Hindsight is a beautiful thing, and in the world of football, we as fans tend to get caught up in the events of days gone by.
Every footy fanatic has that one player that they long to see take the field, however long gone their days of handling a Sherrin may be.
Whether it be Daicos or Doull, Ricciuto or Richardson, fans can usually point to a single figure that captured their imagination during their formative years of watching AFL football.
SEE ALSO: If your AFL team could bring back one player - Part 1
SEE ALSO: If your AFL team could bring back one player - Part 2
Similar to our 'If your club could steal one player...' series, this trio of pieces will go through all 18 teams in the league, pointing at the weak spots in their best 22 and picking one of four past players to slot into their lineup and remedy their club's ailments.
We conclude today with the last six teams of the competition based on alphabetical order.
Option 1: Gavin Wanganeen
One of the most revered Power players of all time, Gavin Wanganeen lit up the field wherever he went across the course of his 300 game AFL career.
The utility moved back to Port Adelaide upon their entry to the AFL in 1997 where he captained the side before winning a flag with his hometown side in 2004.
A Brownlow medallist in 1993 with Essendon, Wanganeen was a five-time All-Australian with his exciting brand of footy springboarding plenty an attack for his teammates to feed off.
His move back to the club's SANFL side in 2006 coincided with his retirement, ending his illustrious 13-year career.
Option 2: Warren Tredrea
Arguably the greatest forward Port's AFL side has ever seen, Warren Tredrea was incredibly lethal on his day.
Playing 255 games and booting 549 goals over a 13-year period with the club, the key forward leads the club's all-time goalkicking tally off the back of his fantastic efforts.
Tredrea finished his career as a premiership skipper and four-time All-Australian, with his best campaign coming within Port's 2004 premiership season where he finished with 81 goals from 25 games.
The 42-year-old was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame as a result of his four John Cahill Medals, cementing himself as a certified great at Alberton.
Option 3: Kane Cornes
Despite being a polarising media figure in the present day, Kane Cornes had a stonking career with his beloved Power side
Cornes earned his stripes as a tagging midfielder, often blanketing the competition's best on a weekly basis. The South Australian was a part of Port's 2004 flag win and never really lost his place up until his final season in 2015.
The midfielder was a fantastic distance runner, meaning his stamina could allow him to stay with his opposite number constantly, never giving them a moment's rest as he hassled and harried them all game.
Cornes finished his time at Alberton as the player with the most games played for Port Adelaide with 300, winning four John Cahill Medals and two All-Australian selections to cap off a successful career.
Option 4: Shaun Burgoyne
'Silk' Burgoyne was one of a rare kind who managed to crack the 400-game barrier over the course of his bumper 19-year career.
The utility cemented his spot in the Port Adelaide side primarily as a forward before switching to defence as time wore on. He was a part of the 2004 breakthrough premiership crew and never surrendered his spot in the side off the back of poor performance.
Despite requesting a trade to Victoria in 2010, Burgoyne finished with 157 games and 171 goals for the Power, winning one All-Australian blazer in 2006 and proving himself as an incredibly reliable presence wherever he played.
Verdict
It's hard to pinpoint exactly where Port Adelaide need to improve, with their undoing over the past two seasons coming as a result of not being able to make it stick when it mattered.
With Todd Marshall not totally living up to expectations as of yet, maybe it should be spearhead Warren Tredrea who comes in to help the Power's current-day attack.
His ability to kick big bags on a consistent basis means that he can win games off his own boot on his day - especially with the likes of Ollie Wines and Travis Boak providing service to him from midfield.
Option 1: Kevin Bartlett
There is no doubting that 'Hungry' is one of Richmond's favourite sons, booting an astonishing 778 goals in 403 games mostly from midfield.
'KB' played in five Richmond premierships, racking up five best and fairest wins and four club leading goalkicker awards amongst a room full of other accolades.
Bartlett's nickname 'Hungry' came about from his ball-winning ability as well as his lack of desire to pass to his teammates, perhaps the reason why he booted so many majors over the course of his 18-year career.
Bartlett was the first VFL/AFL player ever to reach the 400 game milestone and was described by many of those who played either against him or with him as the trickiest footballer they'd encountered.
Option 2: Jack Dyer
The heart and soul of Richmond, Jack Dyer is an immortal at Tigerland for so many reasons.
With a playing career spanning 21-years from 1931 to 1952, 'Captain Blood', as he affectionately became known, was a fearless ball-winner who could drift down forward or play in the ruck if need be.
Dyer won two VFL premierships and five club best-and-fairests throughout his career, however, his most enduring mark on the game today is the drop-punt kick, which he arguably pioneered.
Nowadays, the Richmond best-and-fairest medal is named after Dyer, with a previous tradition also struck for Tiger captains to wear his famous number 17.
Option 3: Royce Hart
One of the best forwards to walk through the doors at Punt Road, Royce Hart was one of the bravest Tigers to ever take the field.
Booting 369 goals over 187 games, the Tasmanian had a short career at VFL level, however, he made a huge impact, winning four flags with Richmond as well as a pair of best and fairests in his decade of league football.
So potent was his effect on the footballing world that he was included at centre-half forward in the AFL Team of the Century, with his innate talent for taking pack splitting marks and booting goals putting him up there with the best to ever come out of the Apple Isle.
Option 4: Matthew Richardson
It's safe to say that during the club's darker years, 'Richo' was very much a big reason why the Tiger faithful kept showing up week after week despite poor results.
The Tasmanian big man booted 800 goals for his beloved Tigers, wearing his heart on his sleeve in every one of his 282 matches for the club. It was this passion that made Richmond fans take to him so much, with his exciting brand of football meaning that he never failed to get bums off seats.
Surprisingly, 'Richo' never won a Coleman and holds the record for the most goals kicked without taking the medal home. Nevertheless, Richardson has booted the most goals out of any player to play upon the MCG, gracing the hallowed turf with his presence every second weekend to boot goal after goal.
Verdict
After the Tigers broke their premiership drought in 2017, many fans wished that Richardson would've played in that side considering what he did for the club throughout their more bleak times, however, it is just too hard to pass on 'Hungry' himself.
Kevin Bartlett was truly mesmerising on his day, and his longevity is unparalleled at Punt Road to this day. Imagining Bartlett sharing a midfield with 'Dusty' Martin and company would have the Tiger faithful frothing at the mouth, with 'KB's goalscoring instinct being a huge weapon in Damien Hardwick's arsenal as the club pushes for yet another shot at September glory.
Option 1: Tony Lockett
Is this man the best player out of any player mentioned on this list of 64 players? We say yes.
With 1360 goals across a mere 281 games of AFL/VFL football, there is only one Tony Lockett. And having averaged almost five majors per game, the man was an absolute cheat code of a player.
Arguably the scariest thing about 'Plugger' was the number of times that he missed games through injury and suspension meant that he could have had even more goals to his name by the end of his career.
Lockett booted 100 or more goals in a year a staggering six times, a crazy stat considering that some great key forwards never managed the feat even once in their careers.
As the most prolific goalscorer in league history and the greatest forward to ever do it, Lockett was a certified freak of nature.
Option 2: Robert Harvey
One of the Saints' favourite sons, Robert Harvey is a certified legend at Linton Street.
With a total of 383 games of pure footballing brilliance, Harvey was the heartbeat of a St Kilda side that was starved of success for so long.
His individual brilliance was on display week in week out, with his short kicking game arguably one of the best the AFL has ever seen. This was epitomised through his incredible EIGHT All-Australian selections as well as back-to-back Brownlow Medals in 1997 and 1998.
The only accolade that evaded Harvey was a premiership with his beloved Saints,despite coming tantalisingly close in 1997 after finishing as minor premiers that year.
All-in-all, the famous number 35 is revered amongst the St Kilda faithful and 'Banger' will be a legend of the club forever.
Option 3: Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes was the embodiment of courage and endeared himself not just to Saints fans, but also to neutrals.
The born leader was a tackling machine and hard-nut through and through, holding the record for most tackles ever up until Matthew Priddis overtook him in 2017.
His finest hour came in the 2010 Grand Final against Collingwood where he put on an emphatic display to win the Norm Smith Medal despite the game being drawn, earning himself universal respect across the entire competition.
Retiring in 2014, Hayes racked up three Trevor Barker Medals and a trio of All-Australians to cement himself as an all-time great of the St Kilda Football Club.
Option 4: Ian Stewart
A two-club player, Ian Stewart is the only man to win a staggering three Brownlow Medals across a pair of teams.
Stewart spent the majority of his career at Moorabbin, winning the Saints first and only flag thus far in 1966, as well as two out of his three Brownlow Medals.
A skilful centre, Stewart was courageous and never backed out of a contest. Regularly blowing teams away, he provided service on a silver platter for his forward teammates.
The Tasmanian's career as a Saint came to a messy end as he eventually fell out with coach Allan Jeans, requesting a trade to Richmond where he won his third and final Brownlow. Despite this, Stewart is remembered as a St Kilda legend and sits in the club's Team of the Century in his natural midfield position.
Verdict
Although there are multiple areas where the Saints need to improve, it's almost impossible to say no to the highest-scoring player in VFL/AFL history, so it just has to be Tony Lockett.
Max King and 'Plugger' down in the forward-line would make it arguably the best key pairing in the game, with both providing elite targets for the Saints midfield brigade to hit up out of the middle. The tutelage that Lockett would be able to give King would be unreal for an up-and-coming forward, surely allowing Max to exceed his pre-ordained potential.
Option 1: Bob Skilton
Bobby Skilton is arguably the greatest Blood to ever pull on the red and the white, making a mockery of his opponents on many an occasion.
'Chimp' was toughness personified, suffering many injuries as a result of his unwillingness to shirk a contest. Skilton was the third player ever to win three Brownlow Medals and won a stunning nine South Melbourne best-and-fairest medals over the course of his 16-years of VFL football.
His most admirable trait, however, was his ability to kick with either foot, so much so that it was alleged that opponents often were unsure which was his strong foot considering they both offered so much.
Skilton was named at rover in the AFL Team of the Century with the Sydney best-and-fairest medal is named after him, emphasising the profound effect that his footballing career had on the club.
Option 2: Gerard Healy
Melbourne-born midfielder Gerard Healy only had a short stint in Sydney, however, he cemented himself as a club great in the 81 games he played in the harbour city.
Healy moved to the Swans in 1986, winning three All-Australian blazers and three Bob Skilton Medals in the years that followed, as well as his first and only Brownlow Medal in 1988.
Such was the impact that Healy had in Sydney, he was inducted into the club's Team of the Century lineup in 2003. There is no question that his best footy was played in the Harbour City, often cycling between midfield and attack and getting on the scoreboard whenever needed.
Healy finished his career with 276 goals from 211 appearances and is remembered as one of the all-time great Swans of the 80s.
Option 3: Adam Goodes
One of the champions of the modern game, Adam Goodes was an incredibly successful presence during his career at the Swans.
Goodes' large frame gave him the ability to drift in many positions, often going from the forward-line to defence and even in the ruck. This versatility earned him many plaudits, however, more importantly, won him many awards.
A dual premiership player and Brownlow medallist, Goodes racked up three Bob Skilton Medals and three All-Australian blazers as well as playing in 372 games for the Swans across 17-seasons at AFL level.
Despite the booing controversy late on in his career marring what should have been a celebrated end to his days in boots, Goodes is fondly remembered by most for what he gave to the Swans in his star-studded career.
Option 4: Greg Williams
The ever-controversial Greg 'Diesel' Williams takes out the last place on this list, with the serial ball-winner a staple in the Sydney side for his five years at the club.
Williams' main trait was his distribution by hand, being described on multiple occasions as one of the finest masters of the art the game had ever seen. A dual Brownlow medallist - one with Sydney and one with Carlton - Williams won two All-Australian blazers at the Swans, however, never secured a Bob Skilton Medal during his time in the Harbour City.
Although he was by no means physically gifted, his shortfalls were plastered over by his footballing intelligence, with 'Diesel' now holding a place in the Sydney Team of the Century.
Verdict
The Swans are spoilt for choice in midfield as of current, with the side's youngsters coming into their own during season 2021. However, the tough, two-footed Bob Skilton would elevate their midfield brigade to the next level if he were to enter the doors at Sydney today.
With the departure of George Hewett to the Blues, Skilton could occupy the centre role and use his insane speed to burst out of the centre and hit up the likes of Lance Franklin down in attack. It's no stretch to say that Skilton could be the final piece in the Swans puzzle to put them in premiership contention instantly.
Option 1: Chris Judd
The greatest Eagle to grace the field, Chris Judd was unprecedentedly elite for West Coast from the get-go.
Playing as a forward before shifting back into midfield, Judd was incredibly silky and lethal with the way he moved the ball. His speed and power were often the two factors that opponents remarked on, usually after Judd had taken them to the cleaners in the prior match.
The Melbourne native won his first Brownlow in his third year of AFL football, as well as winning the Norm Smith in the following season and a flag in 2006.
Despite moving to the Blues in 2008, Judd is still incredibly popular in the West for being one of, if not the, most prolific players to ever pull on the yellow and blue.
Option 2: Peter Matera
'Roo' Matera had Perth in the palm of his hands in the early 90s, ensnaring Eagles fans with his incredible footballing abilities.
His performance in the 1992 Grand Final that earned him a Norm Smith Medal is enshrined in West Coast history, with a five-goal display winning the match for his side and giving him permanent hero status at Subiaco Oval.
Matera earned a stunning five All-Australian selections throughout his 253 game career, as well as two flags, including the aforementioned 1992 inaugural premiership.
Although he was hellbent on moving to Melbourne in the latter stages of his career, Matera stuck with the Eagles and retired a club great.
Option 3: Ben Cousins
If we're looking at pure on-field brilliance, Ben Cousins had it in droves.
Although Chris Judd was a superstar, Cousins was revered differently in Western Australia when he was in his prime - affectionately being named 'The Prince of Perth'. Starting off his career as a forward, he was moved into his natural midfield berth where he wowed fans with his speed, skill and accuracy of delivery.
Cousins earned a staggering six All-Australian selections over the course of his 238 game West Coast career, winning a Brownlow in 2005 before his first and only premiership in 2006.
There need be no explanation for what ensued following the Eagles successful 2006 campaign, however, if we're only examining his on-field effect, then there is no denying that there probably never will be a player who creates such a stir as Cousins did.
Option 4: Glen Jakovich
Before the likes of Jeremy McGovern and Darren Glass, there was Glen Jakovich who was the main man in the Eagles back-six.
His tussles with North Melbourne superstar Wayne Carey were legendary, with the West Coast defender getting the better of Carey on multiple occasions. Jakovich's reading of the game and physical size meant that Carey wasn't the only forward to be blanketed by the defender more than once.
A dual premiership player for the Eagles, Jakovich won four club best-and-fairests and two All-Australian blazers over the course of his 276-game career, demonstrating the elite level of performance that he brought to Perth week in week out.
Verdict
With the ageing lineup of the Eagles, there is a need for a breath of fresh air injected into the side. Although in this hypothetical universe, the 'brought back' players would ideally be in their prime, Chris Judd's sheer dominance would be ideal for the Eagles as they look to transition to a new generation of talent.
His accuracy of delivery would mean that the likes of Oscar Allen and Josh Kennedy (for the very near future) would be served balls on a silver platter and that Nic Naitanui wouldn't need to do a tonne of clearance work with Judd being able to do it all in his prime.
Option 1: Doug Hawkins
A bullish winger, Doug Hawkins is one of the Doggies' favourite sons.
Possessing the ability to roam forward when needed, the boy from the western suburbs of Melbourne managed to amass an incredible 329 games for Footscray and contribute with 216 majors, with the majority of those goals coming towards the back-end of his career when he was moved to a small-forward role.
His first and only Charles Sutton Medal came in 1985, also making the VFL team of the year on both sides of his best-and-fairest winning campaign. Hawkins speed, size and stamina earned him the nickname 'The Hawk' as he gained league-wide recognition from his peers.
He is universally recognised as one of the best Bulldogs players to ever don the red, white and blue and his spectacular skill is etched into the minds of those lucky enough to witness him play.
Option 2: Ted Whitten
Nicknamed 'Mr Football', Ted Whitten is the epitome of everything brilliant about our game.
Able to line up in key positions at either end, Whitten's illustrious 19-year footballing career would grant him legendary status as one of the best to ever do it. Playing 321 games and booting 360 goals, Whitten would captain the club for 13-years and win a stunning five Charlie Sutton Medals.
'EJ' was gifted both overhead and on the ground and did not have a weak foot, being able to torpedo it with ease on either leg. A three-time All-Australian, Whitten was passionate about State of Origin football, bleeding for the 'Big V' whenever he took to the field.
His untimely death in 1995 from prostate cancer rocked the footballing world given his popularity being universal around the league. Such was his legacy, Whitten was named captain of the AFL Team of the Century, lining up at centre-half back.
Option 3: Chris Grant
One of the greatest Dogs of the modern era, Chris Grant would have been a Brownlow Medallist had it not been for a non-reportable offence mid-season.
The full-forward amazingly went at Pick 105 at the 1988 draft, playing for 18-seasons and booting 554 goals in 341 games.
Although a prolific goalscorer, Grant's skills with ball in hand were amongst some of the best in the business and was regularly able to float down to defence if need be.
He was cruelly deprived of a Brownlow after the AFL Director of Football Operations referred him to the tribunal despite not being reported, subsequently being suspended for one match for a strike that the vast majority of punters saw as accidental.
Despite this, Grant finished his career a two-time Charles Sutton Medal winner and a three-time All-Australian and is fondly remembered as one of the most talented players of his generation.
Option 4: John Schultz
Nicknamed 'The Gentlemen' for his sportsmanlike on-field demeanour, John Schultz is regarded as one of the best ruckmen to play the game.
Like most ruckmen in the mid-20th century, he wasn't overly tall by modern-day standards, only standing at 191cm. However, his silky skills and physicality saw him best most of his opponents on a weekly basis.
Despite only playing for 11-seasons, Schultz was a consistent performer and won his first and only Brownlow in 1960, as well as five club best-and-fairest medals to round off a hefty trophy cabinet.
Schultz retired at the young age of 29, however, the effect he had in his relatively short career was huge and his legacy lives on today.
Verdict
It's clear that the Dogs do need defensive reinforcement, and a no-nonsense defender might be exactly the ticket to propel Luke Beveridge's side to a flag after the heartache of 2021.
Therefore, the great Ted Whitten might be the go here. Despite not being a mammoth compared to today's standards, 'Mr Football' could be the centre-half back that the Dogs are looking for.
His marking ability overhead would provide plenty of intercepting play for the Dogs, and his supreme kicking ability would be able to set up attacks with a simple swing of his leg.