 2 premiership last season under Hyde mentoree Tim Bongetti.
PETER BANKS (Greensborough)
A four-time premiership player at War Memorial Reserve, twice under Hyde in 1983-84. Won the VFL Under-19s Morrish Medal in 1979 with Collingwood – the same season Hyde won his Copeland Trophy.
GERARD INN (West Coburg)
A tough, uncompromising player and great leader of the club in Hyde’s first stint as a senior coach.
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