In the wake of Essendon's clash against Geelong this weekend that will recognise the impact regional areas has on football, champion Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has put together a list of his top 10 players from country Victoria.
Compiling this list for the Herald Sun, Sheedy couldn't look past a former Bombers goalkicking champion for the top spot, as John Coleman's record was just too good to past up.
537 goals from just 98 games between 1949-1954 sees Coleman top Sheedy's list, with his goals per game average of 5.48 the second best in history behind Hawthorn's Peter Hudson (5.64).
“I’ve been watching footy since I was four or five so it’s really about the time I’ve been alive. I didn’t see Coleman at his best but his record speaks for itself,” Sheedy said.
“The great Alf Brown always said forget about everyone else, Coleman is the best. I’m not sure if anyone else has been better since.
“Even in his last year he averaged seven goals a game. It’s an amazing record.”
Former Sydney and St Kilda forward Tony Lockett comes in second, and Sheedy can't believe the game's best ever goalkicker (1360 goals, the most in history) isn't celebrated more in his hometown of Ballarat.
“I cannot understand why Ballarat does not have a statue of Tony Lockett driving into Ballarat,” Sheedy said.
“I don’t think anyone will ever get past Lockett and in the end it was quite amazing what he was able to achieve.”
Sheedy's top 10 VFL/AFL players to hail from country Victoria
- John Coleman (Essendon) - Port Fairy
- Tony Lockett (St Kilda/Sydney) - Ballarat
- Gary Ablett Snr (Hawthorn/Geelong) - Drouin
- John Nicholls (Carlton) - Maryborough
- Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong/Gold Coast) - Modewarre
- Ron Barassi (Melbourne/Carlton) - Castlemaine
- Doug Wade (Geelong)/North Melbourne) - Horsham
- Adam Goodes (Sydney) - Merbein
- Francis Bourke (Richmond) - Nathalia
- Greg Williams (Geelong/Sydney/Carlton) - Bendigo
