The GWV Rebels best team since 2000

Tall timber dominates when selecting the GWS Rebels best team of the century which features a host of premiership stars. See the full team.

The old maxim of they breed them big in the bush rings true when compiling the Greater Western Victoria Rebels best team of the first quarter of the century.

A dominant goal-to-goal line featuring plenty of premiership winning stars is the talking point of this team featuring players who have pulled on a Rebels jersey this century.

Between them Jeremy Cameron, Brad Sewell, David Astbury and James Frawley celebrated seven separate flags with 300-gamer Drew Petrie the only member of the goal-to-goal line who didn’t taste premiership success.

Highlighting the Rebels’ strength in the big man department, a further three premiership winning talls can be found on the bench.

While the Rebels have the strength in their tall timber, their midfield department probably lacks some elite skill and speed when compared to other teams.

The likes of Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Jacob Hopper and the Crouch brothers have all enjoyed extremely serviceable careers, but none have really yet risen to the upper echelons of elite on-ball talent in the AFL.

Similarly, the small forwards in Dan Butler and Liam Picken, both premiership players themselves, have recorded above average careers without ever becoming true superstars.

In defence, Daniel Rioli is an All-Australian, triple-premiership rebounder, Shaun Grigg is a flag hero at Richmond and Jake Lloyd and Jed Adcock both have had 200+ game careers. Nothing to be sneezed at there.

The next generation of Rebels promises to provide exciting times with the club delivering two of the past three number one draft picks in Sam Lalor and Aaron Cadman while other young stars include Kai Lohmann and Josh Gibcus.

Those unlucky to miss a spot in this team include Nick Hind, Willem Drew, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Michael Jamison, Lloyd Meek and Darcy Tucker.

Jake Lloyd (Sydney): Drafted Pick 16, 2013 rookie draft

Set to play his 250th game in Opening Round, Lloyd has been a pillar of the Swans’ defence since being a rookie list elevation in 2014. The Horsham product is a two-time club best and fairest winner in 2018 and 2020, highlighting an exceptional career.

James Frawley (Melbourne/Hawthorn/St Kilda): Drafted Pick 12, 2006 national draft

A first round draft pick in 2006, the nephew of AFL legend Danny Frawley carved out his own tremendous career, resulting in 241 games as a key defender at three clubs, a 2010 All-Australian guernsey and premiership success in 2015 with the Hawks.

Jed Adcock (Brisbane/Western Bulldogs): Drafted Pick 33, 2003 national draft

A former captain of the Brisbane Lions, Adcock enjoyed 213 career games across 13 seasons at the top level. Is now an assistant coach at North Melbourne.

Jed Adcock.

Shaun Grigg (Carlton/Richmond): Drafted Pick 19, 2006 national draft

A top-20 draft pick for the Blues, Grigg was traded to the Tigers in 2010 where his career flourished as he became a fan favourite and a premiership hero/ruckman in 2017. Now on the Geelong coaching panel, Grigg is touted as a potential future senior coach.

David Astbury (Richmond): Drafted Pick 35, 2009 national draft

It would be hard to find a more under-rated triple premiership player in the history of the game than the Tiger from Tatyoon. Richmond fans loved him for his no-nonsense approach in a defensive unit stacked with stars as he played a key role in the 2017, 2019 and 2020 triumphs before retiring in 2021 after 155 games.

Daniel Rioli (Richmond/Gold Coast): Drafted Pick 15, 2015 national draft

Richmond fans really have a lot to thank the Rebels for when you consider this half back line is stacked with Tiger flag heroes, with Rioli being perhaps the best of them. The silky smooth defender came to the Rebels from his home on the Tiwi Islands as he boarded at St Patrick’s College. A first round draft selection, Rioli blossomed into an All-Australian, three-time premiership winning half back who played 183 games with the Tigers before requesting a trade to Gold Coast for the 2025 season.

Seb Ross (St Kilda): Drafted Pick 25, 2011 national draft

A two-time best and fairest winner at the Saints, Seb Ross played more than 200 games before his career came to an end at the conclusion of the 2024 season. Ross will continue his career as a playing co-coach at Colac in the Geelong Football League in 2025.

Brad Sewell (Hawthorn): Drafted Pick 7, 2003 rookie draft

In a Hawthorn team stacked with glitzy Ferraris, Sewell was like a Toyota Landcruiser across 200 games – always tough, reliable and, if you’re name is not Matthew Lloyd, hard to keep down. A best-and-fairest winner and two-time premiership player, Sewell carved out an exceptional career after being picked up in the 2003 rookie draft.

Brad Sewell.

Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane): Drafted Pick 3, 2016 national draft

Perhaps the most supremely talented midfielder to come through the Rebels system this century, McCluggage has become an integral part of the powerful and premiership-winning Brisbane midfield. The Warrnambool lad who was schooled at Ballarat Clarendon College is likely to notch up his 200th game this season and is well on the way to becoming a Lions great.

Jarrod Berry (Brisbane): Drafted Pick 17, 2016 national draft

The Lions clearly knew what they were doing at the 2016 draft when they landed the one-two punch of recruiting boarding house mates McCluggage and Berry on the same night. While McCluggage may be more like Mark Waugh with the silky, eye-catching skills, Berry is definitely tough-as-nails like Steve Waugh, with a dogged determinedness and a defensive mindset making him a crucial part of the famed 2024 premiership team. 160 games and counting means Berry is nicely building an elite career.

Drew Petrie (North Melbourne/West Coast): Drafted Pick 23, 2000 national draft

332 games, 444 goals, 2011 All-Australian, five time North Melbourne leading goalkicker. A figurehead and key leader for the Kangas for a decade and a half after being drafted from Ballarat in 2000. Who can forget his six goals in a quarter against the Bulldogs or his Frank the Tank impersonation in a finals upset over Essendon. Finished his career at the West Coast Eagles.

Jacob Hopper (GWS/Richmond): Drafted Pick 7, 2015 national draft

A stunning 30+ possession game on debut alerted the AFL world to Hopper’s elite talents as a big-bodied midfielder with the Giants. The top ten draft pick was traded to Richmond at the end of the 2022 season where injuries have largely prevented him from being among the game’s elite. Lauded for his leadership skills.

Jacob Hopper. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Dan Butler (Richmond/St Kilda): Drafted Pick 67, 2014 national draft

Another Richmond premiership player, Butler has carved out a nice career as a high pressure small forward and is expected to hit the 150-game mark in the 2025 season and is also likely to play his 100th club match for the Saints.

Jeremy Cameron (GWS/Geelong): Drafted as a 2010 GWS under-age selection

Respected footy pundits have, in recent years, speculated if Jeremy Cameron is the best current player in the game. No other member of this team has ever been in that conversation. The former Giant from Dartmoor is now a Cats superstar. Cameron has all the traits a modern footballer needs – incredible mobility, height, stamina, insane skills and a growing social media footprint. Geelong’s fortunes in 2025 largely rest on the shoulders of Cameron’s dominance in the forward line. Considering that, the Cats are probably well placed to contend again.

Liam Picken (Western Bulldogs): Drafted Pick 30, 2009 rookie draft

A true heart-and-soul premiership player at the Doggies, Picken carved out a great 198-game career after being a 2009 Rookie Draft selection. Earlier he only played a handful of games for the Rebels with some considering him too small and scrawny despite being the son of Magpies great Billy Picken. His career was cut short by ongoing concussion problems. A sad irony is that the last time he took to the field in a Bulldogs jumper was in a pre-season practice game against Hawthorn at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium where he was heavily concussed in a marking contest.

Rowan Marshall (St Kilda): Drafted Pick 10, 2017 rookie draft

Originally from Portland, Marshall has become one of the game’s elite ruckmen of the 2020s and is another amazing success story of the Rookie Draft. The 201cm giant, once dubbed “The Prospect”, holds the keys to St Kilda’s big man success in 2025 although some pre-season injury troubles means he is likely to have a delayed start to the year.

Rowan Marshall. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Matt Crouch (Adelaide): Drafted Pick 23, 2013 national draft

One half of the brotherly team incorrectly referenced as being from Beaufort (they actually grew up in Alfredton, a suburb of Ballarat) Matt is an All-Australian and Adelaide best and fairest winner. Often decried for what he can’t do as a midfielder, critics overlook that it’s what he can do as an elite in-and-under extractor which has seen him notch up a 150+ game career.

Brad Crouch (Adelaide/St Kilda): Drafted Pick 2, 2011 mini-draft.

Famed St Patrick’s College footy coach Howard Clark rates Brad Crouch as among the best footballers he has seen come through the footy factory. If not for a constant battle with injuries over his career the older Crouch would certainly have rated among the game’s best midfielders. A 160+ game career came to an end when Crouch retired in the 2024-25 off-season.

Tom McDonald (Melbourne): Drafted Pick 53, 2010 national draft

A true swingman, Tom McDonald is nearing the end of a career which has seen him excel at both ends of the ground. Won the club’s leading goalkicker in 2018 just as the Demons commenced their march up the ladder and was a pivotal component in their drought-breaking premiership win in 2021. Is a chance of notching up the 250-game milestone this season.

Tom McDonald. Pic: Michael Klein

Jordan Roughead (Western Bulldogs/Collingwood): Drafted Pick 31, 2008 national draft

The cousin of former Hawthorn star Jarryd, Jordan himself enjoyed a terrific 201-game career as a key defender who could also provide solid back-up ruck support. The Damascus College product is the current backline coach at the Pies and was a member of the 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership team.

Matt Rosa (West Coast/Gold Coast): Drafted Pick 29, 2004 National Draft

A 207-game career across two clubs as a reliable wingman represents a great return for the Warracknabeal product. Rosa was unlucky to be named as an emergency in the Eagles’ 2006 grand final team, narrowly missing a premiership medal. Rosa is now the list manager at Essendon, which may yet prove to be his greatest footballing challenge yet.

Nathan Brown (Collingwood/St Kilda): Drafted Pick 10, 2006 national draft

A top ten draft pick and premiership defender who benefitted from Simon Prestigiacomo’s heroic withdrawal from the 2010 Collingwood grand final team, Brown played 183 games across 11 seasons while his identical twin, Mitch, who was selected at pick 16 in the same draft also played 94 games at West Coast.

Clinton Young (Hawthorn/Collingwood): Drafted Pick 18, 2005 rookie draft

At half time in the 2008 AFL Grand Final many good judges had Young as among the top handful of players on the ground before injury struck, knocking him out of action for the second half as his Hawks surged to victory. A classy winger with a penetrating long kick Young played 116 games for Hawthorn before joining Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent on a three-year contract.

Originally published as The GWV Rebels best team since 2000