The Soaring

Tomorrow night the Eagles will unveil their 20th Anniversary team of the best 20 to play in the blue and gold. It will be fascinating to see who makes it in and who misses out, and there will be some tough omissions, that much is guaranteed.

For the sake of the argument below I present my 20th Anniversary team of 22. From what I can work out it is going to be a named team with players in position, so I’ve attempted to do the same here, even though the mythical team it would ever play is, well, mythical.

So here goes:
B: Michael Brennan, Ashley McIntosh, David Wirrpanda
HB: Guy McKenna, Glen Jakovich, John Worsfold
C: Peter Matera, Dean Kemp, Chris Mainwaring
HF: Chris Lewis, Mitchell White, Brett Heady
F: Phillip Matera, Peter Sumich, Chris Waterman
R: Dean Cox, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins
I: Drew Banfield, David Hart, Daniel Kerr, Don Pyke

Backs:
Michael Brennan was the original fullback stopper and steady head under pressure. Gave great leadership and cut his teeth on a generation of the games finest ever full forwards in Lockett, Dunstall and Ablett.

Ashley McIntosh took over from Monkey Brennan and came into his own as a genuine star of the competition in the mid-90s. If Stephen Silvagni was FB of the century, at his peak McIntosh was not far behind. Dodgy knees limited him from being a more regular forward line contributor.

David Wirrpanda may be a controversial back pocket selection, but anyone who’s see him at his dashing best would want him in your starting 18. Sublime skills, steady overhead, beautiful balance and a blistering turn of pace make Wirra a fan favourite and damaging backman.

Half backline:
Guy McKenna redefined the half back position, turning defence into an attacking artform with his standout reading of the play, courageous acts and pin point disposal. One of the Eagles best ever.

Glen Jakovich was four time best and fairest winner (three by the age of 22) and colossus in defence for a club record 276 games. His duels with the best CHF of his era Wayne Carey were legendary, a notable for the pantsing Jako regularly gave him.

John Worsfold captained the Eagles for a club record 8 seasons for 2 premierships. As Sandy Roberts was fond of calling him the “smiling assasin” made his name a uncompromising hard at the contest player, a play who ran off after doing his ACL at the WACA ground, and player who if he played today, under the current tribunal would’ve played barely 100 of his 209 games. Current coach of the Eagles.

Centreline:
Peter Matera. Like the half back line, this line picks itself. Along with Judd Peter Matera is only other player I genuinely get excited everytime he gets the ball in a bit of space. His “Norm Smith” game (92 GF, 5 goals from the wing) defined him, but his best footy came after that, including the highest Brownlow tally to come second (28 votes) in 1997.

Dean Kemp was a less than impressive physical specimen on the ground, but his balance, vision, toughness, and overall ability were virtually peerless during his era in the AFL. The Norm Smith was probably his highlight, as was his B&F in the premiership year of 92. While other players got the popular plaudits, it was Kemp who won their respect.

Chris Mainwaring was a dashing winger and the clubs inaugural best first year player. Every footy club has a loveable blonde kid and Mainy is it. Unluckily never won a club B&F but when the Eagles were at their strongest Mainy was a standout performer with numerous big possession seasons.

Half Forwards:
Chris Lewis won a B&F in 1990 (aged 21) and was a mercurial player either on the ball or in the forward line. Uncanny skills and with the ability to turn the game Lewis was the second ever indigenous player to play 200 AFL games.

Mitchell White won AA honours in 1996 as a standout half forward. White was a hard working lead up player with a cool head and sure hands. Missed the 94 grand final through injury but played in 1992 as a 19 year old.

Brett Heady never looked like a typical footballer, and neither did he play like one. One of the most fearless and dangerously skilled players to play for the club, Heady had a habit of pulling highlights from no-where. A noted big game player and goalkicker who’s career was cut short by injury.

Forward line:
Phillip Matera is the club’s second highest goal kicker behind Peter Sumich and was the best small forward of his era in the AFL. Led the goal kicking five times. Suberb goal kicker and incredibly consistent against all opposition.

Peter Sumich is the leading goal kicker in club history and was the first left footer in AFL history to boot more than 100 goals in a season (111 in 1991). Started the trend of being a maligned Full forward at the club, but remains a favourite son and current right hand man to current coach Worsfold.

Chris Waterman was known as the Mr Fixit of the Eagles and regularly took defensive assignments. He could also go forward with confidence and kicked 6 goals in a final vs Melbourne in 1993 to underline his versatility.

Ruck
Dean Cox leads an all current ruck division. An AA in 2005 Cox’s athleticism, big “engine” and size has re-defined the ruckman position in recent seasons. Also the only “rookie listed” selection in this team.

Chris Judd is the Eagle’s first Brownlow medalist, is also a B&F winner and Norm Smith medallist and is arguably the Eagles finest ever player (at age 22). Who knows how good he could be, he lacks only a premiership medallion to be the most decorated of all Eagles. A rare athletic package, Judd is electrifying in the open and often gets there with punishing accelleration and the ability to win the hard ball.

Ben Cousins in some ways has bridged the peaks of the 90s and the rising peaks of the mid 2000s. A true champion from the dark days of the post Malthouse era, Cousins is a Brownlow medallist (2005) and a 4 B&F winner. His ball winner, never say die endeavour, and on field example are exemplery.

Interchange:
Drew Banfield has played in 250 plus games, a B&F winner in 1996, premiership player in 1994 and a highly underrated hard running, level headed, shutdown player.

David Hart was a 1994 AA selection and 1994 premiership player. Made his name as a dashing back pocket player with quality disposal in the early 90s golden era.

Don Pyke started his career as a free running, high possesion, midfielder before being converted into another of Malthouse’s shutdown, in and tight onball unit. 1993 B&F winner.

Daniel Kerr is a Brownlow medallist runner up who skills, strength and influence is often over shadowed by his teammates Judd and Cousins. However, Kerr is a brilliant midfielder who’s ability to play in and under and then break with the ball is a rare commodity in football.

Who’s in your 20th Anniversary team?