Stars aplenty in south-east

Shane Savage during his Dandenong Stingrays days. 18909 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

With community football, state league, NAB League and the AFL on hold as a result of Covid-19, sports reporter Nick Creely has taken a look at the top 30 AFL players over the last two decades from the area. To qualify for the list, players must have been drafted from the Casey, Cardinia or Greater Dandenong regions from the 2000 rookie-draft onwards.

Here is part two – this week taking a look at positions 20-11…

20. Matthew Lobbe

AFL club(s): Port Adelaide, Carlton

AFL games: 100

Through Lobbe’s peak years of 2013 and 2014, the big man from Emerald was one of the elite ruckman of the competition – known as a bollocking ruckman capable of using his frame to become almost like an extra midfielder in the contest, as shown by his 157 tackles in 2014 alone. But injury and form tapered from then on in, and the big man landed at Ikon Park to try and resurrect his career at Carlton. Despite only registering eight more matches at the club before being delisted, Lobbe added valuable experience and leadership to the club.

19. Lachlan Hansen

AFL club(s): North Melbourne

AFL games: 151

There was always going to be plenty of expectation on the Nar Nar Goon product when he was taken inside the top three by North Melbourne, and was touted at the time as one of the most impressive key-position players in the country. Injury was the biggest preventative factor in Hansen’s career, although he still managed to string together some impressive football across a decade at the highest level, including a strong 2013 and 2014. Still managed to play a tick over 150 AFL games at the one club, which is a terrific achievement. Hansen has also recently played locally for the Goon in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition.

Ex-Kangaroo and Nar Nar Goon favourite son Lachie Hansen in action for the Goon last season. 191984 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

18. Toby McLean**

AFL club(s): Western Bulldogs

AFL games: 79

After being overlooked by the Dandenong Stingrays, the Narre Warren lad landed at Oakleigh Chargers and absolutely starred, finishing second in the Morrish Medal and taking out the best player of the grand final in the 2014 TAC Cup premiership. It didn’t take long for McLean to make a name for himself in the big time once drafted by the Dogs, being part of the famous 2016 premiership in his second season and kicking a goal on the stroke of half-time in the grand final. With 79 games now under his belt and 24 years of age, there is still plenty of footy left for the diminutive midfielder who could evolve in the coming years into an elite player of the competition.

17. Shane Savage**

AFL club(s): Hawthorn, St Kilda

AFL games: 163

Another product of the formidable Noble Park footy factory and the Dandenong Stingrays, Savage – an attacking half-back with a booming right leg – has become a consistent defender since crossing over to St Kilda after spending four seasons at Hawthorn, where he showed glimpses of his talent after being a late pick in the 2008 AFL Draft. Rarely misses games these days, and featured in every match for the Saints in 2019, averaging 20 disposals a match to go with almost five rebounds a game. At 29 years of age, Savage has got every chance of exceeding 200 AFL games in the coming seasons.

16. James Harmes

AFL club(s): Melbourne

AFL games: 92

The Devon Meadows junior has enjoyed a stunning improvement over the last few years at AFL level, after starting his career at the Demons after being drafted in the 2014 Rookie Draft. While it took time for Harmes to settle into the AFL environment, the hard-working midfielder found his niche in 2018 and 2019 and settled into Melbourne’s best side. Kicks goals, finds the footy and still does plenty of the grunt work in the contest, Harmes is arguably one of the most improved players in the competition. Still only 24 years of age and part of a Melbourne list still coming together and growing, Harmes is set to be one of the major factors as the club strives for on-field success in the coming years.

15. Tom Papley

AFL club(s): Sydney

AFL games: 83

The Sydney Swans star played in a senior premiership at Bunyip at just the age of 16 before being drafted into the big time, and boy is the small forward making waves on the AFL stage. After a strong start to his career across the first three years, Papley took his game to the next level in 2019, snagging 37 goals, including a stunning five-goal, 27 disposal performance against the West Coast Eagles. Papley also featured strongly in the Bushfire Relief Match earlier this year among the stars of the AFL, where he kicked five goals as Victoria ran out 46-point winners against the All-Stars. At just 23 years of age, Papley continues to emerge as one of the star forwards of the game.

Former Bunyip young gun Tom Papley has already made a lasting impression on Sydney and the AFL. Picture: COURTESY SYDNEY SWANS

14. Ryan Bastinac

AFL club(s): North Melbourne, Brisbane

AFL games: 164

Bastinac – alongside his great mate Tom Scully – were the top Dandenong Stingrays prospects taken in the 2009 AFL Draft, with the smooth-moving midfielder landing at Arden Street. The Narre Warren product had a stunning debut season, playing 22 games and finishing fifth in the Rising Star. Across the next five seasons at the Kangaroos, Bastinac became an important cog of the midfield, but was traded to Brisbane at the end of 2015, where he featured only 43 more times at AFL level across the next four years. Despite being delisted at just 28, Bastinac still managed 164 games at the highest level, and at his best, was a line-breaking midfielder with the capacity to kick goals.

13. Tyson Goldsack

AFL club(s): Collingwood

AFL games: 165

A fine example of persistence and what it means to get the very best out of yourself, Goldsack – one of Pakenham’s favourite sons – played consistent, team-orientated football across a career that spanned almost a decade and a half with the Magpies. After being drafted out of the Gippsland Power, Goldsack played a variety of roles across his career, and was massive in the club’s 2010 premiership season, when he fought his way into the side and into the grand final to become part of club history despite doing his ACL that very season . Honest, reliable and as courageous as they come, Goldsack featured at the top level 165 times, and has signed at Port Adelaide in the SANFL as a playing development coach in 2020.

12. Tory Dickson**

AFL club(s): Western Bulldogs

AFL games: 113

Another local to do it the hard way, slogging away at VFL level and in the Eastern Football League for Noble Park, before the Western Bulldogs called out his name in the 2011 National Draft as a 24-year-old mature age recruit. From the outset, the forward – originally from Beaconsfield – was an immediate success story, and at one time one of the most accurate kicks at goal in the AFL, as seen by his stunning 50.12 in 2015 and 40.17 in 2016. A crucial member of the 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership side, Dickson slotted eight goals across three finals, including three in the grand final and two in the first half alone. While the sharpshooter hasn’t been able to recapture his best form since then, there are at least a couple more years left in the 32-year-old.

11. Stefan Martin**

AFL club(s): Melbourne, Brisbane

AFL games: 183

A Berwick local, Martin was a late-bloomer to the game after being a star basketball junior – starting out at the strong Dandenong Ranges program. But after starring in his first season of local football, Martin soon found himself in the AFL system less than three years later with the Dees, where he was taken in the 2008 Pre-Season draft. Although Martin played some strong football with the Dees across his 57 games, the big man joined Brisbane, and has flourished since. Almost like an extra midfielder, Martin won the Lions’ best and fairest in 2015, and has averaged 18 disposals and 30 hit-outs to be one of the premier rucks in the AFL. With at least one or two years ahead of him, he is sure to push hard for a premiership to close out his career.

**Indicates that the player is still on an AFL list