BENDIGO ADVERTISER 2014 BFL TEAM OF THE YEAR
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BACKS:
Tyler Miles (Eaglehawk) - continuing to make his mark as one of the BFL’s top defenders. Often given the best opposition forward, be it tall or small.
Tim Walsh (Gisborne) - earned his first team of the year guernsey last year and backed it up with selection at full-back. Rarely beaten.
Glenn Daly (Eaglehawk) - joins his Eaglehawk team-mate Tyler Miles in a back pocket. Unheralded defender who goes about his work each week with a minimum of fuss.
HALF-BACKS:
Codie Price (Sandhurst) - a breakout season for the young Dragon. Known primarily as a wingman before this year, Price has provided a constant source of half-back drive for the grand finalists.
Matt Thornton (Sandhurst) - first team of the year selection for the versatile big man. One of the best set of hands in the competition who has spent most of the season at centre half-back, but also been swung forward at times.
Matt Ladson (Strathfieldsaye) - picked on the half-back flank for the second year in a row. Smart user of the ball who has again put together a consistent season through the midfield and rebounding from half-back.
CENTRES:
Jack Geary (Golden Square) - captained the BFL to its inter-league win over Gippsland in May. Fierce competitor who has again enhanced his reputation as a star of the competition.
Ryan Maldenis (Sandhurst) - first season at Sandhurst. Strong-bodied midfielder who has also pushed forward to kick 25 goals. Fourth in the Michelsen Medal with 17 votes.
Jake Hall (Strathfieldsaye) - been an influential player for the most dominant team in the competition. Mixes athleticism with his strong overhead marking and chipped in with 17 goals.
HALF-FORWARDS:
Ben Weightman (Kyneton) - one of those players you’d love to have two of: one to play in the midfield and one to play permanently inside 50. Kicked 64 goals to finish second on the goalkicking. Not sure how he only got five votes in the Michelsen.
Ben Sonogan (Gisborne) - swingman with safe hands who split his time between centre half-back and centre half-forward, where he kicked 34 goals.
Tom May (Gisborne) - late start to the season, but built into it strongly and culminated in a super finals series where he went to another level.
FORWARDS:
Stephen Milne (Strathfieldsaye) - no surprises that one of the greatest small forwards in the AFL won the Ron Best Medal in his first season in the BFL. Goes into the grand final with 95 goals. Runner-up in the Michelsen with 21 votes. Also won the Derrick Filo Medal as Bendigo’s best inter-league player when he kicked nine goals against Gippsland.
Cam Rinaldi (Kangaroo Flat) - the only player in the BFL who kicked a goal in every game his team played. Finished with 54 in his first season at Dower Park.
Mitch Dole (Sandhurst) - electrifying small forward who has booted 53 goals and has a chance to add to that tally in Saturday’s grand final.
FOLLOWERS:
Tim Martin (Sandhurst) - ruckman who won his second Michelsen Medal with a record 34 votes. Enough said. Has averaged 1.6 Michelsen Medal votes per game the past two years.
Corey Jones (Golden Square) - unstoppable for Golden Square, be it through the midfield or up forward, where he kicked 52 goals. Missed the first four games, but finished equal second in the Michelsen Medal with 21 votes.
Brodie Filo (Eaglehawk) - showed plenty of tricks again this year that caught the attention of the umpires as he finished third in the Michelsen Medal with 18 votes.
INTERCHANGE
James Saville (Kangaroo Flat) - impressed in his first season at Kangaroo Flat through the midfield, playing a leading role in the Roos rising from the bottom of the ladder last year to finals contenders. In their best players in 12 games.
Jarryd Graham (Castlemaine) - the half-back was the most consistent player for Castlemaine, being named in the Magpies' best players in 14 games.
Matt Smith (Strathfieldsaye) - the consummate footballer who does all the little things well and showed his class with an outstanding inter-league game against Gippsland in May.
Tyson MacIlwain (Maryborough) - versatile big man who has played all over the ground and won Maryborough’s best and fairest.
SORRY LADS...
Nick Stagg (Sand), Jack Daley (GS), Nick Smith (Strath), Ben Anderson (Sand), Matt Johnston (Strath).
AND THE COACH...
Darryl Wilson or Brett Fitzpatrick - whoever is holding the cup aloft at 5pm on Saturday at the QEO.