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:ย 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 ourย 'If your club could steal one player...'ย 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.
Western Bulldogsย
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.
