He’s a cult figure at North Melbourne for his big mop of hair and now Ben Brown has decided it’s time to celebrate the ‘Redhead Team of the Modern Era’.
In an article penned for The Herald Sun, Brown exclaimed:
“So many carrot tops, blood nuts, ginger ninjas and rangas have graced VFL-AFL fields over the years and yet their contribution to our game remains largely undervalued.
“I’m here to change that and give this redhead brigade the time in the sun they richly deserve, but not for too long, of course, without a liberal application of sunscreen.
“We have the All-Australian team and the Team of the Century, surely it’s time we had a team of our own and before the supposed extinction of our race.”
Brown was quick to point out those who’ve adopted a lighter shade throughout their careers would be relegated to the emergencies, ruling the likes of Dermott Brereton and Jason Akermanis out. Drew Petrie’s ‘blonde tinge' kept him out too.
Keith Greig is the most memorable addition from a North perspective; 294 games and two Brownlow Medals more than qualifies him for a spot. Jack Ziebell perhaps has a few years to wait yet though.
Without further or do, the Redhead Team of the Modern Era (1980-onwards):
B: Ben Hart (Adel, 311 games), Dustin Fletcher (Ess, 400*), Tim McGrath (Geel, 226)
HB: Keith Greig (NM, 294), Justin Leppsitch (Bris, 227), Guy McKenna (WCE, 267)
C: Neville Bruns (Geel, 223), Cameron Ling (c) (Geel, 246), Robert Neal (Geel/StK, 220)
HF: Adam Cooney (WB/Ess, 229*), Barry Stoneham (Geel, 241), Jarryd Roughead (Haw, 221*)
F: Gary Moorcroft (Ess, 98), Lance Whitnall (Carl, 216), Darren Bewick (Ess, 238)
R: Sam Jacobs (Adel, 119*), Michael Voss (Bris, 289), Brendon Goddard (StK/Ess, 263*)
Inter: Brad Hardie (Foots/Bris/Col, 150), Gary Buckenara (Haw, 154), Steve O’Dwyer (Mel/Ric, 89) Daniel Merrett (Bris, 175*)
Emg: Dermott Brereton (Haw/Syd/Col, 211), Jason Akermanis (Bris, 325) Jack Riewoldt (Ric, 173*)
Coach: Norm Smith (Fitz/Mel/SthMel, 452)
Umpire: Ray Chamberlain
Chairman of Selectors: Ben Brown (NM, 24)
