Chris Johnson
He was just a very good kick of the footy and had the ability to attack from defence and set up his teammates. He really made that small running defender role his own during the Lions’ premiership years and probably could have been a star midfielder as well if he was in another team.
Stephen Silvagni
I might have only been 13 years old when SOS hung up his boots in 2001, but being a massive Carlton supporter as a kid I followed him pretty closely. He loved wearing the long sleeves and was just a great defender. It speaks volumes that he was later acknowledged as the AFL’s full-back of the century.
Matthew Scarlett
He’s another one of those great defenders who doesn’t only lock down his opponents but also generates great run from the backline. He has held down the full-back position at the most dominant club of the past few years and has numerous All-Australian honours.
HALF-BACKS
Glenn Archer
Tough as nails defender who was just so courageous with the way he went about his footy. He was never really glamorous, but did all the hard things when it was required for his team. He is probably one of the most respected players of the modern era.
Justin Leppitsch
He started as a forward but turned out to be the best centre half-back I can remember. He kind of revolutionised the role of a key position back because he could spoil as well as the rest of them, but could also be used as an attacking weapon. He was an important part of the club’s hat-trick of premierships.
Andrew McLeod
He is a great runner and rarely wastes a disposal. I can still vaguely recall one of his first games when I think he slotted the winning goal from the boundary against Hawthorn. He loves playing on the big stage and is one of a few players to have been best-on-ground in a grand final on two occasions.
CENTRES
Nigel Lappin
Lappin never seemed to get as much attention as the other Lions midfielders but he was the complete package. He was smart, a great runner, great user of the ball and really tough. I only spent a couple of seasons at the Lions with Nigel and he was held in the highest regard by everyone at the club.
Michael Voss
He was an exceptional leader who captained the Lions to three premierships in a row. He was tough and ruthless and really led by example. There really isn’t much he didn’t accomplish during his playing days. Plus, I would have to be pretty brave to leave my coach out of my best 22.
Peter Matera
Matera is one of those players that really made an impression on me in my younger days. We used to watch the Eagles a fair when I lived in Western Australia and I can vividly remember his blistering speed and ability to break the lines; a super player.
HALF-FORWARDS
Shane Crawford
He’s another one of those guys who had an ability to run all day. He was probably Hawthorn’s best player just after their premiership era in the early 90s, won a Brownlow Medal and retired after being part of the Hawks’ 2008 premiership win. I couldn’t find a spot for him in the midfield so have slotted him in on the forward flank.
Wayne Carey
Probably the complete package as a centre half-forward. He kicked bags of goals when his team needed them, crashed packs and was the master of taking contested marks. There seemed to be so many occasions when he single-handedly lifted the Kangaroos to victory. There’s little wonder they called him "the King".
Nathan Buckley
Another player that is probably more suited to the midfield, but Buckley also proved at times that he was capable of kicking goals. He was an exceptional leader at Collingwood and a great user of the ball. He won a Brownlow Medal and a lot of club champion awards at the Magpies.
FORWARDS
James Hird
He was a very clever player who could adapt to a variety of positions. He was one of those guys that seemed to do something special every time he was near the ball. He won a Brownlow, a couple of premierships, a Norm Smith Medal and was an All-Australian; very hard to match up on.
Tony Lockett
'Plugger' was just a goal-scoring machine. He was big and strong and would crash packs. He still holds the record for most goals kicked in the AFL; he ended up with more than 1,300 over his career which is unbelievable. He was a great target for his teammates and very rarely missed when lining up for a set shot.
Darren Jarman
He had amazing skills, was a slippery customer and had the ability to change a game with a few acts of brilliance. As a kid I watched him win a flag at Hawthorn and then go on to help the Crows win back-to-back premierships.
FOLLOWERS
Dean Cox
I have played against him a couple of times and can safely lock him into this position. He really revolutionised the role of a ruckman with his ability to run all day and almost play as an extra midfielder. Aside from his elite running ability, he is also a wonderful tap ruckman. I really admired Dean Cox growing up in Western Australia.
Chris Judd
A gun player who can win the contested ball as an inside midfielder and also blitz you with his pace when he breaks free. He’s explosive, can break tackles and win clearances. He’s not bad in front of goals either - I remember him kicking five in a half against the Lions at the Gabba back in his West Coast days.
Gary Ablett Jr
He is similar to Judd in that he is really strong in a tackle, can find plenty of the ball and kick goals. He has won a Brownlow and is probably unlucky not to have a couple more under his belt. He still has plenty of good football ahead of him which is quite scary.
INTERCHANGE
Anthony Koutoufides
A big, strong onballer who was probably one of the best pure athletes I have seen play in the AFL. There were times when you seriously thought there was nobody capable of stopping him; one of my heroes at the Blues.
Mark Ricciuto
Like Voss, he was a strong and smart midfielder who really led by example; won a Brownlow Medal, a premiership with the Crows and countless All-Australian jumpers. He even moved forward in his twilight years and showed that he could be a useful medium-sized goal-kicker.
Robert Harvey
He was an exceptional runner who always seemed to find the ball. He was incredibly durable and managed to play for over two decades. His strong hips made him difficult to tackle and he always found his way through traffic; a dual Brownlow Medallist, need I say more.
Adam Goodes
I had to include Adam Goodes on my bench because he adds so much versatility to my side. He can play anywhere - midfield, forward and even ruck. He has won a couple of Brownlow Medals, was part of the Swans’ 2005 premiership side and is still going strongly today.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
