AFL Riverina names ‘Team of the Century’

After the idea of recognizing the best footballers produced by southern NSW was put forward by AFL NSW/ACT and former GWS GIANTS mentor Kevin Sheedy several months ago, a robust selection process was carried out, with the likes of Sheedy, and Greg Carroll part of the selection panel.

The Riverina AFL Team of the Century aimed to acknowledge the achievements of players from within the region encompassed by the Great Dividing Range to the east, Lachlan River to the north and west, and the Victorian border to the south.

An extended 50-man list of candidates was originally names, all of whom needed to have played junior football in the southern NSW region and managed more than 50 games at AFL, VFL or state league level to be considered.With so many high quality players produced, the final cull was a difficult one, but the reception from those present when the team was announced vindicated the selection decisions.

North Melbourne champ Wayne Carey was named as captain, with Swans stalwart Paul Kelly his deputy.

Hawthorn’s Luke Breust, Geelong’s Tom Hawkins, and St Kilda’s Adam Scheider were the only current day players selected in the side, with Bruest’s Hawks teammate Isaac Smith named an emergency.

The landmark event was an official sell out, attended by more than 220 people, including the likes of Brownlow Medalist Shane Crawford, dual premiership winner Breust, and Sydney Swans coach John Longmire.

The full Riverina Team of the Century is below.