"As a back pocket player like I was, you wouldn't want to play against any of these six forwards,'' Sheedy said.

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere near them. It's quite outstanding. What a nightmare for defenders."

Sheedy has been selecting his best 24 players from the Bendigo district as part of the lead-up to the Golden Mile Raceday at the Bendigo Jockey Club on March 28.

Players selected in the team were going to be invited to join Sheedy at a function at the Golden Mile meeting. However, patrons have been banned from attending Victorian race meetings because of coronavirus concerns.

BJC chief executive Aaron Hearps plans to honour Sheedy's team at another meeting at the Nursery of Champions later in the year.

Sheedy's six forwards join an outstanding centre square and brilliant backline in his team of the Bendigo district's best 24 footballers.

"This is one of the great sides you can pick out of any sport anywhere in regional Australia,'' Sheedy said.

"The forward line is unbelievable. You have to remember, that if this team was to play a game you'd have Dusty Martin. Greg Williams and Ron Barassi resting in the forward line as well.

"Then there's some players on the bench that had outstanding careers as well.

"It is a brilliant team that Bendigo should be very proud of."

Next week we'll announce the two wingmen plus the six players selected on the interchange bench.

......................................

DOB: February 10, 1978

From: Golden Square

AFL clubs: Western Bulldogs, Richmond

AFL games: 219

AFL goals: 349

Highlights: All-Australian 2001, 2002

International rules series 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004

Jim Stynes Medal 2004

Sheedy says: "Brilliant player. Unfortunately he suffered that badly broken leg (2005) when he was probably having his best season.

"Very clever around goals and hard to match-up on."

......................................

DOB: June 9, 1936

From: Sandhurst

VFL club: Hawthorn

VFL games: 232

VFL goals: 201

Highlights: Hawthorn premiership captain 1961

Hawthorn captain 1960-1968

Hawthorn best and fairest: 1955, 1958, 1962

Australian Football Hall of Fame

Hawthorn Team of the Century, captain

Victoria representative 12 times

Sheedy says: "I never had the opportunity to actually play against Graham, but I always admired the way he played.

"Captain of Hawthorn's first premiership team and their team of the century says it all about Graham. It shows how important leaders are at a footy club. He's a Hawthorn legend."

......................................

DOB: July 26, 1949

From: Sandhurst

VFL club: Carlton

VFL games: 208

VFL goals: 191

Highlights: Carlton premiership player 1972, 1979

Carlton best and fairest award 1976, 1978

Carlton Team of the Century

Victoria representatiive 1976 and 1978

Sheedy says: "What a player. Brilliant rover who won two best and fairests at Carlton in very good sides.

"Two premierships as well and he was a good player in those grand finals. That says a lot about Trevor Keogh."

......................................

DOB: May 26, 1988

From: Sandhurst

AFL club: Geelong

AFL games: 295

AFL goals: 158

Highlights: Geelong premiership player 2007, 2009, 2011

All-Australian team 2009, 2010, 2013 (captain), 2014 (captain), 2016 (captain), 2017

AFLPA Robert Rose Most Courageous Player award 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014

Carji Greeves Medal: 2010, 2013, 2014

Geelong captain: 2012-2020

AFLPA best captain award: 2013

Ron Evans Medal 2007

Victoria representative

International Rules representative

Sheedy says: "Joel Selwood is as tough as they come.

"He creates the hardness of the whole Geelong club and the team. Brilliant captain."

......................................

DOB: October 3, 1949

From: Golden Square, Sandhurst, Northern United

BFL goals: 1624

Highlights: BFNL Hall of Fame legend

BFNL premiership player 1973, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984

BFNL premiership coach 1973

Century goalkicker 12 times

48 times kicked at least 10 goals in a BFNL game

Sheedy says: "Just imagine how good Ron would have been with these guys kicking the ball to him.

"He had an unbelievable record. Even though he didn't play in the VFL I couldn't leave him out of this team.

"I'm told he was a beautiful kick for goal. I'd love to ask him how many goals he'd kick in a game with this team kicking it to him. He'd have to kick at least eight."

......................................

DOB: August 17, 1958

From: Golden Square

VFL clubs: Carlton, St Kilda

VFL games: 194

VFL goals: 180

Highlights: Carlton premiership player 1979, 1981, 1982

Sheedy says: "Peter was just as a good a player in the backline as he was in the forward line, but I've selected him in the forward pocket because of team balance.

"He was another very good player in those great Carlton teams that probably didn't get the credit he deserved. You don't play in three premierships if you're not a good player."

......................................

B: Ray Byrne, Geoff Southby, Fred Swift

Hb: Peter Dean, Michael Sexton, Leigh Colbert

C: TBA, Greg Williams, TBA

Hf: Nathan Brown, Graham Arthur, Trevor Keogh

F: Joel Selwood, Ron Best, Peter McConville

Foll: John Nicholls, Dustin Martin, Ron Barassi

Inter: to be announced

Read more: Kevin Sheedy's best Bendigo defenders

Read more: Kevin Sheedy's best Bendigo midfielders

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