The Official SANFL Greatest Team of all Time

[Jimmy_041]

I'd actually have Cornes in the side ahead of Kernahan.
Talked to Barrie Robran a few times and Cornes was the best player he'd seen in his opinion.
People know my issues/opinions of Cornes as a person but when Barrie tells me something like that I listen.
IMHO Davies is a no brainer too.
They did a pretty good job, if Cornes and Davies were in instead of Blight and Kernahan it would be spot on but no issues with Blight as he'd be my next pick.

You've outed me Wedgie. I wasn't going to say that because it doesn't fit in with my anti Glenelg agenda
I'll stick with Bagshaw as Ruck Rover but it would be 50/50 with Cornes
Funny how no of games is so important for Carey but not important for Kernahan and a few others

I'm not sure if people know, but our very own Chris Kendall did his own team a while ago
I'd love him to contribute @CK

@Jimmy_041 I've been reliably informed that it was Kendall's "Top 50 SANFL players" of all time.

Ah OK. I couldn't find it anywhere and thought it was a team
BUT, Davies made it in the top 21 so

[Booney]

I found CK's article :

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This was an article I wrote for the 2010 SANFL Season Guide, and thought it worth reprinting here as a point of debate.

This was one of the toughest tasks I've ever undertaken in all my time in SANFL media, so feel free to debate, argue, point out obvious missing players etc. Since writing the original list in 2010, I have made two changes, to numbers 44 and 48 respectively (reflected below).

Criteria applied as follows:

- No player with less than 50 SANFL games (hence no Nathan Buckley, among many others)

- Sustained performance over a reasonable time period - so there will be a number of Magarey Medallists who had one or two exceptional seasons, but otherwise, not sustained form, not included.

- Players who polled well in the Medal over a number of years; won multiple best and fairests/Medals for Best Afield in State games; sustained State selection were closely considered.

- Players from all eras were considered equally with no conscious decision for a "quota" from any era or club. Playing ONLY was looked at, not coaching records.

The other intangible to look at, is that I, and many of us, have not seen some of these players play, either live or in archival footage, so it relies upon playing records/anecdotal evidence/press coverage at the time.


1. BARRIE RORBAN (North Adelaide): Hard to argue against the number one selection. Simply put, Robran was near incomparable at his peak before a devastating knee injury dramatically slowed his prodigious output. Wonderful hands, fantastic disposal and three Magarey Medals says it all.

2. KEN FARMER (North Adelaide): Set amazing goalkicking benchmarks that, simply, will never be broken in senior football. To kick 100 goals in a season on eleven consecutive occasions, often double or triple teamed, is testament to his incredible abilities and consistency in rewarding his teammates.

3. RUSSELL EBERT (Port Adelaide): The only four time Magarey Medallist – a record never likely to be broken – and maintained a high standard throughout a decorated career. Classy disposal and able to work out of trouble very well, he was a pivotal reason for Port’s success throughout the 70’s.

4. LINDSAY HEAD (West Torrens): One of the best of his era, Head’s creativity for West Torrens gave him the title or arguably the best player to pull on the blue and gold. Also able to play a number of positions, his clearance work and pinpoint disposal had some of the best evasive skills to keep winning the ball.

5. PAUL BAGSHAW (Sturt): Arguably the best player never to win a Medal, Bagshaw’s sublime output through Sturt’s golden era of the 60’s and 70’s was a prime reason for their success. Able to play up forward in the twilight of his career, he rarely wasted a possession and was able to play a variety of roles.

6. MALCOLM BLIGHT (Woodville): While VFL interrupted his SANFL career for some time, the performance on either side was breathtaking. To kick 126 goals in a bottom team at the age of 35 in 1986 was testament to his quick mind, evasive skills and pure skills on both sides of the body. His output prior to leaving for the VFL was enough alone to list him as Woodville’s greatest ever.

7. IAN MCKAY (North Adelaide): One of the all time great full backs, his containing roles on John Coleman in state football remain legend. He was very rarely beaten at any level and his high leaping and athleticism forced opposition forwards to work on containing his output. Also an exceptional leader, one of the best defenders produced by South Australia.

8. LEN FITZGERALD (Sturt): To win three Magarey Medals from only 125 games indicates his huge impact, fairness and ability to continually win one-on-one contests. Averaging 1.6 goals a match, his leadership skills were exceptional and despite standing out of football for three years, he was able to return in peak form.

9. PETER CAREY (Glenelg): It may be argued that there were better ruckmen who played considerably less games, but for sheer consistency over an South Australian record 448 matches, his record is impossible to ignore. Still playing great football at the end, his bodywork, clever tapwork and ability to match it with all comers brings him high on the list.

10. TOM LEAHY (West Adelaide/North Adelaide): One of the pre-eminent ruckmen in SANFL, his bodywork, athleticism and ability to cope with all different styles of ruckwork set the bar for all future big men to meet. Playing with great distinction for both West and North, he remains one of the most capped State players of all time in SA.

11. Rick Davies (Sturt)
12. Bob Hank (West Torrens)
13. Dan Moriarty (South Adelaide)
14. Bob Quinn (Port Adelaide)
15. Walter “Wacka” Scott (Norwood)
16. Tim Evans (Port Adelaide)
17. Tom Mackenzie (West Torrens/North Adelaide)
18. Jim Deane (South Adelaide)
19. Garry McIntosh (Norwood)
20. Graham Cornes (Glenelg)
21. John Abley (Port Adelaide)
22. John C. (Dinny) Reedman (South Adelaide/North Adelaide)
23. Stephen Kernahan (Glenelg)
24. Brenton Adcock (Sturt)
25. D.K (Fred) Phillis (Glenelg)
26. Ken Eustice (West Adelaide/Central District/Glenelg)
27. John Halbert (Sturt)
28. John Cahill (Port Adelaide)
29. Bruce Schulz (Norwood)
30. Neil Kerley (West Adelaide/South Adelaide/Glenelg)
31. Peter Darley (South Adelaide)
32. Jack Owens (Glenelg)
33. Jack Tredrea (South Adelaide)
34. Fos Williams (Port Adelaide/West Adelaide)
35. John Platten (Central District)
36. Bruce McGregor (West Adelaide/South Adelaide)
37. Andrew Jarman (North Adelaide/Norwood)
38. Michael Graham (Sturt)
39. Anthony “Bos” Daly (Norwood/South Adelaide/West Torrens/West Adel/North Adel)
40. Michael Taylor (Norwood)
41. Frank Golding (Sturt)
42. Sampson “Shine” Hosking (Port Adelaide)
43. Don Lindner (North Adelaide)
44. Peter Marker (Glenelg)
45. Ron Phillips (North Adelaide)
46. Michael Aish (Norwood)
47. Scott Hodges (Port Adelaide)
48. James Allan (North Adelaide/Norwood)
49. Bill Wedding (Norwood)
50. H.R Head (West Adelaide/Glenelg)

[hollywood7477]

I'd actually have Cornes in the side ahead of Kernahan.
Talked to Barrie Robran a few times and Cornes was the best player he'd seen in his opinion.
People know my issues/opinions of Cornes as a person but when Barrie tells me something like that I listen.
IMHO Davies is a no brainer too.
They did a pretty good job, if Cornes and Davies were in instead of Blight and Kernahan it would be spot on but no issues with Blight as he'd be my next pick.

Barrie Robran also said Lewis Johnston is the best set shot he had ever seen.

[Dog_ger2]

The Gowan boys would have to make the team.

Make room.

I would have them 1 & 2

Then pick the rest.

They made Centrals in their hey Day.

A generation grew up believing Centrals couldn't be beaten.

[Jimmy_041]

The Gowan boys would have to make the team.

Make room.

I would have them 1 & 2

Then pick the rest.

Agreed

Bagshaw out
Gowans boys in

[Dog_ger2]

I think bagshaw would be 3.

[Dog_ger2]

Tilbrook would be there.

[Dog_ger2]

You have to pick ebert and robran.

[Rik E Boy]

The Gowan boys would have to make the team.

Make room.

I would have them 1 & 2

Then pick the rest.

They made Centrals in their hey Day.

A generation grew up believing Centrals couldn't be beaten.

Nope. Third best team in the state. No comparison.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

No Macca and no Jumbo. Get ****** Cornsey.

regards,

REB

[GWW]

Personal opinion, but I wouldnt have the Gowans bros in the top 200.

They are up there for most influential, but the nature of the comp when they played means they cant be rated above the best players when the SANFL was main comp in town.

[gossipgirl]

The Gowan boys would have to make the team.

Make room.

I would have them 1 & 2

Then pick the rest.

They made Centrals in their hey Day.

A generation grew up believing Centrals couldn't be beaten.

Only if they are cheerleaders

[Dog_ger2]

Tilbrook always impressed me.

Bagshaw to Tilbrook... Goal.

[LPH]

This type of thing is always a matter of opinion & I wont disagree with much of what's been said but I thought I would add my own team, of those Players I saw play at their peek (hence, no Robran because by the time I saw him in the mid-70s, his knee was destroyed, no 'Baggy' as he was in his twilight, as was Blight, & no Tony Modra, Andrew McLeod, Ben Hart or Mark Riccuito as they didn't play enough SANFL games to qualify):

F: D. Jarman (Nor/Haw/Adel), S. Hodges (Port/Adel), S. Copping (Glen/Ess)

HF: T. McGuiness (Glen/Foots/Adel), S. Kernahan (Glen/Carl), B. Lindner (West/Geel/Adel)

C: G. Anderson (Port,Ess,Adel), G. McIntosh (Nwd), C. Bradley (Port, Carl)

HB: M. Taylor (Nwd/Coll) G. Phillips (Port/Coll), R. Maynard (Nwd/Adel)

B: B. Winter (Sturt/Nwd), R. Delaney (Port), G. Fiacci (Port)

Ruck: R. Davies (Sturt/Haw), R. Ebert (Port/Nth.Melb), J. Platten (CD/Haw)

Int: P. Carey (Glen), C. McDermott (Glen/Adel), A. Jarman(Nor/Nwd/Adel), P. Motley (Sturt/Carl)

I am sure others could be added, but I tried to pick them in positions they played - granted Bradley is probably out of position but he did play on the wing for SA. Mick Taylor is another that probably should be a Follower. Many might argue about 'Rocket' Maynard but I was always a fan of his - he was one footballer who could play well above his actual height & often (@ AFL level at least) stood difficult opponents. I included Fiacci because of the number of Flags he played in - this was the most difficult position to fill.

Captain: S. Kernahan - as he was the longest serving Captain that is 'in the 18'
Coach: J. Cahill (record 2nd to none)

Interesting exercise