For the honourable mentions and introduction, catch up here.
Here are the first five players in our Top 20 countdown:
#20: Troy Makepeace
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Time at North: 2000-2006
Games: 139
Goals: 37
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A first choice small defender for most of his career at North, Makepeace was an underrated part of the club’s back-line.
Breaking into a strong 2000 side as a 21-year old, he missed very few games until his last season in 2006. Perhaps it was no coincidence that year was the club’s worst in many years.
It was Makepeace’s consistency which saw him get the nod over Leigh Harding and Jack Ziebell from the honourable mentions. Rarely beaten by his direct opponent, Makepeace also collected just enough of the ball to make opposition coaches respect him going the other way. He had a 54-game streak where he collected at least double figure disposals.
Perhaps his most memorable moment was kicking the game-winning goal against Port Adelaide in Canberra in 2005.
#19: Jess Sinclair
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Time at North: 2001-2008
Games: 142
Goals: 45
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Sinclair came to North as part of the trade which saw Peter Bell head back to Fremantle. On his arrival, Sinclair took up a new role as a rebounding defender off half-back.
It was a role he would play for almost 150 games. Arguably Sinclair’s best season came in 2007, a year in which he turned 29. Unfortunately for the left footer, his career ended after an injury-plagued 2008.
Sinclair’s self-professed ‘hate’ for Essendon endeared him to all North fans and he even enjoyed kicking a goal against the Bombers. After his first year at North, Sinclair wouldn’t play in a losing side against Essendon for the rest of his time in the royal blue and white.
While it was a close decision between Sinclair and Makepeace, Sinclair just got the edge due to his offensive capabilities.
Makepeace was the better defender, but Sinclair was serviceable enough in that respect while being able to genuinely hurt teams going the other way.
An example of this is the first quarter of the infamous game against Essendon in 2001. While it is remembered for much different reasons, Sinclair’s first quarter was tremendous.
With multiple score involvements and two goals himself, he was the best player on the ground in the first quarter and showed just what he was capable of.
#18: Todd Goldstein
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Time at North: 2008-
Games: 101*
Goals: 49*
One of the best ruckman in recent years, Goldstein could easily be considered one the most important players to the structure of any team in the AFL.
His body of work is impressive. Twice named in the 40-man All-Australian squad (2011, 2013) and just one vote off winning the 2013 Syd Barker Medal, Goldstein has twice had more than 700 hit-outs in a season. It has only happened 12 times total in league history.
While Goldstein has played more than 40 fewer games than Sinclair, his best football instantly makes North a significantly better side. The number 22 is widely regarded as one of the top ruckmen in the league. Sinclair was important to North, but not on the same level as Goldstein.
What prevents the left-footer from a higher ranking in this count is the aforementioned short time as number one ruckman.
#17: Anthony Stevens
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Time at North: 2000-2004 (Debut: 1989)
Games (from 2000): 86
Goals (from 2000): 30
The measure of Stevens’ impact on North post 2000 cannot be measured in possessions, marks or goals. The first half of the period had numerous examples of Stevens personifying the famous Shinboner Spirit.
In March 2000, a pane of glass fell from a building window and cut Stevens from the corner of his mouth to the top of his shoulder. It was a near-fatal accident – yet he was back out on the football field just three months later.
In 2002, he took over as captain despite a turbulent year. He was a large part of one of the club’s best ever home and away wins in Round 1 of that year. All of it came after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear in Round 15 of 2001 which was supposed to keep him out of the game for 12 months.
Then at the end of 2003, Stevens stepped down as captain, allowing Adam Simpson’s first 12 months at the helm to have an extra experienced head behind him.
Even another 10-15 games from Stevens could have seen him in the top 10 and higher, but in the end the quantity in his body of work counted against him.
#16: Saverio Rocca
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Time at North: 2001-2006
Games: 101
Goals: 234
Acquired in the 2000 National Draft with pick 30, the former Collingwood full forward was a constant source of goals in his six years.
Never a high possession winner, almost three quarters of Rocca’s kicks resulted in a scoring shot. Compare it to 2013 and ‘just’ 42 per cent of Coleman Medallist Jarryd Roughead’s kicks were scoring shots.
Only held scoreless twice in his 101 games at the club, Rocca is inside the top 20 all-time for goals kicked at North and led the club’s goal kicking on three occasions (2001, 2002, 2004).
While his lack of pace and occasionally erratic kicking frustrated supporters at times, the fact remained he consistently produced when called upon.
Rocca remained relatively injury-free during his time at North and it was the deciding factor in edging out Stevens for spot number 16.
Tomorrow: 11-15
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