South Fremantle Team of the Modern Era - Defenders

Tuesday, May 6, 2014 - 8:37 PM by Chris Pike

IN THE build-up to the South Fremantle Football Club announcing its Team of the Modern Era on Saturday May 31 we will be taking a look at the players in the running and here are the defenders who have been considered.

A competition will be held where members of the public can predict their team and whoever gets the closest to picking the final 24 players will receive a signed South Fremantle Football Club jumper from the 2014 season.

The winning entry will be announced on Tuesday June 3 following the event on the Saturday night and then the Foundation Derby with East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval on Monday.

You can submit your list of 24 players you believe will be selected in the Team of the Modern Era from 1987 onwards two ways – by submitting it on the club's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/southfremantlefc) or on email at bulldogs@sffc.com.au.

To be eligible for the team, a player must have played at least 50 games for South Fremantle between 1987 and 2013.

Now it's time to have a look at the defenders.

Tom Bottrell played 200 games with the Bulldogs after making his debut in 1992 and was a key player in the 1997 premiership team.

He continued his strong family history with the South Fremantle Football Club and his final game in Round 18, 2003 fittingly saw him reach the 200-game mark for his career.

He also played for Western Australia in 1999.

Cliff Collard began his career with South Fremantle in 1986 and won the fairest and best award in 1990.

He was also named on the interchange of South Fremantle's Indigenous Team of the Century.

Paul Duffield is a 2005 premiership player at South Fremantle and has played 77 with the Bulldogs mostly as part of the defensive unit starting in 2004 and most recently in 2012, but he has become a permanent member of the back-line with the Fremantle Dockers.

He has now played 140 matches with Fremantle including the 2013 losing grand final to Hawthorn at the MCG.

David Gault arrived at the club from York and made his league debut for South Fremantle in 1996 going on to amass 211 matches before retiring following the losing grand final of 2007.

He played in the 1997 premiership team and then was the only player to back up to play in the 2005 triumph where he became a premiership captain.

Jaymie Graham might have been the best ruckman in the WAFL by the 2009, but back in 2005 he was the centre half-back of the Bulldogs' premiership team.

He made his debut in 2002 and went on to play 105 games for South Fremantle before his retirement was force just seven rounds into the 2011 season after a horrific knee injury.

At that time, he was not only the dominant ruckman in the WAFL but the best player in the competition at that time following a brilliant 2009 season and 2010 campaign before also suffering a knee injury.

He was also the WA ruckman in 2009 in the drought breaking win over South Australia and prior to that, played 37 matches in various roles in the AFL for the West Coast Eagles.

Kyle Hams came into the South Fremantle league team for the first time in 2005 and up until the end of 2010 played 106 matches firstly as a small forward, but then as one of the best one-on-one defenders in the competition and also a creative force setting up play.

He then finished his career with three seasons and 61 matches at Swan Districts, including playing WA's drought breaking State game win over Victoria in 2013. In that time, he continued to be the prime small defender in the WAFL.

Roger Hayden is a 2005 premiership player at South Fremantle and played 59 matches all up with the Bulldogs between 2000 and 2009.

He made his name in the AFL with Fremantle, though, as one of the most creative defenders in the competition during his 128-game career.

Josh Head made his debut for South Fremantle in 2002 and played 121 matches before retiring during the 2012 season.

He was known for his trademark long-kicking left-boot and his dashing runs off half-back down the wings and through the middle, but he was also underrated for his defensive prowess.

He missed the 2005 premiership, but was part of the 2009 team that had a defensive unit unrivalled in recent memory in the WAFL.

Head also represented WA in 2011 and was twice listed by the Fremantle Dockers and ended up making his AFL debut in 2008 going on to play nine matches.

Sam Hunt was the full-back in that 2009 premiership team having arrived at South Fremantle from Geelong to start the 2008 season.

He also played for WA in 2008 and went on to play 59 matches for South Fremantle before returning home after 2010. As well being good defensively, he was outstanding creatively coming out of the back-line with good foot skills.

Glen Jakovich began his career at South Fremantle in 1989 and went on to play 51 matches up until the end of 1991 at the Bulldogs including being the club's leading goalkicker in 1990.

However, it was with the West Coast Eagles where he became one of the country's best ever centre half-backs during his 276-match AFL career that began in 1990, and including the 1992 and 1994 premierships, four-time best and fairest winner and being a two-time All-Australian.

He has also since been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and the West Australian Football Hall of Fame as well as representing WA on nine occasions.

Hayden North made his debut with South Fremantle in 2002 and ended up playing 155 matches mostly running off the half-back line.

He played in the 2005 premiership team, but heartbreakingly was the player who made way for Jeff Farmer in the 2009 team. He responded by being best on ground in the reserves premiership of the same year much to his credit.

North also played twice for WA before the man affectionately known as 'Pope' retired before the end of 2012. Had it not been for chronic hamstring and soft tissue injuries, he likely would have surpassed the 200-game tally with South Fremantle.

John Porter made his league debut in 1990 and went on to play 191 matches for South Fremantle including the 1997 premiership.

He also played four times for WA with the first time coming in 1992, won the club's fairest and best award in 1996.

Craig White made his league debut in 2004 and played in premierships with the colts and reserves before cementing a senior berth as a small forward by the 2005 premiership.

However, by the time the Bulldogs won the 2009 premiership he was one of the best and most creative half-backs in the WAFL and that is where he has played the majority of his 164-game career.

He has also been a terrific leader and continues to be a strong contributor to the South Fremantle team at either end of the ground.

Peter Worsfold made his debut in 1987 and went on to play 156 matches for the Bulldogs and was the 1997 premiership captain with 31 AFL matches thrown in there as well with the then Brisbane Bears starting in 1990.

He also played twice for WA starting in 1994 and continued to be a fine servant at South Fremantle until retiring following the 1999 grand final loss to West Perth.

The Team of the Modern Era function will be held at the Griff John Function Centre at Fremantle Oval on Saturday May 31. It commences at 7.00pm with tickets available at bulldogs@sffc.com.au or on (08) 9335 1555.

DEFENDERS IN THE MIX FOR TEAM OF THE MODERN ERA

Tom Bottrell

Cliff Collard

Paul Duffield

Ned Fimmano

David Gault

Jaymie Graham

Kyle Hams

Roger Hayden

Josh Head

Sam Hunt

Glen Jakovich

Hayden North

John Porter

Shaun Tinsley

Craig White

Peter Worsfold

By Chris PikeIN THE build-up to the South Fremantle Football Club announcing its Team of the Modern Era on Saturday May 31 we will be taking a look at the players in the running and here are the defenders who have been considered.