Scottie's Favourite 18

North Melbourne: Matthew Burton



Career Games: 147 (Fremantle 70; North Melbourne 77)
Career Goals: 66 (Fremantle 33, North Melbourne 33)
State of Origin: Nil
Career Finals: 4 (1-3)
Honours: Tallest player in the AFL

This guy was a hero.

Until Aaron Sandilands (and the late-growing Peter Street) came along, he was the tallest man in the AFL, and carried himself ever little bit like the tallest man in the AFL.

This was a tough one to pick, too - do I remember him best as a Docker or a Roo? The guy was part of the inaugural Fremantle side, but, despite his Subiaco heritage, I remember him as a Roo (and, let's be fair, there's a lot more fun players to have played in the green, purple and white...).

Traded to the Roos following their 1999 Premiership success, Spider reminds me of a time when ruckmen didn't have to do everything. Sure, he contributed his bit, but you can just look at his record to see how many single digit games he had with a mountain of hit outs on the side. Footy was simpler back then - players had positions they'd stick to, and not everybody had to be able to do everything!

I also remember a day as a kid when his dad came over to our house because he was friends with the old man. I think I learned every swear word I've ever known that day.

So here's to big Spider Burton - one of the last of his breed, and a worthy entrant to the Favourite XVIII.



Unlucky: Mick Martyn, Adam Simpson, Corey Jones, Corey McKernan

 

St Kilda: Nathan Burke



Career Games: 323
Career Goals: 123
State of Origin: 11 (Victoria)
Career Finals: 8 (3-5)
Honours: Trevor Barker Award (1993, 1996, 1999), Fourth in Brownlow Medal (1996, 1997)

You mean, a guy with actual videos on Youtube? Sell out, Scottie!

Part of a generation of Saints players who played a whole career at the club, without ever being able to break through for the flag. To his credit, though, he starred in a losing Grand Final effort in '98, with 33 touches.

But it wasn't ever really his footballing ability that made him my favourite player. It was the fucking helmet, man! That was the coolest god damn thing. We used to play in St Kilda jumpers in my footy playing days, and I swear to god kids went out wearing helmets despite having never copped a head high hit in their life. That was all Nathan Burke.

Or maybe Shaun Hart.

Nah, it was all Burke.

Aside from the helmet, though, he was a wonderful player in a generation of actually likeable St. Kilda players (only Lenny Hayes didn't cotton onto the memo that they all had to be pricks). An actually wonderful player finally makes his way into this team, just to show how much in favour of diversity I am.

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Unlucky: Austin Jones, Nicky Winmar

 

Ahh I forgot to add Buckets to the unlucky list! Definite contender!

I remember a game when I was a kid where he took something insane like 20 marks and being blown away.

Also an honorable mention to Matthew Capuano, who managed to get sacked for, I think, being filmed saying Grant Thomas couldn't coach a fart out of an arse. He's got a special spot in my heart following a monster 96 hit out game on Kevin Sheedy Coach 99.

I'm gonna make the best granddad one day.

 

West Coast: Troy Wilson



Career Games: 37
Career Goals: 83
State of Origin: Nil
Career Finals: Nil
Honours: West Coast Leading Goalkicker (2001), Bernie Naylor Medal (2006), WAFL Premiership (WP 1999, EP 2000)

You might have been thinking "gee, that forward line is a bit light on for players".

Not anymore.

This selection comes partly down to the fact that I detest the Eagles despite flirting with them as my team at age 6. Thankfully I dropped that like a hot potato, and decided instead to follow the path of eternal heartbreak. Great choice.

Troy Wilson was one of the shining lights in the Ken Judge era - AKA one of the best times of my life! Drafted at age 28, Wilson kicked 78 goals in seasons that saw the Eagles finish 14th and 8th - the big seeing the end of Judge's poor tenure out West, and the start of Worsfold's reign.

The other thing that Wilson had going for him, despite the Cindarella story, is that he was renowed for being thick as pig shit. I'm not sure if it is true or not, but I'd love to think it is, and, if so, he's definitely worthy as West Coast's entry to this team.

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Unlucky: Nick Stone, Beau Waters

 

AWTA

gun pick, second only to the great Troy Luff.