AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan selects his AFLNT Team of the Century ahead of the official unveiling in a couple weeks. Did he get it right?
AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan has selected his Top 22 for the AFLNT Northern Territory Government Team of the Century.
Don't agree with Kevin? Well you can have your say on who you think the best 22 are by entering the NT News competition here: http://www.ntnews.com.au/entertainment/competitions. Next week one lucky person will win two tickets to the Team of the Century event at SKYCITY on Friday 2 September.
AFLNT last month unveiled the top 40 footballers for the AFLNT NT Government Team of the Century at the historic Gardens Oval.
From there, Sheehan selected and positioned 22 players and a coach to celebrate 100 years of Territory football.
The talent guru said it was a difficult task selecting the team of the century but a challenge he enjoyed undertaking.
“It is never easy choosing a side with playing careers in different eras, let alone the AFLNT NT Government Team of the Century,” Sheehan said.
“There are always going to be those who are unlucky to miss out, but I certainly enjoyed reflecting, as I picked my team, on the calibre of player to have emerged from the Territory over the years.
“Personally, I believe Aaron Davey and Dean Rioli were unlucky to miss out on top 40 selection with both becoming stars playing at the elite level. It’s another indication of the depth of talent produced in the Territory,” Sheehan said.
Kevin Sheehan’s AFLNT NT Government Team of the Century picks:
B: Michael McLean, Russell Jeffrey, Gilbert McAdam
HB: Joel Bowden, Michael Athanasiou, Andrew McLeod
C: Michael Long, Maurice Rioli, Peter Burgoyne
HF: Michael Graham, Daryl White, Mathew Stokes
F: David Kantilla, Dennis Dunn, Benny Vigona
R: Bill Dempsey, Nathan Buckley, Cyril Rioli Jr
IC: Mark Motlop, Cyril Rioli Sr, Iggy Vallejo, Noel Long
A total of 55,000 players were eligible to be selected in the Team of the Century with the selection criteria being you have had to play a match in the Territory.
Five men are vying for the Coach of the Century, including John Taylor, Aldo Rossetto, Richard Taylor, Mark Motlop and George Liveris.
A gala dinner will be held on Friday September 2, when a 22-man team and coach is named as the inaugural Northern Territory Government AFLNT Team of the Century.