What do you think of his choices? Today Grey names his HALF-BACK LINE selections.

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IT’S the great unanswered question in the long history of the AFL — what would a Northern Territory side look like if it was a fully-fledged team playing premiership matches every week?

Many theories have been put forward on the ‘whys’ and ‘why nots’ of a Darwin-based Territory AFL side, most of them surrounding the infrastructure and long-term viability of a team from Australia’s far north.

1. The full back line: The NT’s ‘greatest’ AFL side

But what really matters to the average punter is the 18 players on the field and four interchange players waiting for their chance to wear the ochre, white and black jumper against AFL heavyweights like Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond and West Coast.

I have chosen Territory players from 38 years of AFL representation through several clubs and placed them in a 22-strong side I believe would have competed on a level playing field with any of the elite in this country.

Former Western Bulldogs and Brisbane utility Michael McLean would be my captain, freeing up the likes of Maurice Rioli Sr, Nathan Buckley, Michael Long and Andrew McLeod to play their own leadership roles.

This is not intended to be a best-of-side, even though there are several superstars in the starting XVIII who made their name with rival clubs.

What I have looked for is balance, experience and the all-important ‘X’ factor Territory footballers have always delivered on Australia’s greatest sporting stage.

— GREY MORRIS

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HALF BACKS

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Gilbert McAdam (St Kilda and Brisbane)

Position: Half Back Flank

Games: 111 (53 St Kilda, 58 Brisbane)

Honours: 1989 Magarey Medal, AFLNT Hall Of Fame

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THE third McAdam to make his name at AFL level, Gilbert’s ability to run away from opposition forwards and create scoring opportunities from deep in defence or across the centre of the ground made him an important cog in the St Kilda and Brisbane sides.

A Magarey medallist with Central Districts in Territory football’s other breeding ground, the SANFL, McAdam always had the passion and skill required to play at the top level.

An offensive player, despite staring across half back, McAdam would have a licence to run off his opponent and deliver long or short to teammates coming towards him.

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Jared Brennan (Brisbane and Gold Coast)

Position: Centre Half Back

Games: 173 (119 Brisbane, 54 Gold Coast)

Jared Brennan’s record as the Territory’s highest draft pick (No.3 in 2002) sets him aside as a player with his own special talents.

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THE Southern Districts utility was unflustered when Leigh Matthews and his Brisbane brains trust sent him to the Gabba, telling this writer “we’ll see how we go’’ when interviewed on his rise to stardom.

Brennan played his football in a similar manner, picking up the football with one hand and disposing of it with a crisp handball or thumping kick with his trusted left foot.

His pack marking and kicking to position is ideally suited to the key defensive position, where he can rotate with another player of similar skill — ruckman Darryl White.

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Michael McLean (Western Bulldogs and Brisbane)

Position: Half Back Flank (Captain)

Games: 183 (95 Western Bulldogs, 88 Brisbane)

Honours: 2-time Brisbane best and fairest, AFLNT Hall Of Fame

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THE name “Magic’’ personifies everything about the first Territory footballer to make his way from Darwin to the AFL without the benefit of interstate football in Adelaide or Perth.

A born leader, McLean is this writer’s choice to captain the Territory Buffaloes in the pressure cooker atmosphere of AFL football, where games can be won in the blink of an eye by an act of brilliance, be that an impossible goal, towering mark or an inspirational tackle.

Michael McLean could do all of those things, but just as important was his leadership skills, mostly spoken with a quiet word to teammates or a hand signal instructing them where to move to offensively or defensively.

Another player struck down with a myriad of muscular injuries and broken bones in a 13-season playing career at the top level, McLean’s astute knowledge of the game led him to captaining and coaching the Indigenous All-Stars.

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SO, that’s GREY MORRIS’ Territory AFL team HALF-BACK LINE. WHAT do you think of his picks?

DON’T forget to check back here on Monday when GREY selects his team’s CENTRES