AFL 25: Simeon Thomas-Wilson picks Port Adelaide’s team of the century so far

It’s a strong mix of past premiership heroes and modern stars in Simeon Thomas-Wilson’s Port Adelaide team of the century. Who made the cut and who would consider themselves stiff to miss?

How much weight do you place on premiership success?

When it comes to choosing the best Port Adelaide side of the past 25 years the answer is a lot.

The Power’s best side from that period is dominated either by players who were in the side that defeated Brisbane in the 2004 decider, or in the case of Matthew Primus and Josh Francou missed out on that day through injury but were big in the consistently high finishes of that side in the early 2000s.

Byron Pickett only was the Power for three seasons, but he was the Norm Smith Medallist in the club’s finest hour of the 2000s so he finds a spot on the interchange.

But while premiership success was weighted heavily, some of those players who played in the 2004 flag could be forgiven for feeling a bit stiff to miss out.

Darryl Wakelin was solid in defence for the Power but has he been better than Aliir Aliir since he came to the club from Sydney?

Dom Cassisi captained the club from 2009 to 2012 but the brilliance of Connor Rozee and Zak Butters edged him out, while Stuart Dew also couldn’t be squeezed into the side.

Robbie Gray was an absolute lock in the forward line, as was games record holder Travis Boak on the wing position he has played for the last couple of years, while former captain Tom Jonas gets a spot in the backline for his no-nonsense approach on the field and as skipper that made him loved by the Power.

Ollie Wines’ status as the Power’s only first and only Brownlow Medallist means he is in the side, while even though Chad Wingard was pushed out by Port for a good period in the 2010s he was one of the best players in the league.

That historic 2004 side features prominently.

Darcy Byrne-Jones won a best and fairest and was named as an All-Australian in 2020, arguably the Power’s best season for a while, as well as consistent high finishes in the John Cahill Medal count but he and Hamish Hartlett are edged out of the side by the recently departed Dan Houston.

There might be sour tastes in the mouth after Houston left for Collingwood in October, despite that radio interview in which he said he was going to be at the Power in 2025, but he has two All-Australian jackets and three top three finishes in the John Cahill Medal in his time at Alberton as one of the competition’s most damaging defenders.

Brad Ebert and Charlie Dixon were other Power players to come close to the final side, while there’s no surprise as to who is the coach.

Originally published as AFL 25: Simeon Thomas-Wilson picks Port Adelaide’s team of the century so far