List of VFL top 50 players since 2000 sets off keen debate
The debate was keen, with support for the likes of James Magner, Paul Kennedy, Tom Wilson, Nick Rippon and Daniel Venditti. But one player — who also excelled at AFL level — was clearly voted the VFL’s best over the past 20 years.
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There were comments at the bottom of the story.
There were emails, text messages and phone calls.
And there was a strong response to a readers’ poll.
It all made for a lot of feedback.
As we suspected, our selection of the top 50 VFL players from the past 20 years generated much debate.
As is usually the case with such lists, it was more about who was left out than who got in.
Sandringham premiership player and former Frankston captain Paul Kennedy was left out, but four people suggested the ponytailed midfielder with the slick hands should have been in.
As it was, he served as a sounding board as the list was being prepared, full of astute observations and nifty stories, like the time our No 1 selection, Ben Jolley, came to him at the start of a final quarter, placed a resolute arm across his chest and said, “Someone has to play on you, ‘PK’.’’
Little of the feedback questioned 279-game player and the much-decorated Jolley being in the top slot.
But in a poll, readers sided with James Podsiadly, who had been placed at No 3.
Their order was “Pods’’ at one, Jolley at two and champion Sandringham spearhead Nick Sautner at three.
Sautner was No 2 on our list, a great goalkicker shaded by a great midfielder.
As for Sautner, he believed teammate David Gallagher (No 26) should have been higher in the rankings.
The same observation was made about Jeremy Clayton (No 18), one of state league football’s most accomplished and honoured players.
North Ballarat legend “Digger’’ Roberts noted Clayton’s record – two best and fairests with the Rebels, two with North Ballarat, two with Port Melbourne, four with Port Adelaide Magpies and a Magarey Medal in the SANFL.
“If that doesn’t make him a better player than 18 I’ll walk to Adelaide … and back,’’ he said on VFL Footy. But for our rankings he was assessed on his three years as a VFL-listed player with the Roosters.
One reader suggested two-time JJ Liston Trophy winner Shane Valenti (No 10) should have been in the top five, pointing out he could easily have won three Listons.
Mostly, questions were asked about players who did not make the top 50.
Where was Jamie Magner?
Yep, he was stiff. All application and dedication, the midfielder toiled away at Frankston for a few years, often as a tagger, before crossing to bayside rival Sandringham in 2010. Superbly fit and a clearance cruncher, his football took off at Sandy, winning the 2011 best and fairest. Melbourne drafted him, and he played 19 AFL games in his two years with the Demons. He finished up at Port Melbourne.
Where were Daniel Venditti and Tom Wilson?
Yep, they were stiff too. Venditti won three best and fairests on the hop at Coburg. Wilson has won three with the Northern Blues and played 110 games and captained the club.
What about Julian Field? Another unlucky player. Field helped North Ballarat become a force with his long kicking and power to clear out from congestion. He won the 1999 and 2000 best and fairests, assumed the captaincy in 2003 and became the club’s first JJ Liston Trophy winner in 2004.
Another Rooster to win a Liston, Nick Rippon, was squeezed out, as were last year’s medal man, Werribee’s Tommy Gribble, and Williamstown premiership pair Sam Dunell and the underrated Leigh Masters.
Two people asked about Jordan Doering, who had four years as a VFL player and won three best and fairests, the first with Tassie Devils in 2003 and the next two with Bendigo in 2004-05. Owning a rocket of a left foot, he was often used as a sweeper across half back, and he was equally as damaging as a tall midfielder.
Someone mentioned another former Bendigo player, Nick Carter, who captained the club and gave it so much drive out of the middle. He also played a starring role in a VFL victory in state football.
Port Melbourne players asked about Patrick Rose, so brilliant as a small forward in the 2011 premiership. Rose missed the VFL list, but he did bob in the Essendon District top 20.
A text message was sent in support of triple Sandringham premiership Andy Biddlecombe.
And former AFL player Cameron Bruce wondered about the absence of his little mate Damian Carroll, the Hawthorn assistant coach, who gave magnificent service to Springvale.
Like grunge, “DC’’ came to the fore in the 1990s, putting him out of consideration for the top 50 charts.