Across 325 games, 16 seasons, four Grand Finals and nine preliminary finals, it is safe to say I played in some very good teams. Across those teams I also played with some extremely good players. Many teammates in those teams are in the AFL Hall of Fame.
So naming the best 10 players I've played with across those years, at the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs, is damn tough.
The last spot, in my mind, was down to a choice of Scotty West, Brad Johnson, Barry Hall, Darryl White, Gilbert McAdam, Craig McRae, Jonathan Brown and Dale Morris.
Yes, the squeeze for spots was a lot harder than I initially thought.
For the record, my closest friends when I played the Bears/Lions was Craig "Fly" McRae and at the Bulldogs it was Dale Morris and Mitch Hahn.
These days I see Mitch most weeks, with either helping at the Lions L3 Development program he runs or at our daughters' football training and games.
My teammates I see now the most outside of Mitch, is Simon Black and Clark "Mr September" or "Crackers" Keating. It's mostly Clark actually.
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He and I played in the Queensland under 12s team in Darwin back in 1988. We have been mates ever since. We both have three daughters and are always entwined with football work and other business. Football is an interesting place to play and be even after all these years.
So who is in my top 10, in order from 10 to 1, starting with that very tight final spot? Here we go!
9Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane Lions)
"The Great Austrian" and "Frank the Tank" had to be in the Top 10. Leppa and I have known each other for a long time. We are like brothers. Love each, hate each other then back to love.
Both of us tied for the Merrett/Murray Medal, the club best and fairest, in 1999. It was Leigh Matthews' first year as coach and Leigh moved us both to the backline. Our attacking flair mixed with tight defending was something most of the times we did very well. We were both All-Australians that year as well, and went on to represent Australia versus the Irish that year and again in 2000.
Leppa is quicker than people think and despite his chicken legs he was very strong. Some of his battles against Wayne Carey were/are legendary. At 192cm Leppa never looked out of place against taller opponents.
Leppa was one of the more annoying teammates as well. Always talking in warm-up and giving another team mate some verbal judo - which mostly helped the mood be lighter than if he wasn't there. Sometimes it was very funny and much-needed.
