DARREN MONCRIEFF
Friday 16 March 2012
THREE Indigenous West Australian footballers have made the WAFL Top 25 Players Over The Past 25 Years all-time player list.
The list, compiled by seasoned WAFL watchers, includes modern day duo Toby McGrath (South Fremantle) and Allistair Pickett (West Perth, Peel Thunder, Subiaco), and the tough Willie Dick (Perth).
The concept was born out of a desire to gain recognition for State league footballers in a predominantly AFL-centric era; for those who have left an indelible mark on the game in WA, officially 127 years old this year, between 1987 and 2011.
Basic criteria included players who must have played 100 WAFL matches between 1987 and 2011 and can have played at AFL level.
Consideration was given to players who have won individual awards, which include the Bernie Naylor Medal (league leading goal-kicker), Sandover Medal (league fairest-and-best), Simpson Medal (best afield in league Grand Finals and State games), club captaincy, club fairest-and-bests and State representation.
* The complete list can be view here: WAFL Top 25 Players Over The Past 25 Years.
While McGrath and Pickett's storied careers have been played out in the modern era -- and theirs have been prolific and durable -- Dick's inclusion gives the list added credibility.
His was the no-nonsense style played when the burgeoning professionalisation of the game was in its infancy, a time when the 'old school' player mashed with the new.
Dick's game was forged in the old-fashioned ruck-rover model: built, hard and fast and with skilful execution of the ball.
His WAFL career had several 'gap years'. After five years at Perth, he had a break from league football before returning in 1991, when he promptly won the club's fairest-and-best.
AFL club Essendon picked him in that year's post-season draft, where he played six games with the Bombers.
Dick was back at the Demons in 1993 before a five-year break saw him return for two seasons in 1999.
Round 1 of the 2012 WAFL seaspn gets underway on Saturday.
Willie Dick
Perth (WAFL): 1985-1989, 1991, 1993, 1999-2000, 154 games, 136 goals
Essendon (AFL): 1992, 7 games, 6 goals
WA: 4 games, 4 goals
Games in qualification period: 130 WAFL games, 4 State games
Medals/Awards in qualification period: Perth F&B 1991
Toby McGrath
South Fremantle: 1998-2001, 2004-2011, 220 games, 108 goals
Essendon (VFL): 2002, 15 games, 2 goals
Bendigo Bombers (VFL): 2003, 12 games, 2 goals
WA: 6 games, 1 goal
Games in qualification period: 220 WAFL games, 6 State games
Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 2005, South Fremantle F&B 2004 & 2008, Simpson Medal 2005
Premierships in qualification period: 2005, 2009
Allistair Pickett
West Perth: 1996, 3 games, 4 goals
Peel Thunder: 2001-2002, 22 games, 22 goals
Subiaco: 2003-2011, 180 games, 230 goals
WA: 3 games, 3 goals
Games in qualification period: 205 WAFL games, 3 State games
Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 2002 & 2004, Subiaco F&B 2004
Premierships in qualification period: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 16/03/2012 22:26