BACKS

BERNIE SMITH (1948-58)

Games: 183 Goals: 3 Captain: 1954 Premierships: 1951, 1952 Best and Fairests: 1951, 1956 Brownlow Medal: 1951 All Australian: 1953 Victorian Rep: 4 games AFL Team of the Century - BP Geelong Team of the Century - BP AFL Hall of Fame inductee - 1996

One of the greatest and most decorated players in the history of the club, Bernie Smith was a player that took attacking play from the last line of defense to new levels. Already a 3 time SA rep, premiership player and B&F winner with West Adelaide in the SANFL before crossing to Geelong in 1948, he spent the first couple of years at Geelong in the centre. After coach Hickey moved him to the back pocket during the 1950 season, Smith went on to become arguably the greatest specialist back pocket the game has seen.

Quoting from John Deveney's profile on australianfootball.com - 'Smith was ideally suited to a back pocket because he was pacy, had good ground skills, marked well, was always cool under pressure, and had superb judgement. Opposition coaches came to view him as Geelong's first line of attack, and in what was a virtually unprecedented move for the times he was often subjected to what would now be called tagging.' Bob Davis told the story that so adept was Smith at backing out of packs with the ball at top speed, they did timed tests at training and found he could run just as fast backwards as he could forwards.

An inaugural AFL Hall of Fame inductee, he was also an automatic selection in both the league and clubs teams of the century in the back pocket.

GEORGE 'JOCKA' TODD

Games: 232 Goals: 54 Premierships: 1925, 1931 Best and Fairests: 1927, 1930, 1931 Victorian rep: 12 Games Geelong Team of the Century - FB AFL Hall of Fame inductee - 1996

Far and away the clubs greatest full back in its first 100 years in the league, Jocka Todd was one of the finest exponents of the position in an era of legendary full forwards. Renowned as a tight checking, high leaping master of the spoil, he was also a thumping drop kick, with a reputation as a poised and balanced player with superb anticipation.

A fisherman by trade, Todd's record speaks for itself. Twice a premiership player, thrice a best and fairest winner in a golden era for the club, he was also a Victorian regular. An inaugural inductee into the AFL hall of fame, he was also an automatic selection at full back in our team of the century, and was a nominee for the AFL team of the century in that position.

BILLY MCCARTER (1913-24)

Games: 114 Goals: 7 Best and Fairest: 1921, 1923 Victorian rep: 5 games

Billy McCarter was a back pocket specialist who was one of the first defensive players to add a strong attacking edge to his game. A quality two way player, he used great anticipation and pace to beat out opposition rovers one on one, and combined sleek ball handling and sure disposal with a willingness to back himself. His long, dashing runs out of defense were renown throughout his career.

After losing four years to WW1, he returned and won two club Best and Fairest Awards, and retired just a year before our first flag. He was selected to represent Victoria on 5 occasions.

HALF BACKS

MARK BROWNE (1974-8)

Games: 87 Goals: 60

Mark Browne was a handy player for us in the mid 70's, but better known as a champion for Geelong West in the VFA.

After making his senior debut for the Roosters at 16, and playing in their 1972 premiership team at 17, he crossed with brother Ricky to the club for the 1974 season.

A strong, bullocking player known for his straight ahead style and hardness at the contest, he soon cemented a place in the seniors where he would be a regular for the next three seasons. Capable of playing a variety of roles, he played at times on the wing, half forward or as a ruck rover, it was as a half back that he played his best footy. After finally cracking it for a Scanlens card in 1978, he was cut by the club at the end of that season.

He immediately returned to Geelong West where he was a star for the remainder of his career. He played in a Grand Final in his first year back and finished second in their best and fairest. He would captain them from 81-83 including the 83 VFA Grand Final, win best and fairests in 81 and 82, and represented the VFA on five occasions. He hung up the boots in 1984 after 146 games for Westies.

Also a handy cricketer at local level, his daughter Madison is currently vc of the Aussie netball team.

REG HICKEY (1926-40)

Games: 245 Goals: 24 Captain: 1932-40 Premierships: 1931, 1937 Premiership Captain: 1937 Best and Fairest: 1928, 1934 Victorian games: 18 Victoria Captain Geelong Team of the Century - CHB AFL Hall Of Fame Inductee - 1996

Still the spiritual Godfather of the club, Reg Hickey was also one of the biggest names in the game during a playing and coaching career that spanned over 30 years at the club. A dashing CHB who played the game hard but fair, he was equally effective in wet or dry conditions, and was a rare breed of player at the time who had dual sided skills. His leadership on and off the field was a telling factor in some of Geelong's greatest eras.

As a player, he captained the club for 8 years, was a dual premiership player and best and fairest winner, also finishing in the best and fairest placings on a further 6 occasions. He captained Victoria and represented the Big V with distinction on 18 occasions. Named CHB in our team of the century, he has also had two different stands named in his honour at Kardinia Park.

JACK WALKER (1930-35)

Games: 76 Goals: 3 Premierships: 1930 (reserves), 1931 Victorian rep: 2 games

Jack Walker was a tall, straight ahead player with a yard of pace who could kick with either foot. He played in our 1930 reserves premiership in the centre, before graduating to a wing in the 1931 senior premiership.

A move to half back saw him play his best football, representing Victoria in 1933 and finishing 2nd in the 1934 best and fairest. On the verge of cementing himself as one of the greats of the day, he collided with teammate Alan Everett in a practice match prior to the 1935 season, breaking a collarbone and missing all but the last handful of games that season. The following pre season, his collarbone was again broken, ending his career.

CENTERS

ROBERT 'SCRATCHER' NEAL (1974-86)

Games: 200 Goals: 51 Premierships: 1980 (reserves) Tasmanian Rep: 3 games

Robert Neal continued a long tradition for redheads at the club, and is in my opinion one of the most underrated players in our modern history. Better known to footy fans as 'Scratcher' due to his potato farming background in Tassie, he was a consistent performer on the wing for more than a decade. Yet apart from joining the 200 club and therefore receiving life membership with the club and a place in our Hall of Fame, he did not garner any other club awards of note during his career, but did manage to represent Tasmania in 3 games in the 1979 carnival under state of origin rules. He also played in the 1980 reserves flag.

His stocky build belied his explosive pace, slick ball skills, and his ability as a genuine two way player. With the attacking style of Micky Turner usually taking the other wing, Scratcher developed as a more defensive wingman despite being a quality attacking player in his own right. As a mark of his natural speed, he never seemed to lose that ability no matter how heavy the conditions.

After 200 games with us, he crossed to St Kilda for 2 seasons, where he added 20 further games.

BERT RANKIN (1912-23)

Games: 131 Goals: 21 Captain: 1923 Best and Fairest: 1917 Victorian rep: 2 Games Victorian captain: 1922

A forward and wingman early in his career, it would be as a centreman that Bert Rankin would establish himself as one of the finest players of his era. A player that combined pace and skill with long drop kicking, he won the club B&F in 1917. He would team with brother Cliff as mainstays of the side in the early 20's, where they would become captain and vice captain respectively in 1923. The previous year the brothers became the first to play alongside each other in a Victorian rep team, with Bert also serving as captain of the Big V.

In another family record, Bert and his father Teddy combined for the shortest amount of time from a father's final game to a son's first, at 1 year 320 days between 1910-1912. With our side improving and after skippering the Big V and then the club, it appeared Bert Rankin was entering a glorious final phase of his career. Alas, after being dropped from the team just prior to the 1923 finals, he quit the club in anger, never to play at league level again.

Despite the acrimony, Bert Rankin's most lasting legacy at the club was not an on field one. It was he who promoted the idea of Geelong being known as 'The Cats' after taking a liking to the famous Sam Wells cartoon.

TREVOR POOLE (1990-93)

Games: 54 Goals: 34

A winger or half back who could rack up volume possessions, Trevor Poole crossed from Richmond in 1990 after 99 games, a best and fairest and 2 Victorian selections while there.

He was a consistent performer in the hoops over 4 seasons, playing in the 1992 Grand Final along the way. His importance to the side was shown in his final year of 1993. After missing most of the year through injury, he returned to the side for our run to the finals, when we belted every other finals team but still ended up coming up short. Poole played in each of those wins, including a 30 possession effort in a thumping of North, but after missing out on the finals, he called it a day.

HALF FORWARDS

CLIFF RANKIN (1915, 1919-28)

Games: 153 Goals: 400 Captain: 1925-27 Premierships: 1925 VFL Leading Goalkicker: 1921 (61) Geelong leading goalkicker: 1920, 21, 22, 23 Victorian rep: 14 games Victorian captain: 1926 Geelong team of the century - emergency

One of the leading figures in the club's emergence as a premiership contender in the 20's, Cliff 'Ticker' Rankin was one of the premier forwards in the competition at a time when goals were still at a premium. Short for a full forward, his main assets were his ability to read the ball off packs, and snap from long distances with either foot. He was also one of the last place kick specialists in the league. He remained a dangerous forward even in later years after moving to a pocket, then to a flank.

He made his debut in 1915, but did not reemerge until 1919 after he had completed his war service. In his first complete season of 1920 he led the club in goal kicking, and repeated the feat in 1921 with a then club record of 61 goals. That total was also good enough to top the league goalkicking table for the year. He again led the club in goal kicking in 1922 and 1923, but his greatest achievement at the club was yet to come.

In 1925 he became captain-coach of the club and led us to our first premiership. Apart from his role as coach, he was a star on the day, kicking 5 goals from a team total of 10. While not able to repeat the feat in his two further seasons as coach, he finished with the still impressive record of 45 wins from 57 games. A regular Victorian rep, he captained the state in 1926. Rankin was named as an emergency in the club team of the century, and is maybe a little unlucky not to be in the starting 18. Should one day find his way into the league hall of fame.

LES 'SPLINTER' HARDIMAN (1929-37)

Games: 135 Goals: 236 Premierships: 1930 (reserves) 1931, 1937 Best and Fairest: 1933 Victorian representative: 5 games Geelong Team of the Century - interchange

Delving back into the 30's for another key position player, Les 'Splinter' Hardiman was a high leaping CHF and FF, but who is possibly best known for his job at CHB on Ron Todd in the 1937 Grand Final. While he never led the club goalkicking, he was consistent in front of the big sticks. His best was 56 goals in his B&F year of 1933, and was capable of kicking big bags on occasions, with hauls of 7 and 8 in a game to his name.

After the 1937 flag, he crossed to Subiaco, where he won a best and fairest, and also represented WA twice, in addition to his 5 appearances in the Big V while at the club. He was named on the bench in our team of the century.

'Splinter' met an untimely end, unfortunately killed in a car accident aged only 51.

KEN NEWLAND (1965-75, 1977-78)

Games: 198 Goals: 243 Victorian Rep: 1 Game Premierships: 1975 (reserves)

Ken Newland will more than likely remain the youngest player ever selected for senior footy at the club, at 16 years and 74 days. He is not the most decorated player in my team, but certainly one of the most talented. Perhaps never quite living up to his potential, Newland was equally effective as a ruck-rover or across half forward.

A poised, skillful footballer for whom time seemed to stand still when he had the ball in his hands, he was also possessed a big leap, a clean pair of hands and a nose for the goals. After cementing his place in the side during the late 60's, he was a shining light in the team during some lean years for the club. After copping plenty in his younger years, as his career progressed, he also became known as a player who didn't mind dishing out the rough stuff. He played in the centre in our 1975 reserves premiership, then crossed to Footscray for a season in 1976. He returned to us for two further seasons, and perhaps as a mark of his ability, kicked his career best haul of 6.3 in his second last senior game.

He is the third on the list of players to reach 100 games in terms of age, and was a Victorian representative in 1970 against South Australia.

FORWARDS

DAVID MENSCH (1992-2002)

Games: 158 Goals: 173 Geelong Leading goal kicker: 2000 (39 goals) VFL Premiership: 2002

A maligned player early in his career, Menschy later became a bit of a cult hero among the fans. While not blessed with pace or silky skills, he was nevertheless a strong mark, reliable kick, and versatile enough to play as a key forward or ruckman.

He led the club in goals for the 2000 season, played in Grand Finals in 1994 and 95, and played in our VFL premiership in his final game for the club in 2002. Later went on to become a dominant player at country level.

JAMES PODSIADLY (2010-13)

Games: 83 Goals: 168 Premierships: 2011 Geelong leading goal kicker: 2011 (52) Geelong VFL Captain: 2009 Geelong VFL Best and Fairest: 2009 Geelong VFL leading goalkicker: 2009 VFL team of the year: 2009

A late arrival to senior AFL footy, James Podsiadly quickly cemented himself as a fan favorite in his first season with the club. His long journey to the big league included rookie stints at Essendon and Collingwood, and training invites from Footscray and Richmond. In between, he was a star player for Werribee in the VFL before crossing to our own VFL side.

His accolades in the VFL include the 2008 J.J Liston Trophy, the 2005 'Frosty' Miller Medal (68 goals), the 2005 and 2008 Werribee Best and Fairest, and leading their goal kicking on four occasions (2005-08), with a best of 86 in 2008. In his one year with our VFL side in 2009, he was captain, won the Best and Fairest, and led the goal kicking with 68. He was a 3 time VFL rep, and was in the VFL team of the year 4 times.

A strong mark and thumping left foot kick, his continually being snubbed at the draft table was considered to be because he was either too slow, or too one dimensional. After his dominant 2009 at VFL level, we selected him in the 2009 rookie draft. He was very quickly elevated to the senior list in 2010 and his debut game in round 3 that year must have seemed like a dream at many points during his football journey. He seized the opportunity, and was a permanent fixture in the side from that point on, culminating in him polling 13 Brownlow votes, and kicking 49 goals for the year.

He improved his form in 2011, leading to him topping our goal kicking with 52, bagging a career best haul of 8 goals vs Brisbane, and being part of our premiership team. Like the team as a whole, his form fell away in 2012, but he bounced back with a solid year in 2013, managing to kick 33 goals for the year despite spending large amounts of time in defense.

With the club looking to promote younger players, he was delisted and signed with Adelaide for 2014, where he kicked 26 goals and passed the 100 game milestone.

IKE WOODS (1901-06)

Games: 68 Goals: 108 Geelong leading goal kicker: 1902, 03, 04, 05 2nd VFL leading goal kicker: 1903 (34)

Ike Woods was a rover and goalsneak known for long, accurate placekicking. He was a great mark for his size, and not afraid to mix it up when the rough stuff started. He led the clubs goal kicking for 4 consecutive years, with a best of 34 in 1903, enough to place him second on the league list. Though he was a leading goal kicker, he was also a great creator of goals, often giving them away to teammates in a better position.

Half way through the 1906 season, he was dropped for 'inattention to training', and crossed to Prahran for the 1907 season, where he continued to pile on the goals. In 1909, he played in the Two Blues first ever Grand final team.

FOLLOWERS

NORM SHARP (1952-57)

Games: 88 Goals: 29 Premierships: 1952 Best and Fairest: 1954

Norm Sharp made his debut as a 17 year old, and his ruck partner Bill McMaster recalled that after Sharp's debut game 'all these people jumped the fence and were running out onto the ground, they were running out to escort Sharpie off. It was something I had never seen before'.

Known for his burly frame and bustling style, he was a handy ruckman, but his best work was in the back pocket, where his ability to read the play and use his frame to advantage was of great assistance to Bruce Morrison on the gun full forwards. His greatest asset was his strength, where even the great Reg Hickey came off second best after testing Sharp out at training. He was the youngest member of the 1952 premiership team, and won our Best and Fairest as a 19 year old in 1954. A serious knee injury ended his career in 1957 aged just 22.

BRUCE NANKERVIS (1970-83)

Games: 253 Goals: 80 Captain: 1976-77 Best and Fairest: 1973, 1974 Victorian Rep: 12 games

Bruce Nankervis is the first player I have selected that was not in our team of the century, although he would not have been too far outside of the final squad. He's jumped up in the pecking order with me because not only do I need a versatile midfield option, he was also my first favorite player as a Geelong supporter.

Initially cut from the senior squad as a youngster, he later returned, but battled to cement a spot as a half forward. Things changed after coach Polly Farmer switched him to ruck rover, and was a mainstay in the position until a broken neck forced him out of the game for a period. Upon his return, a move to half back beckoned, where he oft combined with brother Ian to set up many attacking thrusts for the team.

A left footer and capable two way player, he won two B&F's, captained the club, and represented the Big V on a dozen occasions.

ALEC 'BUNNY' EASON (1909-15,1919-21)

Games: 150 Goals: 80 Captain: 1919-20 Best and Fairest: 1915 Victorian rep: 2 Games Geelong Team of the Century - Interchange

Alec Eason was one of the premier rovers in the league during his time at Geelong, despite missing two fingers on his right hand hand. Nicknamed 'Bunny' because of his speed, Eason was a master of roving the packs, and an accurate stab kick.

His career at the club was broken up by WW1, but on his return, he again cemented his place as one of the best going around, representing Victoria at the 1921 carnival. At the end of that season, he joined Footscray as one of the highest paid players in the state. There he played in two premierships, and as he was ineligible to play in the VFL when Footscray joined the league, he spent his final season as a player at Brighton.

He coached both Geelong and Footscray at league level, and was also a noted sports writer after his retirement from football. He is named on the interchange in our Team of the Century.

19th MAN

GEOFF MAHON (1936-41, 1946)

Games: 82 Goals: 35 Premiership: 1937 Best and Fairest: 1946

A tireless, versatile ruckman and strong mark, Geoff Mahon was the reserve in the 1937 flag and won the clubs 'Most useful player' trophy in 1938. He later crossed to Prahran in 1941 before serving in WW2.

At the end of the war, he returned to the hoops in 1946, culminating in him winning the best and fairest despite suffering a season ending knee injury in round 12. The injury caused him to miss representing his state after he was selected to play for Victoria. He injured the knee again in a practice match prior to the 1947 season and never played again.