Gary Ablett has been elevated to a “rebooted” AFL Team of the Century after Herald Sun AFL experts Mark Robinson, Jon Anderson and Dermott Brereton revisited the original team selected in 1996 to mark the AFL Centenary.
Ablett headlines one of four changes to the team with the GC SUNS captain and two-time Brownlow medallist and premiership player named on the wing.
While the debate for positions was difficult, Robinson, Anderson and Brereton all agreed that ‘Gaz’ should be included in the team.
“Gary Ablett Jr has to be in the starting 18 because I doubt any player other than Leigh Matthews has dominated the competition for so long,” Anderson said.
Robinson was just as bullish: “He deserves to be in the 18. If Gazza’s career stopped now he would still be in.”
Ablett was catapulted into the line-up along with other superstars Wayne Carey (centre half-forward) Tony Lockett (full forward), and Simon Madden (forward pocket).
In further positional changes to the team named in 1996, Francis Bourke was moved from the wing to back pocket to make way for Ablett.
Gary Ablett Sr and Alex Jesaulenko swapped the forward flank interchange positions while John Coleman was moved from full forward to the interchange
2014 Herald Sun AFL Team of the Century
B: Bernie Smith (Geel, 1948-58), Stephen Silvagni (Carl, 1985-2001), Francis Bourke (Rich, 1967-81)
HB: Bruce Doull (Carl, 1969-86), Ted Whitten (Foot, 1951-70) — CAPTAIN, Kevin Murray (Fitz, 1955-74)
C: Gary Ablett Jr (Geel/GC, 2002-), Ian Stewart (StK/Rich, 1963-75), Keith Greig (NM, 1971-85)
HF: Gary Ablett Sr (Haw/Geel, 1982, 83-96), Wayne Carey (NM/Adel, 1989-2004), Dick Reynolds (Ess, 1933-51)
F: Leigh Matthews (Haw, 1969-85), Tony Lockett (StK/Syd, 1983-2002), Simon Madden (Ess, 1974-92)
Foll: Graham Farmer (Geel, 1962-67), Ron Barassi (NM/Carl, 1953-69), Bob Skilton (S.Melb, 1956-71 )
INT: Royce Hart (Rich, 1967-77), Alex Jesaulenko (Carl/StK, 1967-81), Greg Williams (Geel/Syd/Carl, 1984-97), John Coleman (Ess, 1949-54)
1996 OFFICIAL AFL TEAM OF THE CENTURY
B: B. Smith S. Silvagni, John Nicholls
HB: B. Doull, T. Whitten (c) K. Murray
C: F. Bourke, I. Stewart, K. Greig
HF: A. Jesaulenko, R. Hart, D. Reynolds
F: L. Matthews, J. Coleman, H. Bunton
Foll: G. Farmer, R. Barassi, B. Skilton
INT: G. Ablett Sr, J Dyer, G. Williams
**Selected in 1996 to mark the AFL’s centenary season
