TWO Hawthorn superstars have joined elite company inside the top ranked ten players of the TAC Cup’s best 25 players.
Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell were sixth and seventh respectively among the decorated group, which was compiled to celebrate AFL Victoria’s partnership with the TAC.
Jarryd Roughead was ranked eighteenth – certainly nothing to be ashamed of given the list of names that were compiled.
The three Hawthorn stars have won a combined 12 premiership medals, eight All Australian guernseys, six Peter Crimmins Medals and a combined 382 Brownlow Medal votes.
Gary Ablett Jnr was rated as the best player to play in the TAC Cup competition, with the star studded list which boasting five Brownlow Medal winners, three Coleman Medallists and 21 premiership players.
The players were judged based on their achievements and impact upon the AFL competition, with each having had to have played at least one TAC Cup game and at least 150 AFL games.
The final rankings, decided by a panel including Kevin Sheehan, Anton Grbac and Leon Harris, showcases the long list of achievements by former TAC Cup players in the AFL.
AFL Victoria Chief Executive Officer Steven Reaper said the competition has played an important role in developing players both on and off the field, as the Top 25 list highlights.
“The players recognised in the Top 25 are just a handful the 1000’s that have been educated within our TAC Cup program, helped to be safer road users through key messaging from our valued partner the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), this year focussed on the Towards Zero campaign,” Reaper said.
“Celebrating the 25-year history of the TAC Cup has provided an opportunity to recognise some of the top talent developed within our regions, and to acknowledge our long-standing partnership with the TAC since 1992.
“AFL Victoria would like to congratulate all the players selected in the Top 25, and thank the TAC Cup regions, coaches, volunteers and local clubs that have played a role in helping these players along the talent pathway.”
THE TAC CUP TOP 25
1 Gary Ablett Jnr, Geelong Falcons
2 Chris Judd, Sandringham Dragons
3 Adam Goodes, North Ballarat Rebels
4 Brad Johnson, Western Jets
5 Matthew Lloyd, Western Jets
6 Luke Hodge, Geelong Falcons
7 Sam Mitchell, Eastern Ranges
8 Joel Selwood, Bendigo Pioneers
9 Brent Harvey, Northern Knights
10 Jonathan Brown, Geelong Falcons
11 Matthew Scarlett, Geelong Falcons
12 Dane Swan, Calder Cannons
13 Scott Pendlebury, Gippsland Power
14 Dustin Fletcher, Western Jets
15 Barry Hall, Murray Bushrangers
16 Jimmy Bartel, Geelong Falcons
17 Steve Johnson, Murray Bushrangers
18 Jarryd Roughead, Gippsland Power
19 Nick Dal Santo, Bendigo Pioneers
20 Justin Leppitsch, Dandenong Stingrays
21 Cameron Ling, Geelong Falcons
22 Robert Murphy, Gippsland Power
23 Chris Johnson, Northern Knights
24 Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong Falcons
25 Dan Hannebery, Oakleigh Chargers
