The Sandringham Dragons have been a producer of some of the best talent the game has ever seen, with plenty of premiership stars and Brownlow winners having cut their teeth at Trevor Barker Oval.
Names like Judd, Watson, Hawkins and Ball are just some that have passed through the Dragons system and gone to the very top of AFL footy.
With this, it's time to trawl through the names that have been drafted in the 29 years since the Dragons were created and pick just 22 to be put into the all-time greatest Sandringham Dragons side.
Defenders
Arguably the easiest department to pick in this side is the back six, however this defence is no slouch whatsoever.
Former Swans tough nut Ted Richards takes the full-back spot in this team with his 261 games, 2012 premiership and All-Australian selection seeing him comfortably qualify for this list.
Simon Beaumont and Pies defender Brayden Maynard round out the back three spots whilst Dees premiership player Christian Salem takes a halfback-flank role after a stunning season 2021.
Alongside Salem is former Saints defender Jason Blake, who was a smaller-sized key defender that managed to carve out a place in a St Kilda defence that made back-to-back grand finals in 2009 and 2010.
Finishing off the defence is former Essendon and Hawthorn player Danny Jacobs, who played just 126 games of AFL football however was at the Bombers from 1999-2001 where they won three consecutive minor premierships.
Midfielders
This is where it got tough - mighty tough.
The list of midfielders who have passed through the Dragons is ridiculous, so trimming it down was a tough ask.
Bombers man Zach Merrett has had a fantastic career so far, with the 26-year-old winning both the club's best-and-fairest medal and picking up an All-Australian blazer in 2021.
In the centre of the field is another Bomber in the form of Jobe Watson. The three-time Crichton Medal winner would have had a Brownlow to add to his trophy cabinet however was stripped of it following the club's doping saga in the early 2010s.
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Giants midfielder Josh Kelly slots into the other wing position, with the 26-year-old thriving in Western Sydney after much conjecture during the season over whether he would move back home to Victoria or stay in the harbour city.
Max Gawn takes out the ruck spot in this side after a stunning 2021 season. The Dees skipper managed to pick up a fourth successive All-Australian selection and of course helped break the club's 57-year premiership drought.
The classy Chris Judd had to feature in the side, with the two-time Brownlow medallist easily the greatest player to come out of Sandringham thus far. His 279 games for both the Eagles and Blues were filled with achievements and accolades, topped off with a premiership win with West Coast in 2006.
Sydney midfielder Josh Kennedy is the last midfielder in the starting lineup, with the Swans ball-magnet having won three Bob Skilton Medals as well as featuring in the club's 2012 premiership victory.
Forwards
Former Saints captain Luke Ball manages to squeeze into the half forward-line with one club best and fairest to his name and of course a premiership flag with his second club Collingwood.
The King twins are also locked into the forward-line with Ben and Max both plying their trades at their respective clubs, slowly building towards their undoubted potential as world-beating key forwards.
Hawks three-time premiership player Jack Gunston sneaks onto the half forward-flank having played 209 games for the team from Waverley, winning the club's best-and-fairest in 2018.
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At full-forward is big Tom Hawkins, with the Melbourne Grammar graduate having enjoyed incredible form over the past decade.
The 33-year-old has booted 665 goals for the Cats since his debut way back in 2007, establishing himself as one of the greatest forwards Geelong has ever had.
Rounding off the best 18 is recently delisted Crows forward Tom Lynch who enjoyed a healthy career at West Lakes in his nine-year stint with the club.
Lynch is still unsure of whether he will play on in 2022 with the 31-year-old agreeing to become a development coach at North Melbourne that may include a bit-part role within the playing squad.
Interchange
There is only room for one of the Brayshaw brothers in this 22, with Dockers youngster Andrew the one to make the cut. His stats this year for Justin Longmuir's side are nothing short of impressive for a player who is only 22 years of age.
Brisbane star Jarryd Lyons sneaks onto the bench with his career revival after being delisted from former club Gold Coast nothing short of remarkable.
Tim Taranto is a name that many AFL clubs will be chasing come the expiry of his contract in 2022 as Leon Cameron faces a huge fight to keep the 23-year-old on his books for the foreseeable future.
Finally, former Pick 1 Andrew McGrath takes out the last position on this list with the 23-year-old small-bodied midfielder at the spine of an Essendon side that looks like it will be going places very soon.
The 'best of the Sandringham Dragons' side
FB: Simon Beaumont, Ted Richards, Brayden Maynard
HB: Danny Jacobs, Jason Blake, Christian Salem
C: Zach Merrett, Jobe Watson, Josh Kelly
HF: Luke Ball, Ben King, Jack Gunston
FF: Max King, Tom Hawkins, Tom Lynch
FO: Max Gawn, Chris Judd, Josh P. Kennedy
IC: Andrew Brayshaw, Jarryd Lyons, Tim Taranto, Andrew McGrath
