Worst AFL sides, 1990-2003 - Readers Respond

 

 

The decision by footballinvective.com to publish an anonymously circulated list of the worst AFL sides since 1990 has, understandably, split the football world and provoked fierce debate.

 

Here, readers get the chance to respond to the nominations by putting forward their own star players who they felt were unlucky to miss out.

 

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Darren from London writes:

 

I reckon this Hawthorn side is better (or should I say worse).....

 

How you could leave out the great full back Austin McCrabb is beyond me!

 

Backs - Luke McCabe, Austinn McCrabb, Scott Crow

Half Backs - Mark Bunn, Trent Croad, Barry Young

Centre - Ricky Nixon, Glenn Nugent, Shane Stevenson

Half Forwards - Tim Allen, Randall Bone, Bill Nicholls

Forwards - Jason Taylor, Kingsley Hunter, Haydon Kilmartin

 

Rucks - Simon Crawshay, Tim Clarke, Jon Hassall

 

Interchange - Steven Greene, Lawrence Bingham, Shane Stevenson

 

Brownlow Votes

3. Simon Crawshay

2. Randall Bone

1. Austin McCrabb

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"Where is Nick Holland?"

 

Ted, Sydney

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The 'great boner Randall Bone' just gets the nod IMO.

 

FIFA president Sebb Blatter has to get a mention for colberting the Socceroos by caving in to bribes laced with South American drug money and withdrawing the automatic inclusion of the Oceanic region to the World Cup finals and replacing it with the 27th ranked South American side. I have it on good authority that old Sebb had a late night phone call in his Colombian Inter Continetal hotel room from Andres Escobar's widow just reminding him how much the South American's love their football which I guess also would have swayed his decision and brought on the colberting.

 

BTW I am off to watch the Socceroos play New Zealand tonight in what can only be classed as a highlight of the soccer calendar in 2005.

 

Darren, London

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Good to finally see Johnny "the beak" Gastev finally get the recognition
he deserves at full back for Brisbane and Wayne "the weed" Weidemann for Adelaide.

 

Matt, Melbourne

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Other stars include Ilija Grgic, Mark Pitura and anyone who pulled on a
Bulldogs jumper.

 

Ted, Sydney

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Surely not - Ross Funke.

 

Solid gold

 

Marty, Melbourne

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Michael McGuane
James Cook
Mick Martyn

- Carlton greats

 

Ted, Sydney

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Austin McCrabb also deserved a mention in the Age of the Tash - 2
opportunities to be in this week's invective gone begging for poor old
Austin - a bit like a premiership mediallion for Nick Stevens (oh hang on I forgot......does a Wizard Cup premierhsip mediallion count?)

 

Darren, London

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good to see Jamie Shanahan got a run

 

Ted, Sydney

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There is no way Simon Tregenza is in the worst-ever Crows side - lightning quick and the finest-ever exponent of the Crow throw. He couldn't kick to save himself, but he was an SA SOO regular - at one time the highest pinnacle of football achievement (SANFL flag included).

 

How about Danny Hughes (so bad Melbourne stuck with Tony Campbell), James Thiessen, Jason McCartney (not even Collingwood had any use for him), Lance Picioane (even though he still gets a guernsey), Nick Pesch, Clay Sampson, Ronnie Burns, Ben Nelson, Barry Stanfield, Stephen Schwerdt, Jason Torney et al. - I mean, do some research before you unfairly besmirch the reputation of one of the fine, original Crows who created history by decimating the Hawks on opening night, 1991. I personally am on good terms with both of the footballinvective.com writers, and I know they are completely anal when it comes to journalistic accuracy, and it shows in their work.

 

Ahmed, Dandenong South
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Love me Invective. Love me Port. Crows are fair dinkum SA so they will ALWAYS be me number 2 team - bugger me drunk if I ever put Vic before Croweater.

 

Saw Port missed out on a 'Worst Team' list, fair enough we haven't been in the comp long enough so me and me girlfriend Trace came up with our own. I have to admit we have had our share of duds too so here goes...

 

Port Worst XXII (1997-2005)

 

B: Adam Heuskes, Brett Chalmers, Paul Geister

HB: Nathan Steinberner, Ian Downsborough, Derek Murray

C: Danny Morton, John Rombotis, Nathan Eagleton

HF: Nigel Fiegert, Bowen Lockwood, David Brown

F: Josh Mahoney, Scott Cummings, Chris Naish

Foll: Cain Ackland, Josh Carr, Brent Heaver

Inter: Jaxon Crabb, Stuart Cochrane, Paul Koulouriotis, Barnaby French

 

Shane, Pooraka, SA

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I disagree with Aaron Keating as lead ruck. He is a 97 premiership player and while only playing a handful of games for the Crows he actually wasn't that bad (obviously not as good as his brother but in the same mould). He had an amazing week in 97 when he won the flag with the Crows and then after a week of partying won the flag with Norwood in the SANFL by about 80 points over Port (one of the most enjoyable games I have ever been to) in front of 40000 screaming delirious Crows/Norwood supporters (it was the most well attended SANFL grand final in years).

 

Enjoy tomorrow and go the Crows!

 

Patrick, Adelaide

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As a hawk fan don't agree with Trent Croad, the athlete has had two great years since he came back.
Nick Holland, Tim Clarke, Nick Ries, Lance Picione should all be included.
David Clarke jnr should be in the Carlton and Geelong teams.
Adam Saliba should be in the Pentridge team of the century.

 

Matthew, Melbourne

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The worst sides page has some crackers in there eg Athos Hyrisolakis, Danny Dickfos, Justin Plapp etc. etc.... Did you come up with these on your own?

 

I have a rival worst Carlton side of players I have personally seen (not including players on your site or current players, most of whom would probably make the side!) which you can post:

B:   S. Cranage, S. O'Reilly, D. Tarczon

HB:  I. Aitken (VC), B. Harrison, M. Mansfield

C:   J. Murphy, M. Athorn (C), A. Eccles

HF: S. Smart, A. Cavedon, S. Charles

F:   J. Anstey, C. Beasy, J. Hynes

Foll: R. Mott, M. McKenzie, D. Harford

Inter: A. Pickering, B. Sexton, A. Merrington, B. Campbell

Coach: A. Jesaulenko (great player, but the less said the better about his coaching...)

 

Have to agree with most players in your team, but I reckon this one is worse (I especially think Hotton, French and Oliver were harsh selections).

 

Classo, Glen Iris

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Where is Troy Bond?

 

He might have kicked the sealer for the Crows in the 97 Grand Final, but that's about the only good thing he ever did. He was like a Dean Rioli tub but without the lairising in his days at Carlton.

 

Dale, Vermont South

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Some future entries into the hall of shame should be:

Brian "Sugar" Winton (Ess,Rich StK): said sugar every time the ball went within 10 yards of him, absolutely shocking footballer

Jamie Turner (Collingwood)

Anthony Banik (Richmond): No 1 draft pick, No 1 goose,

Scott Wynd (Foots) Worst Brownlow medallist in history (Even worse than Libba? - SURELY not. - Ed)

Wayne Lamb (Fitzroy mid 1990s)

Willie Rioli (Hawthorn)

Darren Cuthbertson (melb, haw)

Gordon Fode (StK, Haw)

Jason Danilchenko (Nth Melb, Haw)

 

Matthew, Melbourne

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Was perusing the site and noticed there was a glaring omission from your worst sides list - we may only be a young team but trust me, we've still had our fair share of rubbish players. Observe:

 

B     Scott Bassett           Stephen Daniels   John Rombotis

HB    Jaxon Crabb       Brett Chalmers          Stephen Carter

C     Donald Dickie           Shane Breuer            Nathan Steinberner

HF    Brent Heaver            Darryl Poole            Derek Murray

F     Nigel Fiegert           Paul Evans        Chris Naish

 

R     Ian Downsborough  Danny Morton            Mike Stevens

 

I/C   Mark Harwood            Paul Geister            Stuart Cochrane

Bowen Lockwood

 

Again, feel free to use this list - I feel it's only fair that we have a
presence in the hall of shame!

"Teal Coloured Glasses", Alberton

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My mate M Ahmat isn’t quite sure if it is better or worse to be on the interchange bench in the worst side since 1990.   By the way can play!

 

Clinton, Darwin

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This is surely the best Carlton had to offer:

 

B:       Scott Spalding        Stephen O’Reilly       Luke Livingston

HB:     Darren Tarczon       Adrian Bassett          Mick McGuane

C:       Craig Davenport      Tony Lynn               Sean Charles

HF:      Steven Oliver         James Cook             Julian Kirzner

F:        Rohan Welsh          Tim Reinerts            Tim Powell

R:        Jamie Dunlop          Mark Athorn             Andrew Eccless

Int:      Sam Cranage         Murray Vance      Stephen Edgar              Heath Culpitt

Em:      Jacob Anstey        Sam Smart       Ben Harrisson               Adam Matthews

Apologies:   Troy Bond, Alan Thorpe, Anthony Merrington, Adam Chatfield, Brett Backwell, Adam White, David Gallagher, Andrew Cavedon, Mark Arceri, 

 

Dennis

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Where is Corey McKernan? Won the club B&F in its inaugural spoon year.

 

Dale, Vermont Sth