ONE of the most successful eras of the Bendigo Football League of modern times was honoured last Saturday night when Gisborne unveiled its Team of the Decade.
The team spans Gisborne’s 10 years in the BFL from 2000 to 2009, with its selection timely considering the Bulldogs could be on the move to the Ballarat Football League at the end of this season.
All 21 players selected in the side have played in at least one BFL premiership with the Bulldogs, who have won flags in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006.
The coach of the side was Mick McGuane, who led the Bulldogs from 2002 to 2004 for a win-loss record of 50-5.
“You don’t go to footy clubs to get these sort of honours placed on you; generally, it’s an afterthought what legacy you may have left,” McGuane said.
“I guess in a way it’s nice to be recognised for all the things you did put in place during that period in time.”
Marcus Barham was named captain of the side.
Barham captained the 2002 and 2003 flags, while he later coached the 2005 and 2006 premierships after assuming the reins from McGuane.
McGuane, now coaching Keilor in the Essendon District Football League, yesterday gave his assessment of the 21 players named in the Bulldogs’ Team of the Decade.
Cameron Medica: He was in the development phase when I was there, but always showed athletic ability with good footy nous.
Eddie Barake: Was dependable, honest and competitive.
David Power: Was a very athletic competitor, although injury-prone while I was there.
Rod Sharp: Went from an outside, silky-smooth good ball-user to a well respected competitor by the end of my three years.
Marcus Barham: A good defender who could create, and a good leader.
Ty Elliott: Super-fit, very good listener and very important to the team fabric.
Chris Curcio: Was a super creative player who could do super courageous deeds.
Daniel Sipthorp: I didn’t have Daniel during my time at the club, but having coached against him, he was a competitor.
Gareth Bowes: Was a junior while I was there, but had immense talent and you could always see from early on he was going to be a senior Gisborne player.
Luke Saunders: Arguably the best player I coached; enormous courage, matched by a great ability to listen.
Simon Elsum: Went from a running-forward, running-defender, to a very creative midfielder and a Michelsen medallist.
Michael Dillon: A young athlete who became a very important link between the arcs.
Shane Davis: Probably the best small forward in the competition at that stage. Had a hard, tough, eyes-only-for-the-ball mentality.
Steven Reaper: Best set-shot at goal I’ve coached. Super reliable and became an extremely team-orientated key forward.
Jordan Barham: Enormous ability and could single-handedly dominate a game. But sometimes his conversion wasn’t as good as it should have been.
Anthony Belcher: Was a pinch-hit defender and relief ruckman during my time, but didn’t get a lot of opportunity.
Matt Fitzgerald: Probably the other best player I’ve coached, but different to Saunders in that Saunders could play tall for his size, where as Fitzy was an in-and-under, hard-working player who would do whatever you asked him to.
Ollie Messaoudi: Clearly the toughest player in most facets of the game I’ve coached. Super courage to run, super courage to keep his head over the footy and super disciplined to do his job for the team.
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