Readers have their say on Victoria’s best country footballers

The Weekly Times this week named the best footballers to come out of country Victoria. Now, the readers have had their say.

The Weekly Times this week named the greatest players to come out of country Victoria — now readers have had their say.

THE people have had their say.

The Weekly Times this week named the greatest footballers from country Victoria — 10 that made it big in the AFL/VFL, and 10 country football legends who never played at that senior level.

These are some of the names readers have thrown into contention and there has also been some debate as to the original rankings.

For the original list, it should be noted that only AFL/VFL players from Victoria were considered. And when it came to the best players who remained in the bush playing for Victorian leagues, only those who had not played at senior AFL/VFL level came under consideration.

It meant that AFL/VFL football greats Wayne Carey and Haydn Bunton were ruled out, as were Bendigo league legends Tony Southcombe and Steven Oliver, and back-to-back Ballarat league best-and-fairest winner Geoff MacIlwain — each played in the VFL, even if only 13 games at most.

Are there other players who should have been included? Add your thoughts in the comments below.

Last month The Weekly Times also listed the best country footy teams of the millennium.

READERS’ SAY ON BEST VFL/AFL PLAYERS FROM COUNTRY VICTORIA

Fredofrog: Tim Watson .... glaring omission

Trevor: Garry Hocking, came from Cobram, was pretty handy, got a few kicks for Geelong!

John: Shane McGrath, Terrappee, Boort. Fullback for Melbourne premiership 1941, went to war, came back, 1948 premiership, captain Melbourne 1950. His record at Melbourne stands up with the best.

Glenferrie Gold: In what universe is Luke Hodge not named in the best country players. Peter Knights is another who missed out.

Zac: Bob Rose?

Ron: Bernie Quinlan is unlucky to miss the top 10.

Stephen: Geoff Raines, MMFL [Mid Murray Football League].

Fox: What about Mark Lee (The General) – Richmond from Mildura; Dale Weightman (The Flea) – Richmond from Mildura; Joel Selwood – Geelong from Bendigo.

Gary: Tim Watson and Roger Merrett. Both 300-plus games.

Lauris: What happened to Peter Knights?

Barry: Where does Scott Pendlebury fit in?

Keith: Absolute rubbish, Gippsland produced just as many as anywhere starting with the big fish the Abletts, Bruce Morrison, Bob Mason, Ray Barrett, Alan Morrow, Bill Stephenson, [Kevin] Coverdale, [Scott] Pendlebury, Norm Ware. Most of these are Gippslanders instead of from the sandbelts.

Garry: Luke Hodge is up there.

Ruth: How about Tim Watson (Dimboola) and Andy Wilson (Warracknabeal)?

Mark: Greg Williams. Two Brownlow Medals (arguments as to whether he could have three), a Norm Smith, premiership, member of the team of the century.

Anthony: Goodes over Greg Williams is a joke surely.

Peter: Dusty is now number one.

DC3: Jonathan Brown went all right.

Gerry: Michael Turner (Warrnambool), Ricky Barham (Hamilton via South Warrnambool), [Kevin] Cowboy Neale (South Warrnambool), Jordan Lewis (Warrnambool) and Paul Couch (Boggy Creek via Warrnambool) weren’t too bad either.

Ian: Jack Mueller – Echuca. Stuart Spencer – Portland.

READERS’ SAY ON BEST VICTORIAN COUNTRY PLAYERS TO NOT PLAY AFL/VFL

Sally: Derrick Filo should have played AFL, power and skill at its best.

Bruce: What about a bloke called John Brunner. Won seven premierships, eight league best-and-fairest, including three O&M Morris Medals. Drafted to Bulldogs but never played a game.

David: Ken Stronach from Warracknabeal was a champion country player.

Steve: Ron Best was robbed — he should have been No 1. A lovely bloke and sorely missed.

Bernard: Down Mornington Peninsula way Andrew Lancaster was a star but always resisted moves to try out at the top level.

Tracey: Great to see Brian (Gilly) Gilcrist get acknowledged for the great footballer he was. Watched him play many times at Wodonga and he was a rock.

Peter: I’d nominate Stephen Ash, [Phillip] Toot Morgan and Paul Cox from Goulburn Valley and Tony Hickey from Sunraysia. I will add Saad Saad from Seymour too.

(Comments have been edited for clarity, length and punctuation)

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