DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
SOME of the greats who have moulded South Australian football into one of the country's most notable leagues have been honoured with their naming in the SANFL's Indigenous Team of the Century today.
The 25-man team was revealed leading up to the SANFL's first Indigenous Round, paying due accord to Indigenous Australians and what they have brought to the game in South Australia.
While modern day AFL fans would recognise most names in the honorary team, it's the names of players from yesteryear that will revive memories of their on-field brilliance.
* See the full team below
Reflecting their historical dominance of the SANFL since 1870, which yielded the club 36 league premierships (including six in a row) and Champions of Australia on four occasions, Port Adelaide's representation is the greatest, with 10.
Two Magpies hold down key-positions (Andrew McLeod -- centre; Corey Ah Chee -- full-back). Richie Bray (half-forward), Gavin Wanganeen and Byron Pickett (half-backs), and Graham Johncock (back pocket), Shaun Burgoyne as rover, a further two on the four-man interchange bench, Aaron Davey and Peter Burgoyne, and one as an emergency, Fabian Francis, complete the Port Adelaide contingent.
The SANFL's two only Indigenous Margery Medal winners -- Gilbert McAdam (Central District, 1989) and Mark Naley (South Adelaide, 1991) -- were selected in the team as a wingman and ruck-rover respectively.
Joining McAdam as former Bulldogs in the side are Wilbur Wilson (centre half-forward), Sonny Morey (picturedl; forward pocket), also named as the team's coach, and Derek Kickett as an interchange.
The Double Blues, which last won a flag in 2000, get three guernseys: Roger Rigney, the brilliant Michael Graham and Eddie Fry, who also played for South Adelaide.
Tall Tiwi Islander David Kantilla, the third Panther in the team, takes the ruck duties.
The now-merged West Torrens has one player in the team, Michael Long (wing), although the now-merged club, known as Woodville-West Torrens, has 2006 premiership player Mathew Stokes as a reserve.
North Adelaide has Daniel Motlop named at full-forward and Greg McAdam as reserve.
West Adelaide's Bertie Johnson (forward pocket), believed to be the first Indigenous premiership player (1961), is the sole Blood in the team, while Glenelg's Syd Jackson (interchange) is the lone Tiger.
The qualification for selection was that players must have at least played one SANFL league match.
SANFL Indigenous Team of the Century
Forward Pocket Roger Rigney Sturt
Half-Forward Michael Graham Sturt
Wing Michael Long West Torrens
Half-Back Gavin Wanganeen Port Adelaide
Back Pocket Graham Johncock Port Adelaide
Ruck David Kantilla South Adelaide
|
Full-Forward Daniel Motlop North Adelaide
Centre Half-Forward Eddie Fry South Adelaide / Sturt
Centre Andrew McLeod Port Adelaide
Centre Half-Back Wilbur Wilson Central District
Full-Back Corey Ah Chee Port Adelaide
Rover Shaun Burgoyne Port Adelaide
|
Forward Pocket Bertie Johnson West Adelaide
Half-Forward Richie Bray Port Adelaide
Wing Gilbert McAdam Central District
Half-Back Byron Pickett Port Adelaide
Back Pocket Sonny Morey Central District Ruck-Rover Mark Naley South Adelaide
|
Interchange
Aaron Davey (Port Adelaide), Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Derek Kickett
(Central District), Syd Jackson (Glenelg)
Reserves
Fabian Francis (Port Adelaide), Mathew Stokes (Woodville-West Torrens),
Greg McAdam (North Adelaide)
Courtesy: SANFL
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 30/06/2011 03:17