Aboriginal All Stars lineup

WAFL WAFL General Chat
1

BH’s great topic on the Swans board, and others on SF and Perth lead me to try come up with an all-star lineup - the only criteria is that they must have played at least one WAFL League match - when in doubt I’ve gone with players with WAFL premierships, medals etc.

I have posted this team on my Facebook and Twitter feeds too, so feel free to jump on there with you ideas too..

WAFLFOOTYFACTS NAIDOC ROUND ALL-STARS

Backs: Bill Dempsey, Gary Malarkey, Antoni Grover
H/backs: Benny Vigona, Michael Johnson, Basil Campbell
Centres: Phil Narkle, Maurice Rioli, Peter Matera
H/fwds: Chris Lewis, Stephen Michael, Syd Jackson
Forwards: Jim Krakouer, Lance Franklin, Kevin Taylor
Rucks: Graham Farmer, Ted Kilmurray, Barry Cable
Bench: Nicky Winmar, Keith Narkle, Derek Kickett, Phil Krakouer, Jimmy Melbourne, Alistair Pickett

Talls are hard to find, hence Stephen Michael at CHF, he could play anywhere anyhow. how’s that centreline, and the quality rovers? Hate to be a back man playing against this team.

Others considered that I couldn’t find a spot for include - let’s call them ‘squad members’ Jeff Farmer (1st emergency), Irwin Lewis, Michael Mitchell, Dale Kickett, Larry Kickett, John McGuire, Troy Ugle, Roger Hayden, Winston Abraham, Scott Chisolm, Daniel Wells, Des Headland, Phil Matera, John Hunt, Len Hayward, Leon Davis and Andrew Krakouer.

Not too sure of players pre 1980, so open to debate …

2

Wow look at the emergencies.Hell of a side. Theres plenty of players available to field a very handy reserves side also.

3

There is absolutely no way I could name just 1 side - I’d go as far as to say there would be more like 3 possibly even 4 sides given the sheer quality of Indigenous WANFL players that we’ve been blessed with over the years

Christ I had enough trouble fitting the Bulldogs guys into one side !!!

Great effort there mate nice job

4

I wouldn’t have David Wirrpanda in the side solely because he isn’t a West Australian. I think a few Northern Territory players in the team but they played Wafl when Wafl was Wafl.

5

What about the Haywood boys WAFF.Len was a good player for Souths and there were other brothers as well I believe.But that is going well back to maybe the 50s.
Dwert may be able to give more info on that.

6

Not sure of the Haywoods, well before my time but more than happy to get someone who them to consider whose spot that could take.

So many great names, and memories amongst all the names, for me the most exciting footballers were/are indigenous.

7

[quote=“chaddy22, post:4, topic:7448”]
I wouldn’t have David Wirrpanda in the side solely because he isn’t a West Australian. I think a few Northern Territory players in the team but they played Wafl when Wafl was Wafl.[/quote

Yes, I was tossing up whether or not to include Wirra, but struggled for back line players that I thought were better, and he played WAFL so that was good enough for inclusion.

8

Maley and Bill were the other brothers all Anchor…Bloody terrific team WAFL.

9

Len also played for Kangas in the GNFL. A great player.

10

Yep spot on can’t have Wirra or any other indigenous players that didn’t come through the WAFL system first. But apart from that great effort. Who is Jimmy Melbourne? And Nicky Winmar would have to be in the starting line up in front of Kevin Taylor.

Would also have Grover out, Johnson at fb, Basil at CHB and Leon Davis on a half back flank.

11

Ok Wirrpanda is out - been reliably informed Gary Malarkey is a worthy replacement. So he’s in and full back and Grover moved to back pocket

12

Yep spot on can’t have Wirra or any other indigenous players that didn’t come through the WAFL system first. But apart from that great effort. Who is Jimmy Melbourne? And Nicky Winmar would have to be in the starting line up in front of Kevin Taylor.

Would also have Grover out, Johnson at fb, Basil at CHB and Leon Davis on a half back flank.
[/quote]

Thanks DD, Neon Leon - for back pocket, open to swap him for Grover - what do others think?

Jimmy Melbourne
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Melbourne

13

Gary Malarkey isn’t mentioned in the East Perth 100 years of tradition book by Alan East as a aboriginal footballer. One who could go into the back pocket is triple East Perth back pocket player Jack Hunt who came from sister kates. I would also have Syd Jackson in the starting 18.His credentials are better then most.Would have won a sandover medal in his first year as a centreman (1963) except he got suspended.He also was played at half forward flank at East perth.When he moved to Carlton he played in two premierships as a half forward.i loved his drop kicks.

14

Well done Ric it isnt an easy exercise picking a greatest ever side and there will always be a few players that everyone doesnt agree with but you have done a pretty good job.
A few of other names that could be up for consideration are Michael Mitchell (sheesh what an excitement machine he was), Dale Kickett, Michael Walters & the Hill Brothers.
A couple of other WA boys that unfortunately never played in the WAFL are Byron Pickett & Eddie Betts.

15

Waflfootyfacts: good job; I would have Jackson and Kickett in the startting 18. Over on the Subi thread, Dean Kemp is classed as an Aborigine, keeping this in mind, I would also include him. I would exclude the Krakouer boys, and Taylor and in addition move Maurice onto a half forward flank and Phil Narkle into a forward pocket.

so in my line up the centre line would be: kemp, jackson, matera; kickett would play in a foward pocket to add a little bit of height to the team, which as you pointted out, is sorelly lacking.

16

Dean Kemp???
Nicky Winmar is a certainty in the 18.
Michael Mitchell was brilliant - at wafl and vfl level. Dale kickett also, two simpson medals and a remarkably consistent footballer once moved to the backline.

17

Exclude the Krakouer Brothers AR …surely you jest??? :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:

18

BH – they would be in the 22-- Jimmy in particular was a very good footballer

19

Exclude the Krakouer Brothers AR …surely you jest??? :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:
[/quote]

As good as they were as a duo as rovers only room for one of them.Cable the best rover.I would have Jimmy as second rover resting in the pocket and if you want a third I would have Taylor in the other forward pocket purely as he was the best goal kicking rover. No room for sentiment or Phil as he wasn’t a half forward.Chris lewis and Syd Jackson played as half forwards and you pick the best players in their best position.

20

Kemp ??? Bahahahahahahahahaha :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: