Jarrad McVeigh’s Personal Best
10 – John Longmire (Corowa)
“I had to put my coach in. He’s won a Premiership as a player and now as a coach. He kicked 98 goals one year and kicked 2.8 in the last game to miss the 100 so unlucky for him but he had to go into my top 10 at number 10. I’ve seen him play and now I’ve been coached by him, he had to go in there for me.”
9 – Dennis Carroll (Ganmain)
“At number 9 is Dennis Carroll. He’s a Sydney Swans Hall of Fame player, he was captain of this footy club for six years. He brought the club from South Melbourne to Sydney, was one of the real pioneers for us and I really respect the way he went about it. He was one of the most elite kicks that we’ve ever seen at the footy club and I’ve got a lot of time and a lot of respect for Dennis.”
8 – Brett Kirk (Albury)
“At number 8, Brett Kirk. Two-time Best and Fairest winner and I think for seven years he was in our top two at the Best and Fairest which is an unbelievable effort. A very courageous player, a great captain – I learned a lot from him personally as a player. He was lucky enough to win a Premiership in ’05. He led this club unbelievably through that time and a lot of the stuff that we see today is what ‘Kirky’ left us – a pleasure to play with.”
7 – Lenny Hayes (Pennant Hills)
“Number 7, Lenny Hayes. I’ve watched Lenny growing up playing football, coming from Pennant Hills. I played for them also and he played with my brother. He’s won four Best and Fairests, he’s played in a couple of Grand Finals and won a Norm Smith. He unfortunately missed out on a Premiership but the way he goes about it – he’s had a couple of knee reconstructions but came back and he’s still a really unbelievable player. The way he tackles, he never gives up and has really silky and sublime skills – he’s a pleasure to watch.”
6 – Shane Crawford (Finley)
“A number 6, Shane Crawford. He’s probably one of the best game runners that I’ve ever seen. I’ve played on him a few times and the way he covers the ground and never stops running, he’s probably one of the hardest players to play on. His work rate and his skills and the way he finished off – was just a really, really hard player to play on. He won a Brownlow, a Premiership and a number of Best and Fairests and captained his club. Shane Crawford is one of those players you really looked up to as a young kid.”
5 – Terry Daniher (West Wyalong)
“At number 5, Terry Daniher. Three-time All Australian, a number of Premierships, obviously a lot his brothers played which was an unbelievable effort for that family. Hall of Fame member at Essendon and Team of the Century player – He’s now been an Assistant Coach at a number of clubs, passing on valuable knowledge of the game that he’s learned over the years. He was a really tough player – being at Essendon, my brother was there and he spoke of him – he still continues to keep himself fit and he was a really strong, hard player in a really strong era at Essendon.”
4 – Alex Jesaulenko (Canberra)
“At number 4, Alex Jesaulenko. Probably known for ‘that mark’ – that’s synonymous with AFL, but his playing career was unbelievable as well. Numerous Premierships, he’s coached Premierships, he’s an AFL legend, was in the Hall of Fame, a number of Best and Fairests, an unbelievable player of his time. He was a player that young players, we’ve all seen the footage of those old days, and he was one of the guys you see featuring all the time.”
3 – Paul Kelly (Wagga Wagga)
“At number 3, Paul Kelly. Along with Bob Skilton, probably the best Swans player we’ve ever seen. Four-time Best and Fairest, probably our best captain that we’ve ever had – unfortunately he didn’t get a Premiership but the way he played the game … He started off in Rugby League and started AFL at 15 years of age, the way he has moulded the players at this footy club. We all look up to him and we all go silent when he comes into a room and you get nervous because Paul Kelly is a true inspirational leader and a player we all look up to and one of my personal favourites.”
2 – James Hird (Canberra)
“At number 2, James Hird. He’s won five Best and Fairests, two Premierships, captained the club. Really courageous – he’s gone through some horrific injuries in his career but always came back and still put his head over the ball. He’s won five Anzac Day medals so he knows how to perform on the big stage. He’s now a coach of a team and I’ve always really respected his thoughts on the game and how smart he was as a player. His skills, his work ethic is some of the best I’ve ever seen.”
1 – Wayne Carey (Wagga Wagga)
“And at number 1, no surprise, the big king – Wayne Carey. Seven-times All Australia, two Premierships, five Best and Fairest awards, he changed the way the game was played at centre half-forward. North created a game play basically for him – the Pagan’s paddock – and speaking to John Longmire, the way he led the group and the way you saw that when you were a kid, you knew you were watching something special. The marks he took and the games he took hold of – Wayne Carey was the king then and he’s still the king now and that’s why he’s my number 1.”
Click here to watch Jarrad McVeigh’s ‘Personal Best’ on afl.com.au