IT'S sure to create much debate, but afl.com has bravely picked the team of the 1970s, with a short description of each player's history.

B: Ian Nankervis, Geoff Southby, Len Thompson
HB: Bruce Doull, Peter Knights, Francis Bourke
C: Keith Greig, Barry Cable, Robert Flower
HF: Alex Jesaulenko, Royce Hart, Wayne Schimmelbusch
F: Kevin Bartlett, Peter Hudson, Malcolm Blight
R: Gary Dempsey, Michael Tuck, Leigh Matthews
Reserves: John Rantall, Garry Wilson
Emergencies: Peter McKenna, David Dench, Phil Carman

Coach: Ron Barassi

Ian Nankervis
One half of Geelong's famous “Leyland” brothers. Ian Nankervis was renowned for his fitness and courageous. The defender played 253 games for the Cats and won two club best-and-fairest awards. He represented Victoria 11 times.

Geoff Southby
The greatest full-back of the modern era, the Carlton star won the club's best and fairest award in his first two seasons. Southby was a member of Carlton’s 1972 and 1979 premiership teams. He played 268 games for the Blues and was a regular Victorian representative.

Len Thompson
The Collingwood ruckman combined aerial skills with great athleticism for a man of his height – 200cm. Winner of the 1972 Brownlow Medal, Thompson was a best-and-fairest winner five times at Collingwood. Troubled by leg problems late in his career, he left Victoria Park in 1979, even though he wanted to stay with the Pies. He played 270 games and kicked 217 goals for Collingwood before spending stints at South Melbourne and Fitzroy.

Bruce Doull
An immensely popular clubman, the head-banded Doull was a delightlful and uncompromising half-back flanker. He played 356 games for Carlton and won himself a place in the heart of all Carlton fans because of his on-field honesty and toil. He won the Blues’ best and fairest four times and played in four premierships.

Peter Knights
Knight’s spectacular marking was a source of inspiration to photographers. He missed out on the Brownlow Medal by only three points to Graham Moss, due to missing seven games through a broken collarbone. He also missed the 1971 flag due to a knee injury but was part of three Hawthorn premiership sides (1978/'78/'83) during a career where he racked up 267 games and 202 goals.

Francis Bourke
Known as one of Richmond’s greatest players, Bourke played 300 games for the Tigers. A superbly courageous player, he once ran out a match with a  broken bone in his leg. A club captain in 1976 and1977, he played in five premiership sides. ('67/'69/'73/'74/'80).

Keith Greig
This red-haired, pale-skinned North Melbourne winger was famous for his long striding run and ball-handling skills. He was the Brownlow Medalist two years in a row (1973, 1974) and was part of the club’s 1975 flag, missing out on the 1977 win because of injury. He played until the age of 33, during which time he accrued 294 games.

Barry Cable
The midfielder is regarded as one of North’s greatest players. A master of disposal, particularly by hand, he won the 1964 and 1968 Sandover Medals with the Perth Demons. Cable joined North in 1970, only to return to WA after just one season. North lured Cable back in 1974 and he played in the Kangaroos' 1975 and 1977 premiership sides.

Robert Flower
A slender wingman with exquisite skills, Flower was a shining light during one of Melbourne’s darkest times. He won the club's best and fairest in 1977 and captained the Demons from 1981 to 1987.

Alex Jesaulenko
With superb handling, balance and a spectacular mark, Jesaulenko played at centre-half forward and came third in the Brownlow Medal in his first year. Jezza booted 115 goals when moved to full-forward in 1970, and became the first Blue to top the century. He was the last man to captain-coach a club to a VFL flag.

Royce Hart
One of the game’s finest centre-half forwards, Hart played 187 games for the Tigers from 1967-77, collecting 369 goals. After arriving at Richmond as a 17-year-old, Hart won four premierships; captaining the last two in 1973 and 1974. Hart represented the Big V 11 times.

Wayne Schimmelbusch
Schimmelbusch played 306 games with North Melbourne between 1973 and 1987, kicking 354 goals at half-forward. ‘Schimma’ was renowned for his courage and experienced success in North’s 1975 and 1977 premiershp sides. He represented Victoria 11 times and went on to coach the club in 1990. Schimmelbusch was named in North Melbourne’s team of the century.

Kevin Bartlett
Bartlett was a prolific ball winner and lethal around goal; his passion for splitting the big sticks eventually earned him the nickname “Hungry”. Bartlett played 403 games for the Tigers between 1965 and 1983, booting a total of 778 goals during his 19 injury-free seasons. ‘KB’ won the club’s best and fairest five times and played in the club’s five premierships between 1967 and 1980.

Peter Hudson
The talented Tasmanian played with Hawthorn from 1967 to 1974 and again in 1977. The dominating forward kicked 727 goals in 129 games and is rated in the top three full-forwards of all time. The Hawk averaged  5.59 goals per game and equalled Bob Pratt’s season record of 150 goals in 1971. The freakish player was Hawthorn's best and fairest in 1968 and 1970; 16 goals was his best effort in a VFL game.

Malcolm Blight
Touted by many as the greatest VFL player of all time. One of Blight’s most famous moments was his 70-metre goal after the siren to defeat Carlton at Princes Park. Blight played 178 games with North Melbourne, kicking a total of 444 goals. He was recruited from South Australian club Woodville where he won a Magarey Medal. In 1978 he won the Brownlow Medal and topped the VFL with 103 goals in '82. Blight played in North’s 1975 and 1977 premiership sides.

Gary Dempsey
One of the finest ruckman of the modern era, Dempsey played a total of 329 VFL games with Footscray and North Melbourne. Tall, well built and a good mark, Dempsey won the Brownlow in 1975 with the Bulldogs. He captured their best and fairest in 1970 and in successive years from 1973 to 1977. The brilliant big man captained the Doggies in 1971 and 1972 and again in 1977 and 1978. Dempsey also captained Victoria in 1972.

Michael Tuck
Tuck is one of the greatest players the game has seen. He dominated the midfield for Hawthorn between the years of 1972 and 1991, kicking 320 goals in 426 games - a record for most senior games. Tuck won premierships with the Hawks in 1976, 1978 and 1983 and won another four premierships as captain between 1986 to 1991. The fierce ball winner and team player also represented Victoria 11 times and was captain in 1984.

Leigh Matthews
‘Lethal’ as he was eventually known, was a leading figure in the Hawks' most successful era. All 332 games between 1969 and 1985 were played in a fearless manner by Matthews who ended his career with 915 goals, eight best and fairests, the captaincy from 1981 to 1985 and premierships in 1971, 1976, 1978 and 1983.

John Rantall
Rantall played 336 games with South Melbourne (1963-72 and 1976-79),  North Melbourne (1973-75) and Fitzroy (1980). Rantall was a superb half-back flanker with sensational skills and could play against players of all size. He won North’s best and fairest in 1974 and represented Victoria five times.

Garry Wilson
Wilson represented Fitzroy from 1971-84, playing 268 games and kicking 451 goals. He was a wispy rover with limitless courage, toughing out several head knocks, before eventually wearing a trademark head guard. He won the Fitzroy best and fairest in 1972, 1976 and three times in succession from 1978 to 1980. He played for Victoria 12 times.

Peter McKenna
At his peak, McKenna was treated like a pop-star – his ability to kick more than a hundred goals in a Collingwood jumper helping with the hysteria. McKenna topped the league in goalkicking in 1972 and 1984. He played 180 games between 1965 and 1975 with the Pies booting 838 goals. In 1977 he played 11 games for the Blues but quit because he did not like playing against his old side.

David Dench
The talented full-back played 275 games with North Melbourne between 1969 and 1984. Dench was a superb mark and possessed quality judgement and provided great run for the Kangaroos out of the backline. Dench was made Roos captain in 1972 and played as acting captain in the club’s 1977 triumph. He won the club’s best and fairest in 1971, 1977-78 and 1981. Dench wore the Big V jumper on four occasions.

Phil Carman
He is still referred to as ‘Fabulous Phil Carmen’. He played 66 games and kicked 142 goals between 1975 and 1978 with Collingwood, 11 games, 23 goals in 1979 with Melbourne, 10 games, 12 goals in 1980 and 1981 with Essendon and in 1982 played 13 games and kicked 27 goals with North Melbourne. A fiery character, he won the Collingwood best and fairest in 1975 and infamously received a 20-match suspension after headbutting boundary umpire Graham Carbery and striking Saint Gary Sidebottom.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL

Player histories sourced from The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers (Seventh Edition)