Dusty, Selwood brothers, Reid: All the big names make Pioneers squad.
Plenty of talented Pioneers have gone on to make the AFL over the past 25 but which ones make the list of the greatest team from 2000 to 2024? We reveal the best 23.
While the Bendigo Pioneers have not had much success in the Coates Talent League you can’t question the talent produced from the region the past 25 years.
From Brownlow Medallists, Norm Smith Medallists, All-Australians and number one draft picks, the Pioneers have helped nurture AFL legends.
And it’s produced, arguably, two of the greatest players to ever play the game in Dustin Martin and Joel Selwood.
Both make the list of the best Bendigo Pioneers of the first 25 years this millennium.
But who else makes the team? See it below.
BACK
Rick Ladson (Hawthorn)
Drafted: No. 16, 2001 AFL draft.
Played 125 games for Hawthorn between 2002 and 2011 and was a major part of the 2008 premiership. A skilful left footer who played in defence and in the midfield, injuries robbed Ladson of more games during his career. Post-career, he’s been involved in local footy, first helping Golden Square to premiership success in 2013. In recent years he’s coached and played for Bridgewater, in the Loddon Valley league.
Robbie Tarrant (North/Richmond)
Drafted: N0. 15, 2007 AFL draft
The best key defender for the Pioneers in the past 25 years. Tarrant played 194 games for North Melbourne and Richmond during his 15 year AFL career and was a best and fairest at the Kangaroos in 2016. He also represented Australia in international rules in 2017. For a period of time he was one of the best key defenders in the game.
Jarryn Geary (St Kilda)
Drafted: No. 58, 2007 rookie draft
Geary played 207 games for St Kilda from 2008 to 2022 and was captain from 2017 to 2021. A fearless leader who was the heart and soul of the Saints. Since retirement, Geary has headed back home to Bendigo to play with Eaglehawk in the Bendigo league. Last year he joined the Western Bulldogs in a player and leadership coach role.
HALF BACK
Josh Hunt (Geelong, GWS)
Drafted: No. 44, 2000 AFL draft.
A booming left footer who excelled at two clubs during his career. Hunt played 212 games for Geelong and GWS and won premierships with the Cats in 2007 and 2011. In 2008 he represented Australia as part of the international rules team. Since retiring he’s moved to Queensland and was part of Brisbane’s AFL academy as a coach.
Tom Cole (West Coast)
Drafted: No. 36, 20115 AFL draft
A key player in West Coast’s team who has played 113 games for the Eagles. A vital defender, Cole played in West Coast’s 2018 premiership and was involved in every game last season.
Daniel Harris (North Melbourne/Gold Coast)
Drafted: No 14, 2000 AFL draft
Harris was known for his in and under ability during his career. Harris played 160 games during his career, playing 149 for the Kangaroos before being part of Gold Coast’s first AFL team, making 11 appearances. Since retiring he’s played in the Essendon District league for Airport West and Pascoe Vale while also playing for Heidelberg in the Northern league. Harris also played country footy for Rushworth in the Kyabram league and made an appearance for the club last year.
MIDDLE
Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda/North Melbourne)
Drafted: No. 13, 2001 AFL draft.
Dal Santo played 322 games for St Kilda and North Melbourne and made the All Australian team three times. An elite left foot kick, he also finished in the top-three in the Brownlow Medal in 2005 and won the Saints best and fairest that year. Since retiring, Dal Santo has moved into the media and is the current coach of the St Kilda’s AFLW team.
Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Drafted: No. 7, 2006 AFL draft.
Will go down as one of the all-time greats. Selwood played 355 games for Geelong and was a four-time premiership player. A hard and tough midfielder, the former Geelong captain made the All Australian team six times in his career, being named captain three times. He also won three Geelong best and fairests.
Adam Selwood (West Coast)
Drafted: No. 53, 2002 AFL draft
The brother of Joel, Selwood was one of the best taggers in the competition. The former Eagle played 187 games for the club and was part of the 2006 AFL premiership. After his career, Selwood was the head of the AFLW team at the Eagles as it entered the competition.
HALF FORWARD
Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs/Essendon/GWS)
Drafted: No. 5, 2012 AFL draft.
One of the most electric forwards in the game when in form. Stringer made the All Australian team in 2015 and is a premiership winner with the Western Bulldogs in 2016. He led the goalkicking three times at Essendon and the Bulldogs and has kicked 367 goals in his 212 game career. He’s now with GWS.
Corey Jones (North Melbourne)
Drafted: No. 60, 2000 AFL draft.
Technically makes the list despite being eligible for the draft in 1999 and missing out. A year in the SANFL with Sturt in 2000 helped Jones be drafted. Jones played 157 games for North Melbourne, kicking 216 goals. In 2007, he was the club’s leading goalkicker. Since retiring, Jones played for his home club, Wycheproof-Narraport, now Calder Lions, helping the team to make the grand final in 2011. He also won the best and fairest in the North Central league in 2013.
Colin Sylvia (Melbourne/Fremantle)
Drafted: No 3, 2003 AFL draft.
A talented midfielder who averaged almost a goal a game during his career. Sylvia played 163 games with Melbourne and Fremantle and was a powerful midfielder with plenty of skill. He retired in 2015 after playing for 11 years.
FORWARD
Ben McGlynn (Hawthorn/Sydney)
Drafted: No 55, 2006 AFL rookie draft.
A small forward who shone for Hawthorn and Sydney. McGlynn played 171 games and kicked 195 goals during his career. From Dareton, near Mildura, McGlynn was unlucky not to win a premiership. In 2008, he missed out on the final 22 and in 2012 he missed Sydney’s success with a hamstring injury. McGlynn was an assistant coach at St Kilda before returning to Mildura. He is now the coach of Wentworth in the Sunraysia league.
Josh Treacy (Fremantle)
Drafted: No. 7, 2021 AFL rookie draft
One of the leading young forwards in the competition. Treacy rose to prominence last year, kicking 45 goals to be the Dockers’ leading goalkicker. He’s now kicked 74 goals in 56 games for the Dockers.
Andrew Walker (Carlton)
Drafted: No. 2, 2003 AFL draft.
Walker played 202 games for Carlton after being selected, at the time, as the highest ever Pioneers player in the draft. After playing in the midfield for a large part of his career, he moved to the forward line in the last few years and led the goalkicking at the Blues in 2011. Since retirement he has moved back to Echuca to play and coach the Murray Bombers. He helped the team to three premierships in a row before stepping down at the end of 2024.
RUCK/FOLLOWERS
Jarrod Brander (West Coast/GWS)
Drafted: No. 13, 2017 AFL draft.
The Pioneers haven’t had many ruckman selected over the past 25 years, so we’ve had to get creative with this selection. This is where Brander comes into play. He’s the tallest Pioneer, at 195cm, to play an AFL game in the past 25 years. Brander played 27 games for two clubs, West Coast and GWS, from 2018 to 2022. He played as both a forward and a winger during his time. Since his career at the AFL ended Brander has been playing for Wentworth in the Sunraysia league. Last season he led the goalkicking in the competition with 92 goals.
Dustin Martin (Richmond)
Drafted: No. 3, 2009 AFL draft.
Martin played 302 games for Richmond, kicking 338 goals. He did it all, winning three premierships with the Tigers, three Norm Smith Medals), and the 2017 Brownlow. A dynamic midfielder who could win the ball but then run away from rivals with devastating impact to find the right target. When that didn’t cause damage he could find space to kick a goal or two.
Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
Drafted: No. 7, 2012 draft
Will go down as one of the best ever Port Adelaide players. Wines knows how to win the ball in the midfield and averages more than 25 disposals a game. The Pioneer won one best and fairest with the Power, in 2021, the same year he won the Brownlow Medallist. He captained the club in 2019.
INTERCHANGE
Scott Selwood (Geelong/West Coast)
Drafted: No. 22, 2007 AFL draft
Scott, like his brothers Adam and Joel, had a strong career in the AFL, contributing at two clubs. He played 169 games for West Coast and Geelong, winning the 2012 best and fairest at the Eagles. A tagger like brother Adam, Scott also was known for his tackling. In 2017, he was averaged the most tackles a game.
Brent Daniels (GWS)
Drafted: No. 27, 2017 AFL draft
Daniels last year made the All Australian squad. A matchwinner who not only can win the ball and kick a goal but also provide strong defensive pressure, Daniels has played 107 games in his career. And he should play many more with the former Nyah-Nyah West junior signing a contract with the Giants to keep him at the club until 2031.
Lachie Schultz (Collingwood/Fremantle)
Drafted: No. 57, 2018 AFL draft
Schultz is another leading small forward in the competition. He’s played 111 games for Fremantle and Collingwood and is in the top-20 for most goals scored by Dockers in their history. Schultz has averaged more than 25 goals a game over the past four years.
Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood/Hawthorn)
Drafted: No 13, 2021 AFL rookie draft
Rose to prominence in 2022 kicking 40 goals for the Magpies to establish himself as one of the best small forwards in the game. Ginnivan has an eye for goal and has pace to burn as well. He won the AFL premiership with the Pies in 2023 before moving to Hawthorn in 2024. He’s played 66 games in his career.
SUB
Harley Reid (West Coast)
Drafted: No. 1, 2023 AFL draft.
It’s very rare a first-year player makes a best team of the past 25 years but Reid is not a normal player. The Tongala product was the first Pioneer selected at number one in the draft and his first year at West Coast showed why he’s being considered as a generational talent. His speed at the contest and ability to win the ball will put him in good stead for years to come. In five years time, when a 30th anniversary team is looked at, he’ll certainly be there and among the greats of the Pioneers.
Originally published as Dusty, Selwood brothers, Reid: All the big names make Pioneers squad.
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