By David Nagel
CRANBOURNE champion Marc Holt and Narre Warren superstar Michael Collins have chalked up remarkable milestones – being selected for the 10th consecutive time in the South East Football Netball League Team of the Year.
Holt and Collins have been joined by 11 first-timers, with coach Heath Black heading a list that includes Nick Battle, Dylan Chapman, Trent Cody, Matt Jameson, Shaun Marusic, Stephen Morey, Josh Muling, Jake Richardson, Zak Roscoe and Anthony Vella.
Cranbourne midfielder Mat Fletcher has earned his fifth selection, while Scott Meyer, Brandon Osborne, Dylan Quirk and Josh Tonna are hot on his heels with four.
Holt, who leads the way with 11 plaques, has named Captain of the team for the second time, adding 2016 to his 2012 honour.
A total of 151 players have been selected since the Casey Cardinia League started in 2005, 58 earning multiple selections while Dan O’Loughlin (Tooradin/Pakenham) and Kain Baskaya (Hampton Park/Narre Warren) are the only two players to have selection at two different clubs.
Narre warren leads the way with 30 players selected, with Berwick and Cranbourne next on the list with 19.
Here’s a recap of the seasons of the 25-strong squad.
COACH
Heath Black (Narre Warren)
Things didn’t end well in the finals, but our coach of the Team of the Year deserves high praise for moulding a team of strangers into a highly-competitive unit. We nicknamed him ‘The Taxman” because he audits the opposition like no other.
BACKS
Luke Sheppard (Berwick)
The first player announced was nearly the first player picked too, with the Berwick livewire the best gut runner in the competition. Has explosive pace, setting up many attacks from the last line of defence.
Brandon Osborne (Cranbourne)
Our full-back has earnt his fourth consecutive selection after another brilliant season of closing down opposition forwards. The highlight was keeping Brendan Fevola to no goals at Robinson Oval in Round 7.
Matt Jameson (Doveton)
The third player in the last line of defence is ultra-reliable, and rarely beaten by bigger and stronger opponents. Would be a dream to coach and has thoroughly earned his first Team of the Year selection.
HALF-BACKS
Ash Smith (Berwick)
The half back line begins with a former AFL star that has fitted into Berwick like a hand in a glove. Looks calm and composed, and that’s due to being the quickest thinker in the game.
Michael Riseley (Berwick)
The key post of centre half back is occupied by the best intercept mark in the league, and the quarterback of his side’s lethal transition from half back to the forward line.
Anthony Vella (Cranbourne)
Our second half back flanker has a platform of defence, but can switch mindsets quickly and launch attacks with the speed and ferocity of a cheetah. He could be the most improved player in the comp.
CENTRES
Nick Battle (Doveton)
Our first wingman missed four of the first five games but made amends with a breathtaking finish to the season. He’s quick, evasive and very dangerous at either end of the ground.
Ryan Davey (Cranbourne)
After missing large chunks of 2014 and ’15, our centreman bounced back to his brilliant best adding a second selection to his first in 2013. He’s as strong as an ox and the critical link when his side transitions.
Josh Tonna (Narre Warren)
Back to his mesmerising best after a horror run of injuries curtailed his influence in 2015. The best ball user in the league, and he gets plenty of it too.
HALF-FORWARDS
Michael Collins (Narre Warren)
Age shall not weary our first forward who has become more versatile in the latter part of his career. An inspiration, a champion, and a Team of the Year member for the 10th time.
Jake Richardson (Narre Warren)
A season out of the box for the hard-leading centre-half forward who has great hands in front of his face. Turned Mr Fix-it for the Magpies, filling the cracks in a leaking ruck department.
Mathew Fletcher (Cranbourne)
In full-flight this bloke is the best going around. Graceful but strong, exquisitely skilled, and only needs a split-second of time to hit the scoreboard hard. This is his fifth appearance.
FORWARDS
Ben Kearns (Berwick)
Started the season on fire with three hauls of five goals before settling in to a more sedate rhythm. Kicked multiple goals on 12 occasions during the home and away season.
Marc Holt (Cranbourne – Captain)
Full-forward – it can only be one man. Looked headed for an 80-to-90 goal season before a broken leg halted his season in Round 15. Will he or won’t he play in this week’s grand final? That’s the big question surrounding our captain and an 11th-time recipient of Team of the Year honours.
Zak Roscoe (Cranbourne)
Holt’s main accomplice has come out of the blue, an 18-year-old with rare potential who kicked 44 goals as a mid-sized forward during the home-and-away season. Quick and exciting.
RUCKS
Scott Meyer (Beaconsfield)
A champion who may have taken his game to a whole new level this year. Best on grounds at both interleague and Vic Country level distinguish him as one of the best country footballers in the state.
Shaun Marusic (Cranbourne)
A silky-skilled 194-centimetre midfielder who can scoop the ball off his toes or fly high through the air – they don’t grow on trees. Also plays with a maturity way beyond his 24 years.
Dylan Quirk (Narre Warren)
A tough, nuggetty ball-magnet who puts his head in places where angels fear to tread. The best pure rover in the competition who has now earned selection for four years running.
INTERCHANGE
Russell Gabriel (Doveton)
The best stoppage ruckman we’ve seen for many a long day, with a combination of deft touch or punch-forward power making him impossible to read for opposition midfielders.
Trent Cody (Narre Warren)
Our second interchange player is dripping with class, bringing an elite standard of play to the SEFNL in his first year in the league. Sublimely skilled and a very smart player in front of goals.
Dylan Chapman (Officer)
A third ruckman – we can only do it due to the versatility of our number one choice Scott Meyer. But this bloke deserves his first gong, super-strong and still emerging at such a young age.
Josh Muling (Tooradin-Dalmore)
Slipped under the radar early but accumulated possessions at such a rate that interleague honours were soon bestowed him. Maybe not at Tooradin, but elsewhere he was the surprise packet of the season.
Tim Gunn (Berwick)
Our next interchange player thoroughly deserves his second slice of Team of the Year action. Quick off the mark and never stops presenting off half forward. Kicked 30 goals for the season as a high forward.
Stephen Morey (Pakenham)
In the Jameson mould – a player held in very high regard by his team-mates but underestimated by others. Gets all the big jobs down back and is very rarely beaten. Our 10th first timer in the team.
