Victorian Country’s greatest team of players 1980 to 2019

Hawthorn champion Peter Knights has been named coach of a star-studded team of country footballers who wore the Big V from 1980 to 2019. See who made the cut.

From the first match in Canberra in 1980 to the last played in 2019, Victorian Country teams were always hard to beat.

Many players used the Big V country jumper as a launching pad to get the attention of VFL/AFL scouts, or when their careers at the elite level ended, they have wanted to play at the highest standard possible.

Victoria dominated the biennial national country championships that were first played in 1990 at Shepparton before being abandoned in 2012.

With interleague matches kicking off around the state with the clash between Ovens and Murray and Goulburn Valley on Saturday, The Weekly Times has selected its greatest team of country footballers to wear the Big V between 1980 and 2019.

THE WEEKLY TIMES’ VIC COUNTRY DREAM TEAM

BACKS

Koroit’s Joe McLaren captained Vic Country.

Guy Campbell (Goulburn Valley, Murray)

Rated by Peter Knights as the best player he coached at Vic Country level, Campbell also won the 2011 Morrison Medal in the GV.

Martin Cameron (Latrobe Valley)

Key player in a hugely successful Traralgon era who also provided rebound and dash from defence for LVFL and Vic Country.

Joe McLaren (Hampden)

Played at St Kilda and North Melbourne before returning to Koroit to be part of six flags as coach and player.

HALF BACKS

Tooleybuc’s Mark Bos.

Jeff Gieschen (Latrobe Valley)

The seven-time Maffra best and fairest fairest was one of the Latrobe Valley’s biggest stars.

Ian Salmon (Latrobe Valley)

Dairy farmer who returned from Footscray to dominate for Leongatha. Picked in the first Vic Country team in 1980.

Mark Bos (Mid Murray)

Last match for Geelong was the 1989 grand final before taking on coaching Tooleybuc and being highly regarded by Vic Country teammates.

CENTRES

Traralgon’s Neil Mildenhall.

Brian Royal (Latrobe Valley)

Vic Country representative in 1981-82 before becoming a star for Footscray in 199 matches.

Stephen Ash (Goulburn Valley, Ovens & Murray)

Superstar midfielder and premiership player at Shepparton and Albury and a big-game performer at representative level.

Neil Mildenhall (Latrobe Valley)

Classy wingman who also played in strong Traralgon era and drafted to Fremantle off his Vic Country performances.

HALF FORWARDS

Former Vic Country coach Rodney Eade and captain Jason Mifsud at Barooga in 2003.

Jason Mifsud (Hampden)

Captained Vic Country who famously kicked seven goals after half time to lead Koroit to a famous flag in 2003.

Rob Walker (Ovens & Murray)

Four-time premiership player, five-time league best and fairest and 12-time club best and fairest, who was first picked in Vic Country teams in early 1990s.

Keiran Lourey (North Central)

Triple Wycheproof-Narraport player-coach and Feeny Medal winner who was permanent fixture in early Vic Country teams.

FORWARDS

Yarrawonga champion John Brunner. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Simon Goosey (Mornington Peninsula)

Booted more than 1800 career goals including many big bags player for Mornington Peninsula or Vic Country.

Ron Best (Bendigo)

Legendary goalkicker who captained the early Vic Country teams against ACT.

John Brunner (Ovens & Murray, Murray)

Superstar rover for Yarrawonga, Barooga and Benalla who also rose to the occasion at representative level.

FOLLOWERS

Geelong’s Mark Stewart.

Mark Stewart (Geelong)

Man-mountain ruckman who was a big game performer when he played for Geelong and Vic Country.

David Code (Goulburn Valley)

Vic Country and GV captain in mid-1980s including the GV’s 1984 championships win who was also a star for Shepparton and Tatura.

Greg Morley (Latrobe Valley)

Traralgon great with three league best and fairests who also played in successful Latrobe Valley and Vic Country campaigns.

INTERCHANGE

Grant Weeks playing for Vic Country in 2015. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Paul Kirby (Goulburn Valley, Ovens & Murray)

Mobile big man who regularly stepped up and performed well for Vic Country, Goulburn Valley and O & M.

Tom Hall (Geelong)

Superstar defender in six flags for North Shore who also performed at high level for Geelong and Vic Country.

Rhys Archard (Goulburn Valley, Murray)

Regular Vic Country at the peak of his career that also included winning a Magarey Medal in SANFL.

Grant Weeks (Bendigo, Goulburn Valley, Heathcote District)

Prolific goalkicker including a season-best 162 during Golden Square’s run of five successive flags. Also a star for Bendigo and Vic Country representative teams.

EMERGENCIES

Craig Ednie (Ovens & Murray)

Ultimate big occasion player. Triple premiership player and five-time best and fairest at Yarrawonga.

Guy Stringer (Mornington Peninsula)

Permanent fixture in Mornington Peninsula and Vic Country at the high point of his career played mostly in defence.

Brad Sparks (Latrobe Valley, Goulburn Valley)

Former Melbourne player who made a huge impact at Sale and Rochester and for Vic Country in the 1990s.

COACH

Peter Knights was one of Vic Country’s longest serving and most successful coaches. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Peter Knights

Hawthorn champion, originally from Longwarry, coached Vic Country between 2009 and 2016.

Who should have made the team? Let us know in the comments.