LAURIE Dwyer was a brilliant wingman for the Kangaroos, representing the club in 201 games between 1956 and 1970. Despite having to manage a debilitating back problem throughout much of his career, Dwyer was good enough to be placed in the Brownlow Medal on three separate occasions. He has just returned to the Kangaroos to help out in the club's recruiting department. He spoke exclusively to kangaroos.com.au

Who is the best player you played with?

It's hard to isolate one, but I thought Allen Aylett was a champion. My last year I played with Barry Cable and he was terrific, as was Noel Teasdale, who won a Brownlow Medal. At the start of my career I played at the same time as Jock Spencer and Les Foote, so that was pretty exciting for a kid who grew up in North Melbourne. I remember being a 15-year-old living across the road from Jock and two years later I was playing with him – that was a fantastic thrill.

Who do you think has been the best player for the club outside your era?

I think Wayne Carey is the best player I've seen. When you analyse his game, he was brave, he could kick right and left foot, he was a great leader, he could lift the side when they were down – he just didn't have a weakness. I saw some great ones – like Teddy Whitten, Alex Jesaulenko, and Daryl Baldock – but if you put up an ideal player, Carey was it.

From an individual perspective, what was your career highlight?

Making the state side meant a lot to us in those days. Back then it was a bit like the state of origin games are for rugby league now – everyone wanted to make the state side. I had three placings in the Brownlow, but they don't mean anything. It would have been lovely to have won one but you don't play for those things.

From a team point of view?

Playing in the 1958 preliminary final would be up there, but also to beat Collingwood and Essendon at their grounds to make the finals in that year were pretty big. We thought we had a chance against Collingwood in the preliminary final after we'd just beaten them, but it wasn't to be. They went on to win the flag that year, so it's also a bit of a disappointment that we didn't go on with it.

Do you still catch up with any of your old teammates from those days?

I still catch up with John Dugdale, Kenny Dean and Gerald Eastmure. I have lunch with Wayne Schimmelbusch every now and then and Mick Aylett is still my dentist so I do catch up with a few of the old-time North Melbourne people pretty regularly.

You just missed out on playing in the great North Melbourne teams of the 1970s. Was that a little frustrating?

I missed out playing but I was the runner through the 1970s, I did a bit of recruiting and was a selector so I felt part of it, even if it wasn't as good as playing. But the thing was that we were just so happy that the club finally won one that those feelings of disappointment weren't there really.

In the early 1990s you joined up with Ron Joseph to help the Swans in their recruiting department. So how hard was it to watch the 1996 grand final?

Well it was hard because as a player I could never imagine playing at any other club. I must admit, not many people knew I was working with the Swans at the time because I felt a bit funny about it because of my loyalty to North. But in the 1996 grand final I like to tell people that ended up with a sore crotch because I had a leg on either side of the fence!

Ron has got you back to the club this year. Can you tell us about your role?

My major role would be to help out in recruiting. I've been interstate to see a few of the kids so I know that when the Under 18 championships are on I'll know most of the kids out there. I do enjoy watching the younger kids trying to make their mark, so if I can help the club in that area I'll be happy.

Where do you see the current list?

I'm sure the club is in front of where we thought we were. With Campbell, Thomas and Swallow and the like, you can see that there's some youth coming through and that there's even more to come. I think at the moment they have to play close to their maximum but with players like Petrie, Firrito and Pratt and those types of players, you know you're going to get their very best most weeks. I think they can be very proud of themselves.