IN a new feature series throughout the year, AFL Draft Central’s Brandon Hutchinson will look at a possible best 22 from each TAC Cup club. Starting with the Bendigo Pioneers and working through each of the 12 clubs, the series is likely to cause plenty of debate as to who should or should not make the side.

As you will see from the Pioneers’ best 22 that have been compiled, the midfield is stacked with guns and the defence is quite strong. With only three genuine key position players in the side, the Pioneers would aim to play a running game to trouble opponents. Due to the lack of height, Nathan Thompson has been thrown into the ruck, while the Tarrant brothers hold down the key position posts in the defence. Up forward, medium-talls who can fill-in for key position players, Andrew Walker and Jake Stringer are the focal points for the attack.

A midfield containing Dustin Martin, Joel Selwood and Ollie Wines is just about going to win every clearance, so the forward 50 entries are likely to be frequent. It will be a family affair for the Selwoods, with brothers Adam, Scott and Troy all making the team. No doubt in the future we will be adding names such as Paddy Dow, Lochie O’Brien and Jarrod Brander to the team should their careers progress as expected.

Bendigo Pioneers Best 22:

B: Brent Guerra – Robbie Tarrant – Dean Solomon
HB: Josh Hunt – Chris Tarrant – Jarryn Geary
C: Nick Dal Santo – Ollie Wines – Adam Selwood
HF: Daniel Harris – Andrew Walker – Scott Selwood
F:  Nathan Brown – Jake Stringer – Sam Kerridge
R: Nathan Thompson – Dustin Martin – Joel Selwood
INT: Michael Braun – Colin Sylvia – Troy Selwood – Rick Ladson

Backs:

Brent Guerra

Drafted as the twenty-eighth selection for Port Adelaide in 1999. During his time with Hawthorn he was developed into a strong-bodied half back flanker helping to add experience to their 2006 side.  He played in both Hawthorn’s 2008 and 2013 premiership side and received a Rising Star nomination in 2001. Guerra displayed a better consistency during his time with Hawthorn that he lacked when playing at Port Adelaide and St Kilda.

Robbie Tarrant

Initially being overlooked in the 2006 draft due to a shoulder injury, Tarrant was drafted the following year after having a standout year with the Pioneers. Tarrant was the fifteenth pick in the draft and was snagged up by North Melbourne. He did not play any AFL football in his first two years, but in 2016 was awarded North Melbourne’s Syd Barker Medal. He has a strong intercept mark and knows how to beat his opponent in a contest. He has played on some talented forwards as a backman and would make a good utility in defence.

Dean Solomon

Selected by Essendon as the twentieth pick in 1997. He went on to be a part of Essendon’s AFL Premiership side in 2000 and received a Rising Star nomination in 1999. He had a strong body and a good attack on the ball but was often let down by his lack of discipline during play. Despite that, Solomon was a part of Essendon 2000 side, arguably one of the greatest teams ever, losing only one game the whole season.

Half-Backs:

Josh Hunt

Hunt cemented himself as a dangerous backman for Geelong when he hit his breakout year in 2004. He earned himself two Premiership Medals in 2007 and 2011, but missed out on Geelong’s 2009 appearance due to an ACL injury. The stocky defender was relied on to kick in after an opposition behind due to a keen ability to get the ball moving into an attacking play with his long, precise kicking.

Chris Tarrant

Being Collingwood’s leading goalkicker from 2001-2005 is a feat that should not go unnoticed. Tarrant played as a key forward during his time with the Magpies and was known for his high marks, athleticism and leading to the ball. He won the AFL Anzac Medal in 2001, was selected for the All-Australian team in 2003 and took home mark of the year that same year. Tarrant also demonstrated his skill as a backman following his moved to Fremantle in 2006.

Jarryn Geary

The current St Kilda captain has transformed his career over the past couple of seasons from a fair contributor to one of the Saints’ crucial players. He finished second in the club best and fairest in 2016, and was named captain at the start of last season, taking over the reigns from Nick Riewoldt. At 29 years of age, Saints fans will be hoping he has a few years left in him.  

Centres:

Nick Dal Santo

Dal Santo was drafted to St Kilda in 2001 with the thirteenth selection and went on to play 18 games during his first year. He is a three-time All-Australian and played with incredible poise and skill. During his prime, Dal Santo played light on his feet and demonstrated an excellent ability as an outside midfield. His football smarts guided him nicely and he did well to keep up with other stars on St. Kilda such as Riewoldt, Hayes, Montagna and Goddard. In his final year for North Melbourne he averaged 24.8 disposals for a total of 545, topping the board in both categories. Kevin Sheedy has likened Dal Santo to triple Brownlow Medallist Ian Stewart for his bravery and skill.

Ollie Wines

Wines was picked up as the seventh selection during the 2012 National Draft for Port Adelaide in 2012, and since then has shown impeccably skilled football. The midfielder has been selected three times for 22 Under 22 team and is a three-time Gavin Wanganeen Medal recipient. He is young and improving. He has played primarily as an inside midfielder and manages to hold himself against more seasoned players.

Adam Selwood

Adam had a crack at two premierships with the Eagles in 2005 and 2006, and despite having some bad luck with injuries, has had an impressive career. Selwood received a Rising Star nomination in 2005, earned a spot in the Eagle’s starting 22 and defined himself well as a defensive midfielder. Adam also took home a premiership medallion in 2006 when the Eagles beat the Swans in their Grand Final rematch in which he played all 26 games for that season.

Half-Forwards:

Daniel Harris

One of North Melbourne’s hardest workers and onball toilers, Harris became known for his inside work and ability to shut down opposition players. He played 149 games and while he was eventually delisted at North Melbourne, found a home on the Gold Coast, playing for the Suns. He managed 11 more games to take his total to 160 and made history being a part of the inaugural Suns’ team. He retired later in the year after ongoing groin complaints.  

Andrew Walker

Walker was selected by Carlton with their priority draft pick, the second pick overall in 2003. His debut in 2004 against West Coast saw him rack up 26 disposals and three goal assists. That performance was rewarded one Brownlow vote and a Rising Star Award nomination. In 2011, Walker was also Carlton’s leading goalkicker and finish sixth in their best and fairest. During his 2006 season Walker had many successful games as a tagger and began to show consistency in his football.

Scott Selwood

Selwood’s career started off a little rocky but he slowly managed to find his feet. He played mostly as a tagger and an inside midfielder for West Coast from 2008-2015. In 2012, he was awarded the John Worsfold Medal, beating Shannon Hurn and Dean Cox. In 2016, Selwood moved to Geelong to join his brother but missed a few games due to injury. However, he did manage to play eleven games and returned as a dominant tagger for the Cats.

Forwards:

Nathan Brown

Drafted in 1996 by the Western Bulldogs at tenth overall, the Morrish Medal winner played a total of 219 games across 13 seasons. Brown was a dangerous medium forward who kicked 348 goals throughout his AFL career. He is a four-time International Rules Series player and a winner of the Jim Stynes Medal. Brown’s clever read and attack on the ball made him a damaging forward for the Western Bulldogs and eventually the Richmond Tigers.

Jake Stringer

Jake Stringer is a Western Bulldogs’ three-time leading goalkicker from 2015-2017. Drafted in 2012 as the fifth selection, it took Stringer only three years to develop into a strong forward for the Bulldogs, putting through 56 goals for the 2015 season. He was selected in the same year for the 22 Under 22 team and the All-Australian side. In his fourth year, Stringer became a premiership player and assisted his team in their win. He is a big-bodied forward who plays well in the air and has been known to do well through the midfield. He is damaging on the board and does not shy away from a contest.

Sam Kerridge

Drafted by Adelaide at selection 27 in the 2011 National Draft, Kerridge only played one game in his first season on AFL before running out in 11 the following year. He became a tagger for Adelaide and worked to lessen the damage of key opposition players. Kerridge was traded to Carlton to 2015 where he played all but one game and cemented himself nicely within the side. He can be a damaging forward when he needs to be but has shown plenty of promise as midfielder or tagger.

Onballers:

Nathan Thompson

Thompson is a strong forward and excellent goal scorer. In 2003 and 2004 he was the leading goalkicker for Hawthorn, and the year’s following at North Melbourne in 2005 and 2006, he led their goalkicking all the same. He was a strong overhead marker and was a dominant force in both forward lines. He was not known as a ruck, but for the purpose of this team, is the most likely to ruck, along with the Tarrant brothers.

Dustin Martin (Richmond)

Probably the biggest name in the AFL at the moment, it should come as no surprise to see Dustin Martin on this list. In 2017, Richmond’s powerhouse took home the Jack Dyer Medal, an All-Australian selection, the Leigh Mathews Trophy, the Champion Player of the Year Award, the Gary Ayres Award, the Brownlow Medal, the Norm Smith Medal and a win in the Grand Final. In 2009, Richmond used their first pick to snatch up Martin from the Bendigo Pioneers, selected third overall. He has come to be one of the most valuable midfield utilities in the league, and was the first player history to take home both the Brownlow Medal and Norm Smith Medal in the same year.  His accolades should come as no surprise once you see how damaging this man can be to any side.

Joel Selwood

Captain of Geelong since 2012 and a three-time Premiership Player, Joel Selwood has defined his football through his keen sense of leadership and his prowess throughout the midfield. Selwood is a six-time All-Australian, captaining the side in 2013, 2014 and 2016. He is a four-time winner of the AFLPA Robert Rose Most Courageous Player Award, and a three-time winner of the Carji Greeves Medal. For the 2006 National Draft, Selwood was the 7^th pick and Geelong’s first choice. He went on to win the AFLPA Best First Year Player Award and the AFL Rising Star Award in his first year. Since then he has scored highly in many statistical groups and is still one of the most talented players in league after 11 seasons.

Interchange:                          

Michael Braun

Braun played with the West Coast Eagles from 1997-2008. He received two Rising Star nominations in 1997 and 1998 and won the Ross Glendinning Medal following the Western Derby match in 2007. Braun also played in West Coast’s grand final side in 2006 and took home a premiership medal. He was picked by West Coast as the fifty-third selection in the 1996. Braun proved to be a valuable asset for West Coast throughout the midfield.

Colin Sylvia 

Sylvia was picked with the third selection in 2003 by the Demons.  He received a Rising Star nomination in 2005 after coming back from a groin injury the previous year. He was seen as one of the most impressive young players at the time. He was a dominant force for the Demons as the years went on but his career was held back by injuries. After failing to meet fitness standards, Sylvia was relegated to the WAFL before retiring from the AFL.

Troy Selwood

Selwood’s endurance saw him take up the role of a tagger for the Brisbane Lions. He played 75 games for the club before being delisted at the end of 2010. In an attempt to get back into AFL football, Selwood joined the Geelong Cats VFL side of which he was appointed co-captain in 2011. He would later lead his team to a premiership in where they defeated Port Melbourne by 33 points.

Rick Ladson

Ladson played every game in 2008 and, as a result, was a part of Hawthorn’s premiership winning side. He was taken in 2001 at Pick 16 and developed into a pivotal part of Hawthorn’s side. He mostly played as a defender and an outside midfielder, but his career was limited due to injuries.