The Calder Cannons’ selection of its ‘best team’ from the first 20 years of its history reads like a Who’s Who of AFL players, past and current.
The 22 stars chosen include a Brownlow medallist, two Norm Smith medallists, an NAB Rising Star winner, nine premiership players and numerous best and fairest winners. All have played at least 50 games in the AFL.
Thirteen of the 22 players converged on Etihad Stadium on Saturday night as the Cannons celebrated their 20th anniversary in the competition and inducted 10 people into their Hall of Fame.
The first draftee, Geelong premiership hero Darren Milburn, was the oldest in the team of the past 20 years, with Cannons 2010 premiership stars Dion Prestia and Tom Liberatore the most recent players.
Fremantle duo Ryan Crowley and Zac Dawson travelled from Perth for the occasion; Richard Douglas, Brent Reilly, Daniel Talia and assistant coach Ryan O’Keefe came from Adelaide, while Jude Bolton and Prestia also travelled from interstate.
Many of the players spoke about the Cannons’ culture and how it made them feel like belonging to a family.
RELATED: ‘Legend’ trainer Phil Dunk inducted
Geelong star James Kelly said he “cherished his time” with the Cannons, while O’Keefe said he was “forever grateful”.
Talia, who played only 10 games for the Cannons in two years, spoke about wanting to get on the park every week but being told to “think about the bigger picture”.
Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric said his time at the Cannons was vital in his choosing football over basketball, and tagger Crowley revealed he was the complete opposite to his junior years, when he hated taggers.
Rodan and Chapman spoke about how the Cannons not only changed their lives but also made an impact on their families.
Seven players were among the inaugural Hall of Fame inductees and they were joined by three men who have made a difference off the field: Ross Monaghan, who was tasked with setting up the Cannons; three-time premiership coach Robert Hyde, and Phil Dunk, the trainer for 20 years.
Calder Cannons team of the first 20 years
Backs: Mark Johnson, Tom Lonergan, Daniel Talia
Half backs: Andrew Welsh, Jackson Trengove, Darren Milburn
Centres: James Kelly, Jude Bolton, Ryan Crowley
Half-forwards: Paul Chapman, Ryan O’Keefe, Jason Johnson
Forwards: Eddie Betts, Jake Carlisle, Richard Douglas
Rucks: Ivan Maric, Dane Swan, Tom Liberatore
Interchange: Zac Dawson, Dion Prestia, Brent Reilly, David Rodan
Cannons’ first Hall of Fame inductees:Ross Monaghan, Phil Dunk, Robert Hyde, Milburn, Kelly, Bolten, O’Keefe, Jason Johnson, Swan and Chapman
