As has been the case in recent weeks, Jai Bedall at the Messenger has done a wonderful job in coming up with a team of the decade for each club. This week it is the Port Adelaide Magpies turn:
Jai Bedall @ Messenger Press wrote:By Port Adelaide’s standards its been a decade of disappointment but many of the players that have represented the Magpies between 2000 and 2009 will be remembered as champions at SANFL level.
Port’s team of the decade includes four Magarey Medallists - Ryan O’Connor, Tony Brown, Brett Ebert and Jeremy Clayton - and other club legends Darryl Poole, Corey Ah Chee, Mark Clayton and Clive Waterhouse.
Stephen Williams, named coach of the side for leading the Magpies in to the finals on three occasions in the period, said Jeremy Clayton was arguably the most talented of those listed.
The midfield star has won the past four best and fairests at Alberton, a club record.
``As far as pure talent goes he’s probably been the standout player in the competition (over the past five years),’’ Williams (pictured) said.
He also praised Poole and Ah Chee. ``Pooley was outstanding, he was a great player. You were guaranteed a contest at half forward with him in your side.
``And Ah Chee is probably the one guy not to play in a premiership that probably should have. He’s been the best full-back in the competition over that period by a long way.’’
The side has just eight current players Clayton, Ah Chee, Brad Murray, Steven Summerton, Daniel Elstone, Kristian De Pasquale, James Meiklejohn and Matt Lokan which reflects Port’s current position (8th) on the SANFL ladder.
There were several players who just missed out, including Bryan Beinke, Stephen Carter, Darren Mead and Brian Leys, who were all coming to the end of their careers at the start of the 2000s.
The Team:
B: Kristian De Pasquale, Corey Ah Chee, Tom Carr
HB: Mark Clayton, NIgel Fiegert, Jared Poulton
C: Daniel Elstone, Brett Ebert, Julian Wait
HF: Brad Murray, Darryl Poole, Steven Summerton
F: Paul Evans, Clive Waterhouse, Ryan O’Connor
R: James Meiklejohn, Tony Brown, Jeremy Clayton
I/C: Phil McGuiness, Matthew Lokan, Ricky O’Loughlin, Alf Steed.
Coach: Stephen Williams