HOW DOES GEELONG’S NEW-LOOK AFL MIDFIELD STACK UP?
GEELONG 2018:
Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan
* 3x Brownlow Medals (Ablett 2009, 2013; Dangerfield 2016)
* 6x AFLPA MVP awards (Ablett 5x, Dangerfield 2016)
* 19x All-Australian selections: (Ablett 8x, Selwood 6x, Dangerfield 5x)
Remember the havoc Geelong coach Chris Scott caused when he had Dangerfield line up at full-forward? Now imagine the Cats having the ability to spin the magnets and rotate Ablett and ‘Danger’ between the midfield and forward line. With Dangerfield still firmly in the conversation as the AFL’s best player, Ablett’s trade to Geelong is a huge boost for their premiership chances. While no longer in his glorious prime, 33-year-old Ablett still has plenty to offer. He will be reunited with inspirational leader Selwood – perhaps the best active player not to have won the AFL’s highest individual honour. Duncan is less accomplished but still an important contributor.
BRISBANE 2001-03:
Michael Voss, Simon Black, Jason Akermanis, Nigel Lappin
* Premiers 2001-03
* 3x Brownlows: (Voss 1996, Akermanis 2001, Black 2002)
* 1x Norm Smith Medal: (Black 2003)
* 2x AFLPA MVPs: (Voss 2002-03)
* 16x All-Australian selections: (Voss 5, Akermanis 4, Lappin 4, Black 3)
Perhaps what stands out most about the Lions’ vaunted ‘Fab Four’ is how long they were able to perform at such a high level. On sheer numbers, it’s hard to argue with three premierships. But there was no shortage of individual talent. A fiercely competitive, hard-as-nails leader, Voss set the standard as captain that later greats such as Selwood and Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge would go on to emulate. Lappin was equally courageous, playing in the 2003 grand final with a punctured lung and two broken ribs, while Black was a silky-smooth, prolific ball-winner. Then there was ‘Aker’ – a mercurial talent with blistering speed who could also kick brilliant goals.
WEST COAST 2004-06:
Chris Judd, Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr, Dean Cox
* Premiers 2006
* 3x Brownlows (Judd 2004, 2010; Cousins 2005)
* 1x Norm Smith Medal: (Judd 2005)
* 2x AFLPA MVP awards (Cousins 2005, Judd 2006)
* 19x All-Australian selections: (Judd 6x, Cousins 6x, Cox 6x, Kerr 1x)
It was relatively short-lived in the scheme of things, but West Coast’s midfield quartet of Cox, Judd, Cousins and Kerr stands alone as the greatest of the modern era. Judd was at the peak of his powers, boasting explosive speed and evasiveness. Kerr was a silky-smooth on-baller who twice went runner-up for the Brownlow, and Cox was a gun ruckman with the all-round talent to play effectively as another midfielder. But for a short while, Cousins was the best of the lot – a phenomenal gut-runner who could play inside or outside and had a freakish goal sense. Importantly – and unlike the new-look Geelong side – all four stars were in their prime, although things quickly fell apart after the 2006 premiership.
