Power_84989_01.jpg: The Gippsland Power All-Stars, from back: David Wojcinski, Steve Hazelman, Leigh Brown, Dylan McLaren, Nathan Vardy, Dyson Heppell, Jarryd Roughead, Lachie Hansen, Mark Stevens. Front: Greg Tivendale, Luke Ablett, coach Paul Hudson, Jason Winderlich, Xavier Ellis, Troy Makepeace. Absent: Shaun Dempster, Tyson Goldsack, Robert Murphy, Brendan Goddard, Dale Thomas, Andrew McQualter, John Butcher, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Blair, Jason Gram and Brent Macaffer. Picture: KATE MITCHELL
By RUSSELL BENNETT
BRENDON Goddard, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas and David Wojcinski have five AFL premierships between them, five All-Australian awards, three International Rules appearances, a Norm Smith Medal, two Anzac Medals and a club best-and-fairest … and now, they’re all part of the same midfield.
The star foursome was named in the Gippsland Power’s All-Star team of its first 20 years in the TAC Cup last Saturday night at a gala awards ceremony at Warragul’s Lardner Park.
They stand proudly alongside a host of other household AFL names including Robert Murphy, Lachie Hansen, Jason Gram and last season’s NAB Rising Star winner Dyson Heppell in an all-conquering 25-man squad.
Many big-name players were there to accept the award in person, including Leongatha’s Heppell and Jarryd Roughead, and Thorpdale’s Jason Winderlich – fresh off Hawthorn’s big win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium the night before. And Nar Nar Goon’s Lachie Hansen drove from Melbourne to Warragul on Saturday afternoon, straight after the recovery session from his Kangaroos’ big win over the Demons at the MCG earlier that day.
Hansen was joined in the side by fellow locals Luke Ablett and Dale Thomas from Drouin, Greg Tivendale from Officer and Pakenham’s Tyson Goldsack.
Ablett, Tivendale and Hansen all spoke about the privilege they felt to pull on the Power jumper and the kick-start the club gave them into the AFL system. Each said he was honoured to be named alongside a host of the game’s best.
“There are some pretty big names in this (All-Star) side,” Hansen said.
“Just imagine if this was an actual team.
“It’d be bloody hard to stop!”
Now retired from the Sydney Swans, Ablett is back in Victoria, studying at university and playing for Fitzroy in the amateurs. He said he still makes it back to Drouin to catch up with friends and family and fondly remembers his time in the Gippsland Red, White and Blue.
“Footy was much simpler back then,” he said.
“There wasn’t anywhere near the scrutiny that’s on young players these days.”
But the pressure for spots in the Power’s All-Star side was just as intense. Former AFL players Craig Biddiscombe, Callum Chambers, Adrian Cox, Shane Birss, Damian Adkins and Robert Eddy all missed out on selection, as did current young guns Tomas Bugg, Michael Ross and Frankston Dolphin Shaun Marusic.
Only one of the 25 players named to the squad did not make it to the AFL – Traralgon legend Steve Hazelman, who was named on the bench. Garfield coach Brent Eastwell can count himself desperately unlucky not to make the squad – nominated against Wojcinski on a wing.
Former Hawthorn, Bulldogs and Richmond sharpshooter Paul Hudson was named coach of the All-Star side, having led the Power in 2005 to its only TAC Cup title.
The Power’s current under-18s crop attended the ceremony off the back of their impressive win on Saturday against the Oakleigh Chargers. They sat alongside some of their AFL heroes but their biggest applause of the night was reserved for Gippsland stalwart, former Carlton, Richmond, Fitzroy and Essendon star Peter Francis and wife Robyn, who were named life-members of the club.
Gippsland Power
5.3 10.6 12.7 13.9(87)
Oakleigh Chargers
1.3 2.3 4.4 5.6(36)
Gippsland Power goals: N. Graham 3, B. Kearns 2, T. Membrey 2, T. Muir 2, S. Lange 2, J. Drew, M. Northe. Best: A. Heppell, R. Hall, N. Graham, T. Membrey, D. Jackson, A. Tipungwuti.
Oakleigh goals: P. Jenkins 2, J. Toohey , T. Gladman , J. Hammond. Best: S. Raru, D. Heath, J. Toohey, R. Exon, B. Borland, N. Papaleo.
