During the COVID Lockdown period, a group of past players and volunteers were in the process of putting together a series of ‘Best Ever’ teams to stimulate further interest and keep things interesting when there was no football, however just before it was all finalised - footy returned and the process was shelved for a period.

However, in recognition of the last home game for the Home & Away season, with Ladies Day, 20 year Colts Premiership Reunion and likely a large contingent of past players involved in Premierships in 1980 (40 years) and 1970 (50 years) the teams will be published below.

This particular discussion covers the Sherwood Districts Era in the SQAFA before the merger with Wests in 1990.

Four good judges of football have selected their best ever Sherwood teams over this period.

A reminder that this is each judges’ personal best teams from what they have seen or played with and it simply an exercise in generating interest in the Magpies and the club’s long and rich history.

38 players gained a mention.

Of interest the following players were selected by all four judges –Ian Anderson, Phil Anderson, Greg Butler, John Cawcutt,  Allan Giffard, Lindsay Jacob, Ziggy Mateja, Bill Peirce  and Craig St John.

The following players weren’t far behind with 3 judges selecting them in their teams—Greg Adams, Glenn Crompton, Jim Evans, Peter Filler, Mark Gersekowski, Dennis Hogan, Jeff Langdon, Des Lashman  and Warren Selvage.  (Des and Warren declined to select themselves!!) Few blokes with splinters in their bum to, sitting on the fence picking 26!

KEVIN KLUVER TEAM

B: Des Lashman - Phil Anderson - Mark Gersekowski

HB: Romas Jakavicius Snr - Dennis Hogan - Warren Selvage

C: Craig St John - Geoff McKellar - Greg Butler

HF: Bill Peirce - Peter Filler - Wayne Jackson

F: Glenn Crompton - Alan Giffard - Ian Anderson

Foll: Ziggy Mateja - Greg Adams - Lindsay Jacob

Interchange: John Cawcutt - Gary Glazebrook -Jim Evans - Jeff Langdon - Steve Rippon - Greg Stewart

WARREN SELVAGE TEAM

B: Gary Glazebrook - Phil Anderson - Ian Price

HB: Romas Jakavicius Snr - Dennis Hogan (vc)  - Des Lashman

C: Jim Evans - Greg Butler - Craig St John

HF: Geoff McKellar - Ziggy Mateja - Bill Peirce

F: Greg Adams - Allan Giffard - Glenn Crompton

Foll: John Cawcutt - Craig Lashman - Lindsay Jacob (capt)

Interchange: Jeff Langdon, Rob Blank, Ian Anderson, Steve Rendells

Emergencies : Graeme Hodgson, Bruce O'Neill, John Gibson

Coach: Maurie McNamee

Manager : Bill Wright

Trainer: John Burkill 

DES LASHMAN TEAM

B:   Steve Rendells - Phil Anderson - Wayne Mill

HB: David Atkinson - Dennis Hogan - Warren Selvage

C: Craig St John - Geoff McKellar  - Greg Butler

HF: Alan Giffard - Peter Filler - Wayne Jackson

F: Bill Peirce  - Glenn Crompton -  Ian Anderson

Foll: Jeff Langdon - Greg Adams - Lindsay Jacob 

Interchange: John Cawcutt - Craig Lashman - Ziggy Mateja - Mark Gersekowski - Jim Evans -Ross Stewart 

CRAIG St JOHN TEAM

FB : Greg Adams - Phil Anderson - David Atkinson

HB: Des Lashman - Warren Selvage - Mark Gersekowski

C: Billy Pierce - Greg Butler - Steve Rippon

HF: Bruce O’Neill - Peter Filler - Wayne Jackson

FF: Craig St John - Allan Giffard  - Greg Stewart

Foll: John Cawcutt ........ Ziggy Mateja
Craig Lashman ....... Alistair Gaw
Ian Anderson .........Lindsay Jacob

Interchange: Paul Gersekowski - Craig Anderson - Shayne Hill - Ross Stewart

PLAYER PROFILES

Greg Adams   

Hard tough player, centreman  with good kick both feet, led from the front

Won Brisbane Juniors B&F in Under 15s, Under 16s and Under 17s three years in a row, Queensland Representative at Junior & Senior Level

- Premiership Player in 1975 and 1979 ; Life Member          

Craig Anderson – Left footer, extremely quick and skilful winger  –career cut short with eye injury

Premiership player 1982

Ian Anderson 

Midfielder, one of 4 indigenous players to play for the club at the time, he was hard at the ball and had great hand skills. Played in the SANFL for Central Districts

- Premiership Player in 1980, 1981, 1982      

Senior B & F 1983, 1985 

Phil Anderson

One of the 4 brothers to play for Sherwood, played mostly at full back where nothing really worried him. Read the game very well despite wearing glasses, nickname was “Casual”.

- Premiership Player in 1978, 1979, 1980

- Best on Ground 1980 Grand Final          

David Atkinson

Tall ruckman with a basketball background,  he had unbelievable skills. Fearless in his attack on the ball. Moved to Darwin and became  legend of Darwin Buffaloes and the NTAFL.

4 x Premiership player

Rob Blank 

Classy rover in Sherwood first senior team, played first grade cricket  for Wests and served in Vietnam.

- Premiership Player in 1970

- Inaugural Captain 1968

- Senior B & F 1968, 1970

- Metropolitan League  B & F 1968, 1969 (George Hall Medal)

Greg Butler 

One of 6 brothers who played for the club. Talented centreman with a burst of speed and great skills with hand and foot. Represented  Queensland at all junior levels and at senior level in 1981-82. Played in Kedron’s 1980 QAFL flag and over 200 QAFL matches

- Premiership Player in 1978, 1979, 1980.

- Senior B & F 1978 and 1979                    

John Cawcutt

Big strongly built ruckman who was arguably the best ruckman in Queensland. In 1988 Grand Final playing for Zillmere,  he outrucked Brownlow Medallist Gary Dempsey.

Best on Ground in 1982 Grand Final.

- Premiership Player in 1981 and 1982

Glenn Crompton

Strong marking full forward who was also quick at ground level

- SQAFA Leading Goalkicker in 1973 and 1974 

- Premiership Player in 1973, 1976, 1977 

Jim Evans 

Back pocket, had good anticipation, heart and soul of every side he played in

- Premiership Player in 1970, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978

- B & F 1976

- Best on Ground 1970 Grand Final 

Life Member                  

Peter Filler

One of the most talented players to pay at the club. High flying CHF who could also play at CHB, great mark and superb kick on either foot. Great clubman and team player. Also named as one of the 4 best players in the NT  in the period 1974-94.

Alistair Gaw

Hard and uncompromising half back flanker. Brisbane Bears were interested in him but work commitments meant he could not attend all training sessions. Played in premiership teams at Morningside.

B & F winner 1986

Mark Gersekowski

Mostly played at CHB and at only  180cm often took on and beat taller players. In 1980 GF he was moved to CHF and booted 8  goals in a match winning performance. Premiership player 1980

Also played 150 matches for Western Districts and represented Queensland.

B & F winner  1980

Paul Gersekowski

Smooth half forward flanker, liked to kick a goal, also 100 matches for Western Districts in QAFL.

Premiership in 1980

JohnGibson

Classy tall lightly built half forward, made All-Australian Under 18 team,  good evasive skills

- Premiership Player in 1973, 1975 

Allan Giffard

Kicked 100 goals 3 years in a row at full forward, first Queenslander signed by the Brisbane Bears.  Was quick and good in the air and on the ground.

- Runner up Grogan Medal in 1984

- SQAFA Leading Goalkicker (122 & 115) in ’1981 and 1982 

- Premiership Player in 1981 and 1982

- Captain 1985

- Senior B & F 1981

Gary Glazebrook

Pound for pound the strongest player to play for the club, A follower whether in ruck or ruck-rover, was an Olympic freestyle wrestler and played football to keep fit, always played with a smile on his face. Greg Adams says the hardest he was ever  hit was by Glazebrook on a club practice match!!

- Premiership Player in 1970, 1973, 1975

- Captain 1975 

- Senior B & F 1972, 1973           

Shayne Hill

Fullback, from Central Districts in SANFL, tall athletic fullback, played in several Morningside premierships in the QAFL

Graeme ‘Sammy’ Hodgson 

5’8” tall but could stand on opponents shoulders, very talented in the centre or at half forward

- Premiership Player in 1978, 1979, 1981

Denis Hogan

- Big. Strong and fast CHB. Corner stoneof the team’s defence. Eldest of 6 brothers to play for Sherwood. Premiership Player in 1970, 1973, 1975, 1976

- Captain. 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976

- Senior B & F 1971, 1974

- SQAFA B & F 1974 (Duncanson-Todd Medal)        

Wayne Jackson

Was in the Army, legend in both Cairns and Townsville leagues, half forward, great hands, tough and skilful and “frightening”.

Lindsay Jacob  

- Inspiring and courageous  leader, tough rover, players would go through hot coals for him named in Queensland’s top 100 players, Premiership Player in 1978

 Coached Kedron in mid 1970s

- Capt/Coach 1978, 1980 (missed the Grand Final injured)

Romas Jakavicius Snr

A tough, aggressive half back flanker, also played over 100 games at Western Districts

- Premiership Player in 1975, 1976, 1977   

- Senior B & F 1975    

Jeff Langdon

“Mad dog” was a high flying blond  full forward before his time (also first player in Qld to wear white boots). Took 21 marks after half time in 1977 GF and was taken to hospital after the game with exhaustion. Later discovered to have a heart valve problem. Popular player.

- Premiership Player in 1977, 1978

- SQAFA Leading Goalkicker 1972  --60 goals       

Craig Lashman

Big strong and robust half back who could fill gaps elsewhere,  Queensland Under 18 captain,

- Premiership Player in 1980, 1981, 1982, also played in Kedron’s premiership 1980           

Des Lashman

Lightly built half back flanker, he was Sherwood through and through. Hard and tough , he was a good player to have on your side.

Over 200 matches for the club, Life Member.

- Seven time Premiership Player in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 

Ziggy Mateja

Strong marking ruckman in club’s first ever premiership, B & F at 18 years old, Captained the team in 1970 at 19 years of age. Over 250 matches in the QAFL, Queensland rep in 1977.

- Premiership Player in 1970 and 1981.

- Capt. 1970 and 1971 

- Senior B & F 1969.                  

Wayne Mill

Strongly built half back flanker, not flashy but rarely beaten, courageous, great clubman

Premiership player  1975, 1976 

Geoff McKellar

- Classy centreman , robust strongly built , good kick both sides of body, hard to tackle. Premiership Player in 1975.

Studied medicine and head of cranio-facial surgery at Westmead Hospital. Played in centre for Queensland  against Footscray in early 1980s.

(Warren Selvage’s comment: In what I consider the best team that I played in (1975), Geoff was an absolute stand-out.) 

Bruce O’Neill

Half forward flanker, was able to sneak under opponents guard, liked to kick a goal, rarely beaten one-on-one, made sure the younger players in the side were protected –if you touched one of the younger players it was a case of ”if Bruce didn’t get you Steve Rendells did!!”

- Premiership Player in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982

Captain of 1977 undefeated premiership

Life Member 

Bill Peirce

Played over 600 matches for the club from juniors to seniors. Classy centreman or half forward, he was a dedicated and committed player who bled “black and white”.  One of the true legends of the club, current B & F Medal named in his honour.

- Club’s first Grogan Medal winner in 1983. 

- Premiership Player in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982. 

- Senior B & F 1982, 1987.        

- Captain for 7 seasons-- 1983, 1984, 1986-1990  

Life Member  

Ian Price

Solidly built fullback, excellent left footer

- Premiership Player in 1970, 1973

Craig St. John

Wing or half forward, probably the most naturally gifted player to play for the club, hit targets with either foot from 50 metres. Also a high flying mark. Queensland’s best player against South Australia in 1980 as an 18 year old.

- Premiership Player in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

 Steve Rendells

-Started as a winger at Western Districts , played on best opposition forward whether FB or CHB. Old fashioned tough, he would shake opponents hand, then elbow them and stomp on their foot. Also protected his younger players (see Bruce O’Neill)  

Premiership Player in 1976, 1977, 1978

-  Captain of 1977  Premiership team  

Steve Rippon

Ruck rover came up for a holiday and stayed, Fitzroy chased him but he decided to stay, hard nut at the footy, led from the front.  

B & F in 1988 and 1989

Gold Coast player of the year in 1988   

Warren Selvage 

Tough hard  half back, team always first, led from the front in his attack on the ball. Father Ian was club’s longest serving President. Recipient of AFLQ Merit Award in 2018 for services to Australian Football.

8 time Premiership player  

Captain Coach 1981-82

Over 200 senior games 

Life member 

Greg Stewart

Very accurate kick for goal, lost an eye as a youngster but did not stop him being a good player, big strong full forward

Premiership player 1981 and 1981

 Ross Stewart

Centre/half forward, strong bodied plater with good skills both sides of the body. Accurate kick with either feet, often kicked clutch goals when the team needed it. Smart thinking footballer.

Premiership player 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981.

B & F in 1977

Life member