WHENEVER "best of" lists are put together there's certain to be plenty of controversy and discussion around the traps.
Ready for all of that, I've decided to compile a list of the 12 most influential players I've watched in my capacity as a Bendigo Advertiser match-day writer during the past five seasons, including this year: so, 2009-2013.
We all know Mike Sheahan's AFL Top Fifty in the Herald-Sun and Rohan Connolly's Best Of compilations in The Age excite plenty of comment.
So here goes with a "Best Dozen" in the BFNL. Not in any particular order, though, they are:-
Grant Weeks (Golden Square): any player who can bag more than 100 goals in each season he plays has to be rated a special footballer.
Last September Weeka capped off a stellar career with the Bulldogs by breaking the league's goalkicking record. He snagged four majors in the nail-biting grand final win over Gisborne to take his 2012 tally to 164 and thus break, by one, Frank Crapper of Eaglehawk's record of 163 goals –- a mark which had stood since 1933.
This season the long-kicking Weeks headed off to Rochester in the Goulburn Valley league, but has left a record which could stand almost as long as Crapper's: close to 80 years.
Tom Waters (Gisborne): the Gardiner Reserve's big man has been rated as the league's No. 1 ruckman for a few seasons now.
Unfortunately injured and therefore unavailable for May's inter-league action against Ballarat Waters' tap-out skills, mobility and work around the ground was sadly missed.
His marking at both ends of the field has been a feature of Tom's play for the Gisborne Bulldogs. And he bobs up with a goal or two most games, as well.
Danny Childs (South Bendigo): skipper of the Bloods and key playmaker, Brady has developed a reputation as one of the top inside midfielders in the BFNL.
He's regularly tagged heavily and seems to be involved in a number of collision contests each match. But the South captain just gets on with the job, cleverly extricating himself from one-on-one match-ups to find space in attack and nail a couple of majors.
Has been a regular member of the Blue and Gold inter-league squad in recent seasons, too.
Travis Baird (Golden Square): one of the hardest match-ups for rival coaches. A real swingman, he can be stationed at centre half-back and then zone off his opponent to find space up forward and boot an amazing goal.
Look back downfield, and you'll find his specific opponent 100 metres away. Then glance back way up forward and there's Baird running, unmarked, into an open goalmouth.
He's a fine kick and as good overhead as anyone of his size in the BFNL.
Justin Maddern (South Bendigo): like Weeks, 'Harry' has also booted 100 goals in a season, but that was in his Kangaroo Flat days three seasons ago.
His height, agility and spring-heeled ability to take a 'screamer' means Harry is a nightmare match-up for opposing defences.
He might be nick-named the Big Baby Giraffe, but boy, is he agile at ground level and below his knees. And he's a booming kick at goal, from in front or from acute angles.
Blair Holmes (Sandhurst): another fine in-and-under midfielder who is not afraid of heavy buffeting in the packs and scrimmages.
The Dragons' engine-room specialist is as tough and as durable as they come, and he also knows how to get free of a run-with opponent to snag a goal or two.
He might have what some commentators describe as "a short fuse" but that doesn't detract from his fearless hard running and inspirational play.
Simon Rosa (Golden Square): one of the most accurate passes by hand and foot in the competition.
The inter-league captain, Rosa is just a pleasure to watch as he goes about his business.
He's been integral to the MyJet Oval Dogs finals campaigns over the past few seasons and has never let his club, or his teammates, down.
Has a big engine and is running just as hard in the last quarter as he was in the first.
Wayne Schultz (Strathfieldsaye): was the rebounding half-back ace in his Castlemaine days when he won the Michelsen Medal in 2011.
Regularly he'd bounce out of defence with a raking kick into the forward half. If the opposition returned the ball there was Schultz ready to mop up once again.
Now a goal-kicking on-baller 'Silva' is the Storm's co-coach and general of the midfield brigade. Was in great touch against the Flat and also Maryborough a few rounds back.
Tim Hill (Eaglehawk): it seems that defenders, particularly full-backs and centre half-backs, seldom rate mentions in the Best Of lists of players.
But Hill has been so consistent and so solid for the Hawks –- plus the Blue and Gold representative side with inclusion in the best six against Ballarat in May --- that he can't be left out.
One day last year I was reporting on a Two Blues' game at Canterbury Park and this big figure loomed up on the grandstand forward flank, potted a goal and ran back downfield.
Yep, it was Hill who'd come down from his key defence spot to land a major.
Tyrone Downie (Kangaroo Flat): if he's not the best mark for his size in the BFNL, then I haven't been watching local footy for 30-plus years.
'Tigga' has been the heart and soul at Beck Legal Oval for quite a few years now and, just as importantly, has overcome significant ailments which would have put paid to a lesser player.
A fine kick for goal Downie is quick on the lead. Excellent overhead as I've noted he's also very nimble diving along the deck to collect worm-burner passes.
Ollie Messaoudi (Gisborne): perhaps the most tenacious and strong-willed on-ball player in the BFNL.
Never knows when he's beaten and just keeps on plugging away match-long.
Kicked an inspirational last quarter goal for the Blue and Gold to give Bendigo the lead in May's inter-league clash against Ballarat, underlining just how competitive and hard-working he is.
Has an amazing ability to soak up punishing bumps and collisions to just keep on running.
Josh Bowe (Eaglehawk): gone to W.A. this year but a terrific contributor for the Two Blues, capped off by a deserved Michelsen Medal in 2010.
I know it must sound repetitive to be extolling the virtues of midfielders, but these are the players who get their sides moving.
Bowe is another example of a hard-running, agile player who started things off from the middle of Canterbury Park --- not to mention other grounds where the Hawks were drawn to play.
Apologies to: Luke Saunders of Gisborne who we know has been sidelined with an ear infection/balance malady for most of the past two seasons. However, I saw the 'Rolls Royce' boot 2.2 at Beck Legal Oval against Kangaroo Flat in Round 6 last year when well below his best and he still hauled in a 'hanger' or two.
Also apologies to Square's speedster Mark Lloyd and to Two Blues' top full-forward Matt "G-Train" Gretgrix who consistently seems to nail a few snag rolls whenever I'm reporting on an Eaglehawk game: most recently in the wet, a lazy 8.
And to Square's pivotal defender Clayton Anderson, plus Michelsen Medal winners Shannon Milward (he's been gone from the BFNL for a while now) and the Hurst and Bendigo Gold's Lee Coghlan (who has also suffered from a spate of injuries recently).
To Casey Summerfield of Gisborne, Tyson MacIlwain of Maryborough and
Storm's Sam Mildren who has been sidelined with back and arm injuries for considerable spells during 2012 and 2013, so he's been out of action for a bit as well.
Richard's tips for split Round 15: Sandhurst by 49 and Gisborne by 7 (Week 1, July 27th). Eaglehawk by 13 and South Bendigo by 19 (Week 2, August 3rd).
2013 season total: 41.
By Richard Jones
