Tony Hickey’s dream team: Best players from Imperials six premierships in 1990s

Imperials won 12 flags between 1986 and 2008 and Tony Hickey played big roles in 10 of them. See who he picks for his dream team.

David Johnston

less than 2 min read

September 18, 2023 - 3:19PM

The Weekly Times

Imperials have been the most dominant team in the Sunraysia league since its formation in 1945.

Their 19 flags are the most of any club with the next best being 11 won by Red Cliffs.

League legend Tony Hickey coached Imperials to six premierships in the 1990s with two flags as an assistant coach in 1987 and 1988 and another two as a player in 2004 and 2005 at the tail of one of the great country football careers.

In choosing his “dream team” from the decade he was coach, Hickey prioritised individual achievements over an entire career with premierships won with Imperials and consistency at a high level of competition also a factor.

Former Western Bulldogs player Matthew Croft, right, started his career with Imperials.

His team includes former Western Bulldogs defender Matthew Croft, who started his career in premiership teams with Imperials and Jade Sheedy, who was a Sturt premiership player and Magarey Medallist in the SANFL.

Also playing in flags with Imperials before becoming a Sturt premiership captain was midfielder Seamus Maloney.

Seamus Maloney captained Sturt to an SANFL flag in 2002 after playing for Imperials.

Playing 200-plus matches for Imperials in Hickey’s time were eight-time premiership player Wayne Mayne, Brett Pickering, Peter Hickey, Danny Thornton, Peter O’Donnell, Daniel Hickey, Stewart Carr, Dale Stafford and David Tozer.

Imperials won four flags in a row between 1992 and 1995 under Hickey.

Imperials premiership stars, from left, Phil Nash, Michael Hogarth and coach Tony Hickey. Picture: Supplied

The 1993 success followed a draw against Mildura in the grand final when Hickey tapped into some insights from the late Ron Barassi with an impromptu phone call to his Richmond pub in the week leading up to the replay.

“I had rung Ron as I knew he had coached North Melbourne to a strong win over Collingwood in 1977 after a drawn grand final,” Hickey said.

“Ron’s advice to focus on the positive of ‘getting another chance’ and also to train very lightly in the lead-up to the replay helped us perform well and win the replay.”