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The Inaugral Legends League and New Australian Legends Inductees

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The second group of inductees into the Australian Legends is larger than I had intended, but as I went through the players I thought why not. They all deserve to make it. They’re induction is also a reaction to the first legends league, identifying our weaknesses and strengthening the squad.

So we have 10 new players, a mixture of those recently retired to those in their 50’s. Some inductees are symbolic and are won’t make the starting team, but thoroughly deserve their place through long term club and national team service.

Others are less well known or had limited opportunities with the national team when wings became the dominant tactic, leaving the short passing specialists to knock it around in the reserves while watching on from the stands.

So far wings has been avoided by all managers of their respective legends sides, it’s a silent collective agreement for the good of the game. It’s really given these games an old school feel, bringing variety and fun back to the matches. In a recent forum post gave an update as to how we performed

The current squad with their death or glory, attack and entertainment style had some good results and a few big losses.

  Team M W D L + – = P Last 6
1 Argentinian Legends 16 14 0 2 104 12 92 42
2 Greek Legends 16 12 1 3 83 28 55 37
3 Italian Legends 16 10 0 6 67 58 9 30
4 Romanian Legends 16 8 0 8 69 40 29 24
5 Netherlands Legends 16 6 4 6 46 55 -9 22
6 Australian Legends 16 6 0 10 37 52 -15 18
7 Hungarian Legends 16 5 2 9 32 70 -38 17
8 Chilean Legends 16 5 0 11 23 63 -40 15
9 French Legends 16 2 1 13 17 100 -83 7

Early on our subs weren’t coming off the bench and we got crunched hard, but once they came on things evened out. Fitting all our great strikers into that team was fun, but we need a bit more down back and in the midfield. So yes, some strikers will miss out in the next legends league.

Ivan Hogan has suggested his spot be given to someone else, as other teams are taking these legends leagues to seriously, so before he gets a long term injury he’ll move into an assistant coaching role for the Aussie legends.

Since this post Hal Guy has called and ask for the same deal, I’ve a feeling Ivan spoke with him about retiring for a second time together. I’ve accepted both their offers, as having our all time great keeper and the all time leading scorer in a single world cup on the coaching panel will only bolster the squad further.

20 Paz Beattie 1 588 672 AUD 21 560 AUD 41 15
21 Fabrizio Whitmore 1 842 785 AUD 23 447 AUD 56 -1
22 Roger Miller 2 018 867 AUD 25 780 AUD 37 19
23 Neale Christini 2 061 329 AUD 26 072 AUD 42 14
24 Amos Fazey 2 128 183 AUD 26 984 AUD 39 17
25 Zackery Forrest 1 904 564 AUD 22 859 AUD 54 2
26 Brandon Pickhills 2 070 427 AUD 24 416 AUD 42 14
27 Elliot Cuddihy 1 593 351 AUD 20 597 AUD 40 16
28 Connor Limmer 1 832 194 AUD 25 185 AUD 44 12
29 Belton Fordham 1 736 829 AUD 29 953 AUD 36 20
The Keepers
20 Paz Beattie 1 588 672 AUD 21 560 AUD 41 15
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
25-07-2009 Youth Joined  *♂新航路♂→【澳大利亚】A JOKE –
27-04-2010  *A JOKE  【AC】★米兰★※雪花※ 50 000
13-01-2013  【AC】★米兰★※雪花※  Wings on Ice 3 703 711
31-05-2013  Wings on Ice  Trakyaspor 3 895 519
22-09-2013  Trakyaspor  SERAKENT 3 567 337
28-06-2014  SERAKENT  ABİDETÜRK JK 971 166
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 29 168
Goals 0 0
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 1

After Hal Guy left the national team a few keepers came and went without much fanfare, none of them are remembered in the public imagination. Even Paz Beattie can be easily forgotten, as after an initial sale for just $50 000 as a 19 year old, he spent most of playing career in the Chinese lower divisions 2, 3. The team is inactive now, but Paz spent 12 years of his life there, he speaks fluent mandarin as a result and has a Chinese wife.

After brief stint with Wings on Ice in the Dutch Eredivise before they sold up, he spent the rest of his career in Turkey’s lower divisions, spending a couple of seasons with three sides before retiring with Abideturk JK in division 5.

He didn’t win any premier division titles or have any cup success and the end of his career with the national team coincided with the rise of Elliot Cuddihy who pushed him on to the bench during the successful 2013 Conferations Cup run. But still this was the crowning glory of his career, mentoring the younger Cuddihy through his first international tournament while he was in his last was as rewarding as being on the pitch for the final whistle.

So where do you live now?

In Turkey, the political climate is tenuous right now but life in general keeps on going. My eldest is entering the Aussie equivalent of High School, so I don’t move around much beyond short business trips or special occasions. But I’ll have to clear some time for the legends squad, half the games are in Europe though so I’ll be able to fly in and out quite easily. The longest hauls will be going back to Australia for our home games.

You played in a lot of lower leagues, how do they compare to your stint with Wings on Ice?

It really depends, the lower leagues of China and Turkey are tough. The main difference is the standard of players in front of you, Wings on Ice had a great squad, my time there was the most challenging and rewarding of my career.

Any favourite memories of the 2013 confed cup run?

It was clear from the management that Toss was giving his keeper the starting spot, but Elliot deserved it. He was good, we roomed together throughout that competition, with a lot time to chat things over both on the training park and in the evenings. It was his first international tournament, so I took him out for dinner a few times, introduced him to the family and showed him the healthy way to travel with the national team. Good times, a great way to go out of the international spotlight.

27 Elliot Cuddihy 1 593 351 AUD 20 597 AUD 40 16
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
24-10-2009 Youth Joined  Panthers –
14-10-2010  Panthers  Arrested Developers 1 167 003
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 15 30
Goals 0 0
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 0

The contrast between the careers outside of the national team football couldn’t be more different for Cuddihy and Beattie. Cuddihy never left Australia only playing for two clubs, the second of which was Arrested Developers.

Their Cuddihy won 5 A-League titles and 4 National Cups. Including 3 League/Cup doubles and a run of 4 consecutive A-League title, both achievements occurred between season 47 and 50. Throw in a Bessie A League for the Lemon Turd, his National Team success in the Confederation Cup and he’s led a full career.

During the season I took over writing about the A-League I began running the A-Leagues keeping award for clean sheets in a season. It was a keeping competition to rival the top scorers award for strikers. The idea began while writing about Division 1 and in honour of the inaugural running the winner would have the competition named after them.

Nick Hanlen won Division 1 inaugural keeping award, so it was called Hanlen’s Hand Warmer’s. Cuddihy won the A-Leagues inaugural season and thus the Cuddly Sheet was born. A traditionally handwoven warm blanket made from farm raised Nepalese Mountain Yak fur has been given to each winner since. Current Shrewsbury Biscuits and national team keeper Bleyd Renney has won 3 of them.

But this is about Elliot, so our questions began with the Confed Cup. How was it being a part our only international tournament trophy in your first tournament as a starting player?

Surreal, I was somewhat of a captain’s pick by my Tosspot, but with the guidance of Paz I learnt on the job, he gave me advice and remains a great friend. We got extremely lucky when Uruguay upset Brazil in the other Semi-final, they dominated that game but came up short.

That was the beginning of people using wings and throughout the tournament we took full advantage of the benefits it gave us, in the end we won the final comfortably thanks to 4 goals from Rizzardo. I don’t know anyone else who has scored 4 goals in the final of any international competition. His performance guaranteed that we won.

There was a big Arrested Developers connection with that side?

Yeah, we had a great squad that won 4 consecutive A-League titles. I think 6 of the starting players in the final came from our domestic side. Hess in defensive, Miller and Wharton in Midfield, Rizzardo up front, Pincini on the wing, myself in goals and Alcock came off the bench. A couple more became Arrested Developers player soon after the tournament ended through transfers. Too bad they are inactive now.

You know, there aren’t any player functions for an inactive club, the only time we see each other is at the Rowdon Medal count.

How do you feel about the Cuddly Sheet?

Well I got the first one, they originally made two, one for the winner and the other to go on display. The second gets passed between the winner club to hang in the trophy room and a new one get commission each year for the player that wins. Renney’s got 3 now, I’ve got 2, but the first was a special moment, we never had a keeping award before.

Any input into the design, why Yak fur?

It doesn’t itch and retains heat.

The Defenders

21 Fabrizio Whitmore 1 842 785 AUD 23 447 AUD 56 -1
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
02-07-2005 Youth Joined  The Smoking Tree –
14-03-2007  The Smoking Tree  Mighty Morphing Sheep 9 760 916
26-07-2008  Mighty Morphing Sheep  Crimson Eagles FC 9 000 000
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 30 102
Goals 0 7
Red Cards 1 2
Yellow Cards 1 6

Amazingly these clubs are all still around, Crimson Eagles took an extended break, but I’ve not been able to say that about any other player of this age to be inducted in the Legends hall of fame. Their manager Senile Old Men had this to say about his now retired player.

Whitmore played Welsh Premier League in one of the great teams of the era, and finished up playing in my mob for a while so had a successful run.

Despite only having 8 speed, Whitmore was sold for 9 million AUD or more twice. A fortune back in the day. His first sale occurred when he was 22-23 from The Smoking Tree to Mighty Morphing Sheep. With them he won 3 Welsh Premier League titles in 5 seasons before returning home to the Crimson Eagles and play out the rest of his career. Winning an A-League title, 3 national cups and a season 9 cup.

With only 8 speed and 5 ball control you’d struggle to sell for million these days?

I know right, but back then having 8 shooting and 9 tackling meant I could play forward and back. Ideal to be a supporting striker, the shooting came later but it was nice to have.

22 Roger Miller 2 018 867 AUD 25 780 AUD 37 19
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
24-07-2010 Youth Joined  Inter Wodonga –
02-05-2011  Inter Wodonga  Grantow 2 100 000
09-04-2013  Grantow  Arrested Developers 6 000 000
10-07-2014  Arrested Developers  ≮王者归来≯柳州螺掌柜螺蛳粉 3 646 520
28-10-2014  ≮王者归来≯柳州螺掌柜螺蛳粉  TRAKIA F.C. 2 610 234
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 27 132
Goals 0 3
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 1 2

The boy from the Wodonga came a long way from his roots. Inter Wodonga have been a youth team for a long time. Winning one domestic U/18 title in season 37, then continuing on to this day as an active member while never achieving anything else. Grantow as well were getting better and almost made the A-League before selling Miller to Arrested Developers in season 46.

In 5 season at the club he won 4 national cup and 5 A-League titles, with 3 of them being league cup doubles. During this time he also won the Confed cup with the National team. This stunning period of success for Miller came between the ages of 26-30. Then it was off for a season in China, before retiring at his final club Trakia FC in Bulgaria.

But before anything else Miller was a player famed for succeeding with only 5 play intelligence, so our question to him was how do rate your own intelligence?

I was never going to be an academic, but I’m not an idiot if that’s what you’re getting at. Low Play Intelligence doesn’t affect how fast you train, just on the pitch. Football intelligence and general intelligence are different thing.

Should you ever write a biography, we came with a title from Wodonga to Bulgaria, what do you think?

Haha, if it stopped when my playing career ended then it would be spot on. Perhaps there should be a post career section, coming home without leaving.

How so?

In Bulgaria, I run a chain of car repair outlets. It’s a never ending supply of income. Do a good job for a reasonable price and the customers return. Though that doesn’t say much for their driving skills.

The Midfielders

23 Neale Christini 2 061 329 AUD 26 072 AUD 42 14
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
25-04-2009 Youth Joined  Glasston
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 9 120
Goals 0 1
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 2

A great player condemned to the bench and reserves of the national team because he was a short passing specialist in an era of wing play. He may have only had 8 speed, but passing, stamina, ball control and tackling were all 9’s and 10’s. We already have 2 other Glasston greats in the squad with Rowdon and Howard, Christini’s addition to the squad completes the trifecta of Glasston’s truly great players.

Rowdon is the only other one club player to make the squad, Christini is the second and they both come from the same club. That alone tells about the Glasston system of player development, think long term and let your squad play out their full careers.

At Glasston if you’re good enough you’ll retire there. Over the span of his Glasston career he won 2 A-League titles and 3 National Cups.

You were introduce into the National team setup just before the wings craze began, then relegated to the reserves and a few friendlies after the 2012 Confed Cup and 2013 World Cup qualifiers?

You can’t stop progress or someone finding a way to exploit the system that makes you go from an integral part of the first team, to a redundant player within a season.

You watched on from the stands as they Confed Cup was lifted, does that sour the achievement?

Well in some way it does, but the guys that played did a great job. I mean Australia winning the Confed Cup, the chances of it happening are so slim, you need a combination of tactical nouse, a good draw in the group stage, then luck to avoid the strongest sides in the playoffs and a terminal red card during matches. We had all of that come together. With the size of our club based, it’s unlikely to ever happen again.

Plus even though I didn’t play, I still have a medal as the whole squad received them regardless of who played the games. So I’m happy for them, but I would have loved being on the pitch.

28 Connor Limmer 1 832 194 AUD 25 185 AUD 44 12
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
25-10-2008 Youth Joined  Duffield United –
28-03-2011  Duffield United  Dribblers FC 5 744 616
01-10-2012  Dribblers FC  Duffield United 3 750 000
14-04-2013  Duffield United  Grantow 2 750 000
08-07-2013  Grantow  Amputees FC 2 000 000
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 16 167
Goals 1 0
Red Cards 0 1
Yellow Cards 0 11

For a player many won’t remember Connor Limmer won more than you’d expect, he was a solid midfielder you could rely on to make the tackle, hit the pass and run out the game. His 8 speed and 6 aerial passing prevented him from being an elite player when the game changed, but with 9 stamina, passing, tackling and ball control he was a formidable midfielders at local club level.

Duffield United was his original club and thankfully he was a youth before name changes came along, or I’m sure Grinner would’ve changed it to Duffield Duffield. Before his first sale to Dribbler FC nothing really happened, but while there they won 3 A-League titles, 3 national up, 2 league/cup doubles and a season 7 cup.

A quick glance at the Dribblers current list shows they began a rebuild, but gave up soon after and have remained inactive for several seasons. His next sale took him back to Duffield United and won an A-League title with them, before being sold on again as another side went into a prolonged period of trying to rebuild and losing interest multiple times, only being completely inactive last season for the first time.

His season in Division 1 with Grantow was uneventful, then he came to my club, Amputees FC. He only spent one season with me before retiring, which after spending 2 million AUD was slightly frustrating, and this was before the new retirement, so his career simply ended.

Connor Limmer showed me the quality of player I needed to develop in order win the A-League and become a competitive club. Before I bought him I’d never got above Div 1, in his season with me we achieved promotion to the A-League.

You work as a coach for me now, would you say you’ve retired?

No, but I can’t complain, training the youngsters is thoroughly rewarding.

Any players kids that I should especially keep my eye on?

Well Graham maxed in AP at 6, a shame given his talent elsewhere, he’s a wait and what his tackling will be. Our graduating keeper Phillip Ludwick sent everyone into a what the… moment when he decided to become a striker, but maybe we can change his mind yet yet.

Other than that Dalton Finden looks good, cross the finger with that one, so far so good and I don’t want to jinx it, maybe we already have by discussing him.

 

The Strikers

25 Zackery Forrest 1 904 564 AUD 22 859 AUD 54 2
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
27-05-2006 Youth Joined  *GoDs EleVeN –
09-07-2007  *GoDs EleVeN  Crimson Eagles FC 5 000 000
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 30 110
Goals 34 86
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 1 3

Another Gods Eleven player makes the list, along with Brian Beattie. I wasn’t around back then and neither Beattie or Forrest played in side at the same time as each other. Which is crazy! Having 2 players of this quality come through your club and sell them on for the cash is ridiculous. These are once in a generation players, sell them and your club goes no where.

But I need to move on, he was sold to Crimson Eagles during their initial period of the game and retired there. This period time including his entire national team career in which he’s the 2nd highest scorer for Australia in World Cup and Confed Cup games. His career at Crimson Eagles mirrored Whitmore for success with 1 A-League Title, 3 national cups and a season 9 cup.

Not many players for Australia have scored more goals than cup games played?

It could’ve been more had I not been subject to bouts of clumsiness, don’t get me wrong I was great at individual skills and touch. But I got reading the play and anticipating where to be before the ball was played horribly wrong at times.

Do you play much these days?

No, but I’ll have to now. Finden played in the first league, any chance at lining up alongside him?

I’ll keep it in mind.

The Utilities

24 Amos Fazey 2 128 183 AUD 26 984 AUD 39 17
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
23-01-2010 Youth Joined  Bye –
12-07-2011  Bye  Shrewsbury Biscuits FC 3 000 000
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 1 36
Goals 0 0
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 0

I’ve no idea who Bye were before they changed their name as a farewell, but Bluedean was the username.

Fazey was young while at Bye, yet he was there when they won the A-League in season 37. His first sale was his last, spending the rest of his career at Shrewsbury Biscuits FC. Including all his national team career, which was cruelly spent in the reserves and friendly experimentation pre-qualifying matches.

At the end of his career his overall ability was almost on par with Murdock Rizzardo skills wise, yet because he was in the national team at the same time and played the same position he didn’t even make the bench because Pickhills was the preferred utility option.

At Shrewsbury Fazey won an A-League title in Season 51 and Season 15 Cup Season 46. Missing out on the National Cup season 53 and both Division Cup Season 52 & 53 – AU-CA-US Top League-Div1 because of retirement.

How do you feel about the lack of opportunities you had with the National Team?

Not much you can do at it. I would have loved to play more but I had to contend myself with a few friendlies. So I learnt to forget about it, focusing on my club form and the side was just coming good when I was on the way out. Ahhh, unfortunate really, but again there was little you can do when age starts to catch up.

26 Brandon Pickhills 2 070 427 AUD 24 416 AUD 42 14
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
25-04-2009 Youth Joined  Australian Youth Academy –
31-03-2012  Australian Youth Academy  Woodbury 3 810 258
11-04-2012  Woodbury  Victoria Toruń 4 546 842
20-11-2012  Victoria Toruń  ♞ VIRAO Extreme ♞ 5 209 848
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 7 59
Goals 0 15
Red Cards 0 1
Yellow Cards 0 0

Pickhills lead the Australian Youth Academy from the Div 3 into the A-League for two seasons of 5th place finishes. With a best A-League haul of 36 goals in their final competitive season before a brief sale to Woodbury for a month while they were still in Division 1. I’m not sure why you would buy a player only to sell them on a month later with the high taxes reducing the profit margin, but we’ll never know why as Mylanta has left the game.

It was then on to Poland where his goals led Victoria Torun from division 5 to 3 before being sold mid-season 44 on to his final club Virao Extreme in Chile for another 4 seasons before retiring in season 48. 3 of those season were spent in the Campeonato Chileno, being relegated in the 3rd and the last in Division 1.

During this time he played a key role in taking Virao Extreme to their only ever National Cup title season 46. Coincidently this was Pickhills only Domestic Cup success with any club he played for and the period in which the 2013 Confederations Cup took place.

In the final years of your career everything came together?

I’m not sure why, some players go through their careers continuously helping out lower league teams to improve before being transferred to another one. I was lucky being a striker and could make a tangible difference to game results through scoring. Every club I played more than a season with was promoted, Virao Extreme eventually got demoted, but before that we won a national cup, the only one I’ve ever won.

This was happening at the same time as Australia won the Confed Cup?

Strange how after years of hard toil, it all happens at the same time. That was the only national team cup I was actively involved in from start to finish. Even as a sub I played most games. There wasn’t much left in me after that though. Perhaps one season more but it’s better to go out on a high.

Winger

29 Belton Fordham 1 736 829 AUD 29 953 AUD 36 20
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
23-10-2010 Youth Joined  Crystal Phallus FC –
14-07-2014  Crystal Phallus FC  U18 Narančasti Siedlce 4 886 692
17-01-2015  U18 Narančasti Siedlce  Kulesze SA 4 338 191
23-04-2015  Kulesze SA  S.C. Sardaukar 1 403 618
09-07-2015 Released  S.C. Sardaukar –
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 17 91
Goals 1 0
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 2

Belton Fordham was there for all of Crystal Phallus’s high’s and low’s.  Reaching the A-League, then selling up without realising the dream of winning the A-League, because of the Arrested Developers dominance. From youth to his first transfer he spent 15 seasons at Crystal Phallus, in other words he was 30 when he left for the first of 2 teams and 3 seasons in the Polish 2nd division.

His final transfer was listed in the knowledge that he had started to plan his retirement. Eric from Shrewsbury Biscuits and myself were interested in his services, but the price for a player who had 1 or 2 season left in him was too high and we both pulled out before SC Sardaukar put in the final bid. As things turned out his SC Sardaukar released him at the end of that season, a sad end for a player who could have retired with an Australian team.

Fordham won no national cups or premier league titles. His entrance into the national team came when Pincini began to deteriorate, replacing him as the starting winger. Belton was quick, his 10 speed made him a handful for any defender, deteriorations got to him in the end but still he deserves a spot in the legends team.

You were part of teams that were building towards something, but never achieved what they set out to do?

That’s true, at Crystal Phallus the results didn’t come and we finished mid table in all our A-League seasons. This led Damo to getting very frustrated with the game, as when he looked at the side on paper he thought he had a title contender, so he went into each of our 3 A-League seasons with high hope only to be let down. It eventually got to him and we were all sold.

Eric and I were bidding in your last transfer but it went to high, do players track who’s bidding on them?

Actually no, we’re blind from who is bidding on us. But we couldn’t influence the outcome anyway, you simply go to the highest bidder and hope it’s a decent club. Unfortunately no premier league contenders bought me and well, I was released. Though it happens to even the best as Rizzardo got the same raw deal.

Aussie Legends Original Youth Teams

Plainland – Ryan Pincini

Rutgers Utd – Donovan Kuch, Murdoch Rizzardo

Australian Youth Academy – Russ Colling, Brandon Pickhills

Hasslehoff Babes – Martin Cusbert

Milang – Jessop Howard

Katanning – Munroe Waterland

Chard City – Irwin Finden

Skoolage United – Bickford Bundy

Glasston – Cullen Rowdon, Neale Christini

The GunnerZ – Berke Kean

Crimson Eagles FC – Bo Boylin

Craven Cottagers FC – Berry Beverley

GoDs Eleven – Brain Beattie, Zackery Forrest

Telstra Utd – Bishop Lawrence

Hakea – Downing Beer

Manfred – Hal Guy

A Joke – Paz Beattie

Panthers – Elliot Cuddihy

The Smoking Tree – Fabrizio Whitmore

Inter Wodonga – Roger Miller

Duffield United – Connor Limmer

Bye – Amos Fazey

Crystal Phallus FC – Belton Fordham

Written by Scruttino

A-League, AIHL, Aussie Zone, Australian Legends, Football, Ice Hockey, Interview, Managerzone, MZ Australia, National Cups, scruttino, Soccer, The Playoffs, Welcome, Zone 229

Welcome to aussiezone 229

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Welcome to another aussiezone, now our 229th. Another season is over and the journey begins again. Aussiezone 229 has been written by Rodrigoazul77, Pypedark, Therk and Myself.

There are no national team articles in this release, I’ll wait until the end of next season to bring you both the U/21 and Senior national team campaign reviews. Inside you’ll find football content on the A-League mid-season and end of season reviews. Competition winners for the Rowdon Medal, Bundy’s Boot, The Cuddly Sheet, The Waterland and internal A-League Club MVP awards.  A-League playoff reviews and Season 56 A-League preview. AIHL review and new season preview along with statistical analysis.

Then the biography special features on the Australian Legends, which will appear in the WFO of their final clubs. The legend games will take place next season once we have finalised the Australian tactics. Leave a comment in Australian Legends forum thread to vote on your preferred tactic options and line-up or suggest your own variation.

Our international collaborators are back with Rodrigoazul77 and Pypedark from the Chilean Zone contributing Elite Cup histories.

Enjoy the 229th edition of the aussiezone, cheers, Matt

Aussie Zone, Australian Legends, Feature, Football, Managerzone, MZ Australia, scruttino, Soccer, Zone 229

Australian Legends

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These are the initial inductees to the Legends hall of fame, some popular players missed out. But I’m sure there will be future additions so recently retired players as Roger Miller, Belton Fordham, Amos Fazey, Paz Beattie and Elliot Cuddihy will have to wait a little longer.

1 Hal Guy 1 177 114 AUD 14 220 AUD 66 -12
2 Downing Beer 1 169 392 AUD 14 587 AUD 56 -1
3 Martin Cusbert 1 819 176 AUD 22 439 AUD 45 9
4 Bishop Lawrence 1 710 401 AUD 21 463 AUD 54 1
5 Brian Beattie 1 697 824 AUD 23 993 AUD 47 8
6 Berry Beverley 1 441 661 AUD 19 817 AUD 54 1
7 Bo Boylin 2 105 854 AUD 24 466 AUD 50 5
9 Murdock Rizzardo 2 249 957 AUD 30 667 AUD 39 16
10 Bickford Bundy 1 802 701 AUD 23 184 AUD 42 13
11 Ivan Hogan 10 529 379 AUD 156 943 AUD 66 -12
12 Irwin Finden 1 798 216 AUD 21 637 AUD 58 -3
13 Berke Kean 2 065 052 AUD 28 074 AUD 39 15
14 Donovan Kuch 1 776 152 AUD 23 438 AUD 45 10
15 Cullen Rowdon 1 875 440 AUD 25 214 AUD 44 10
16 Russ Colling 1 933 214 AUD 25 034 AUD 39 16
17 Munroe Waterland 1 797 774 AUD 25 230 AUD 45 10
18 Ryan Pincini 1 578 017 AUD 23 710 AUD 39 16
19 Jessop Howard 2 172 752 AUD 28 139 AUD 49 5

 

The Keepers

1 Hal Guy 1 177 114 AUD 14 220 AUD 66 -12

Transfer History

Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
26-09-2003  *Manfred  *MKS Siemianowice 157 500
26-03-2005  *MKS Siemianowice  *Supersonics 2 511 001
09-10-2005  *Supersonics  Duffield United 1 901 466
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 37 99
Goals 0 0
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 0

Our longest serving national team keeper and our oldest. Only his last club Duffield United are around, but when you’re 66 that’s not uncommon. You see the world change and adapt or find yourself discarded. Some remember Hal though if barely~

“I remember the name Hal Guy. He was the best goalkeeper in A-league for a long time. Can’t remember who he played for – got a feeling it was either Duffield or Harry Cool.” ~ Senile_old_men

“Most NT cup games, pretty sure he may have bribed Patrick with jumpers to “run an update” aka get Patrick to break Berry Beverley’s legs with a wooden plank, so that he could hold on to his record” ~ Dagriggstar

So we decided to ask the man himself a couple questions

How does it feel to still hold the record for most Cup games with the national team?

“To be honest I thought Berry would get me, but he fell one short and I can’t see any of the current generation being able to play long enough to get remotely close. So I guess it’s a record I’ll hold for a long time until I die. Paz was on track, but even he couldn’t get there, we just didn’t play that many friendlies back then though. Why isn’t Paz in the team? I would have thought he’s an automatic inclusion. I mean Downing Beer wasn’t a bad keeper, great guy to have pouring the drinks so I’m glad he’s in the team. But if you actually want to stop the goals, then Paz would be the man. I’m 66, the bones aren’t as flexible and break more easily with age, plus I’ve had a hip replacement. So I won’t be throwing myself around.”

Do you think you’ll save a goal?

“If they hit it straight at me, haha. I’ve kept my brain active with Sudoku’s and crosswords, the wit is as strong as ever, but the reflexes aren’t what they use to be. Not sure I’d enjoy facing Bundy or Rizzardo at short range, but then the sim loves its super keepers, so on a good day I could still keep a clean sheet. Let’s just hope Cusbert isn’t played as a central defender and no one gets a red card, then I’d be stuffed. It’s a good running joke, but let’s hope the coach has more sense than to start him.”

Thanks for your time, Ivan Hogan will be there. Perhaps the two of you can show up the youngster?

“Or not, Hogan had a freak eye for goal that belied his actual skills. He was lucky to make that squad and never expected to start, but he got his chance through a red card and took us all the way to the World Cup final. Sadly we lost, simply outclassed from the opening whistle, but it was a hell of a run which has never been matched by an Australian team in a World Cup since. We hadn’t qualified for years until recently. Ivan and I will show up for sure, but as to showing up others those days are long behind us, the standard of national team and club player is much higher than in our day.”

2 Downing Beer 1 169 392 AUD 14 587 AUD 56 -1

Transfer History

Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
02-07-2005 Youth Joined  Hakea –
10-02-2007  Hakea  Crystal Phallus FC 1 234

One has to wonder just how Downing Beer got his name. So the first question we asked him was where did it come from?

“It’s a good one isn’t it. Well the last name is quite common. But Dad was a practical joker and loved a drink, a bit too much in the long run as his liver causes him serious health problems these days. So Downing Beer it was”

Do enjoy a drink yourself?

“Sure, but you got to keep things in balance. I didn’t want to end up like my dad, so the party tricks of my youth are now long gone. You use to be able to have a beer after the game, but these days you have sports scientists, nutritionists, ice baths and healthy eating just to prolong your career until your 30. The game was much more enjoyable when you could have some anonymous fun off the field, without fear of being filmed on a mobile phone and put up on Youtube. Anyone remember the dentists chair incident? I mean come on, give the guys a chance to let loose once in a while.”

Are you surprised at your legends selection?

“Well, I was a reasonable player, but it’s my name people remember. So all in all no, but to be selected ahead of Paz Beattie and Elliot Cuddihy definitely. Those two were much better than I was, everyone forgets about Paz because he played overseas and people like to hate Cuddihy because he played for Arrested Developers, but the guy was a chip off the old block.”

Do you think you’ll start ahead of Hal?

“Depends on the bones, were both pretty old now. Maybe they’ll shrink the goals to give us a chance. Honestly I’d be happy on the bench, it’d be nice to see Hal in goals again. A few minutes towards the end of the second half would do me fine.”

A bargain buy from a long gone club Hakea for $1234, Crystal Phallus manager Damo11 is on record as saying “Downing Beer. Best keeper I ever had. Name says it all.”

The Defenders

4 Bishop Lawrence 1 710 401 AUD 21 463 AUD 54 1

Transfer History

Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
21-02-2006 Youth Joined  *Telstra Utd –
09-08-2008  *Telstra Utd Quit  Arrested Developers 7 500 000
30-09-2010  Arrested Developers  *chelseafc 1 667 034
07-10-2010  *chelseafc  Duffield United 1 594 660
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 33 95
Goals 0 0
Red Cards 0 1
Yellow Cards 6 14

Never afraid to go in with both feet studs up. It’s a credit to his timing that he only received one straight red card and it was in a friendly so it doesn’t really count, but with a combined total of 20 yellow cards in his international career, he holds the title of Australia’s most ill-disciplined player for the national team. Everyone needs an enforcer in their backline and Lawrence played the role to perfection.

One of the rare players to have been sold for more than $7,000,000 in the days when managing your finances and generating profit was a lot harder than it is today. His prime years were spent at Arrested Developers, establishing their ethic of tough defense. A brief spell overseas was very short before like quite a few players being picked up in his twilight years by Duffield United, allowing him to play out his entire career bar a month or so as a domestic player.

You’re remembered for never pulling out of a tackle. How do you get along with those you lined up against in retirement?

“Well, everyone mellows out once they hang up the boots and rivals on the pitch become friends off it. I only ever meet people I played against at official functions or in a working environment as I do a bit of match commentary for local radio stations. At the functions everyone has had a few and eaten good food, so friendships form pretty quickly. At work you’re a team, so you can have some fun with past rivals, ribbing each other with stories they’d rather forget.”

Those tackles that went wrong?

“Haha, luckily I didn’t have too many of them, I avoided seriously injuring someone. I mean, I might have put someone out for a few weeks here and there, but luckily no career ending 6-8 months injuries, which given how I played is a minor miracle. We were always up against it as a small nation, so I figured if I got a hard challenge or two in early then whoever was coming at us might think twice and that split second of hesitation we could use to our advantage. Back in the day Berry Beverley and I got away with some stuff we shouldn’t have, but it will be fun to play with him again.”

5 Brian Beattie 1 697 824 AUD 23 993 AUD 47 8
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
27-10-2007 Youth Joined  *GoDs EleVeN –
21-10-2008  *GoDs EleVeN  Arrested Developers 2 062 060
30-09-2010  Arrested Developers  Tarbucks 4 918 577
19-01-2012  Tarbucks  Bad The End 3 430 007
17-04-2012  Bad The End  Dribblers FC 2 866 501
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 21 91
Goals 0 0
Red Cards 1 2
Yellow Cards 1 8

Sadly none of the teams Beattie played for are overly active anymore. Arrested Developers where he had his most successful seasons sold up recently and Gods Eleven have been wiped off the Managerzone map completely. Another player who spent a few months overseas late in his career, before returning home to Dribblers FC and retiring as a domestic player.

He had a temper and it flared into moments of madness, but his 10 speed and tackling made him a defender that anchored every team he played for. Together with Rowdon he formed the spine of the national team through the tough years of failed World Cup campaigns and disappointing Confed Cup run. His time as an international was a sequence of hard luck stories.

You never had much success in the national team as a player?

“It was a tough number of years wasn’t it. It would have been nice to reach the World Cup at least once, just to play the group phase, hell I wouldn’t have cared if we lost every game. That’s probably my biggest regret of the national team during my era, but competition was tough and we came 3rd in our qualifying group so many times. It was agony to constantly get so close each time round.”

You’re only stint as an overseas club player for MZ Country club Bad The End, what was it like to live their?

“It’s strange, MZ Country isn’t really a country but a collection of fragments spotted across the globe. You spent a lot of time on planes, it gets a bit disorientating flying so much. In Australia I had a home base, but there it was more like a sequence of hotel rooms. Very nice hotel rooms, but you were always checking in and checking out of somewhere, still on the odd day off I saw some amazing places. Like Mongolia for instance, I never thought football would ever take me there.

It was a good season though, I’m glad it happened, but it was also nice to finish my career back in Australia with Dribbler FC.”

Did the travel bug bite you in retirement?

“Yeah, I try to see a new place each year. It doesn’t always happen and it’s getting tricky to balance work with family and travel. But each summer we go somewhere for at least two weeks, the older the kids get the more they absorb, which is great to watch.”

6 Berry Beverley 1 441 661 AUD 19 817 AUD 54 1
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
31-01-2006 Youth Joined  Craven Cottagers FC
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 36 92
Goals 1 5
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 1 1

“I think he was like 20 when he was first picked in the starting XI of the NT, let alone making the squad. Played his last NT game at like 40 something” ~ Dagriggstar

You got so close to Hal Guy’s record of Cup appearances for the national team. How old were you when you played your last game?

“It was another era, you could play on into your late 30’s and not lose your skills, but it couldn’t last forever.”

No hard feelings?

“Nah, I had around 15-20 seasons in the national team, not many people can say that about their career.”

Was your longevity linked to playing for the same club your whole career?

“Craven Cottagers took great care of me, so there was no reason to leave. We never won anything and I was in the lower divisions my whole career, but I got the opportunity to travel internationally with the national team. So I didn’t really miss out, sad that Craven Cottagers aren’t around anymore. So many sides don’t exist these days, but the manager of Craven Cottagers start a new side named in my honour.”

How was it being the star player in lower division side?

“A bit like being in the national team, fight for everything and in the end you always fall short. If you don’t set your expectations high it nice, you can have a beer and there’s a novelty in being a national team player from a small club. It shows you have humility, plus without the pressures of fighting for success impacting on player development, I was able to max out my skills and steadily improve my whole career. I’ve no regrets.”

The Midfielders

7 Bo Boylin 2 105 854 AUD 24 466 AUD 50 5
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
27-01-2007 Youth Joined  Crimson Eagles FC –
09-02-2011  Crimson Eagles FC  ☆战国☆【龍】『侠客ㄨ李寻欢』大神通≮浙≯ 2 158 971
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 30 80
Goals 10 13
Red Cards 1 1
Yellow Cards 1 5

A midfield mainstay of the national team through multiple Cup campaigns. He was Australia’s first great midfielder, the archetype upon which Rowdon and Kean modelled their game.

“Bo Boylin played 30 official cup games to sit 4th in the all-time list of official games played”~ Scruttino

His goals from the midfield in cup matches were regular features of his play, yet he also tracked back and wasn’t afraid to put the boot in. He pushed the limits of the referee patience and got a couple of red cards when he went too far, but he didn’t get many yellow cards, so he stayed within the rules more often than not.

You played for a long time with Marzipan Minger now known as Crimson Eagles?

“They were a great club and it’s good to see them back in the A-League as a title contender. I spent 16 seasons there and got my start with the national team through the training they provided. We won an A-League title and 3 National cups, it was a good time.”

You were one of the first Australians to play in China, how was it?

“I was in my 30’s then and to say there was some culture shock would be an understatement, but I learnt the language. Which wasn’t easy for an older person who’d never spoke anything other than english, and witness the rapid development of a nation first hand. Cities rose around you, but not all of them filled.

You ever seen a ghost city, it’s pretty weird, shopping centres with only a few stores in use, apartment buildings empty because the local population can’t afford them, or the city is placed in the middle of nowhere, so no one wants to live there.

It’s a place of contrast that’s for sure, but the regular people are great, they work their backsides off and sacrifice so much to earn very little in a devalued currency. Often living 11 months of the year away from the partners and families to earn an income. But for all the downsides I really like China and I’ve still got an apartment there.”

13 Berke Kean 2 065 052 AUD 28 074 AUD 39 15
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
25-07-2009 Youth Joined  The GunnerZ –
15-07-2012  The GunnerZ  SPIDER UNITED 6 000 000
02-10-2012  SPIDER UNITED  KFC Waalshoek 7 023 728
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 20 160
Goals 2 4
Red Cards 1 0
Yellow Cards 0 4

He may have been a one club player, we’ll never know as The Gunnerz sold up and left the game. With their sale, one of Australia’s best players headed overseas, he was then sold again for more than $7,000,000 AUD, which is a lot of money for a midfielder.

When players like Berke Kean leave the country the chances of them returning are slim, they are so good that they quickly find a long term home away from home, in this case Belgium. Only coming back late in their careers if they are sold and their price tag has dropped.

Another consequence of playing overseas is that outside of national team games people forget you exist. Luckily anyone who managed the national team quickly recognised his talent. This attests to his 160 national team friendlies, giving him the chance to return home on a regular basis. He was the midfield general during the entire 2013 Confed Cup Win and played on for the 2014 World Cup before retiring from international football.

Berke Kean thoroughly enjoyed his time in the Belgium Eerste Klasse with KFC Waalshoek. He was well paid, in a country that loves beer, playing in a good league with a competitive team. He chose to settled down there after retiring, so when the chance to become a legend and return home for some exhibition games he accepted. It gave him the chance to make another trip home and see the family once more. So we thought we’d ask him a few questions about the amber liquid.

What is your favourite Belgian beer, Stella Artois?

“Stella Artois is like the Belgian equivalent of Foster, though it’s not too bad and you can actually drink it. But I’m a strong pale ale fan there are quite a few varieties here but I like some of the more traditional monastery brewery products. Westmalle Tripel is a nice beer on a cool evening or a hot one.”

How about Australian beer?

“Hmmm, I remember one trip inland to The Brewery in Mildura. They’re a micro-brewery with a restaurant built inside a converted Astor theatre, they make a strong brew called Mallee Bull, very tasty, slides down well.”

15 Cullen Rowdon 1 875 440 AUD 25 214 AUD 44 10
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
26-04-2008 Youth Joined  Glasston
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 20 93
Goals 2 5
Red Cards 1 1
Yellow Cards 0 1

“He was a one club guy, playing for Glasston from youth to retirement with his entire career spent in the A-League and the centre of Midfield for the NT. For these reasons his name adorns the A-League MVP award” ~ scruttino

Glasston had already formed the nucleus of a great squad when Cullen Rowdon came along as a youth~

“I think Rowdon was 15, 16 and 18 when Glasston won 3 of his 5 (A-League titles). And 17 when he won a Nat Cup and Champions Cup.” ~ Tosspot

His ability was apparent from an early age, in an era of hard decisions regarding who to send to train camp with limit places available, he was fast tracked through the system and kept improving to become an elite player~

“When I was the National Coach there was one guy from Glasston who absolutely blew my mind, Cullen Rowdon. Skill-wise he is probably the best Australian player that I have seen.

Would have been nice if he had an extra ball or two in tackling but all around, he was a midfield MACHINE!”~ Theme_dreamer

It’s true that his 6 tackling wasn’t ideal, but with 10 stamina, player intelligence and passing, 9 speed and ball control and 8 aerial passing he was a formidable player that rarely missed a pass, in an era when the majority of teams played short passing.

Ever since his retirement Glasston have struggled to find the consistent success that once flowed with relative ease. It goes to show that some luck with your youth system is a key part of being a successful club and having a strong National Team.

So we put some questions to Rowdon upon informing him of his legend status. So how did you come into the Glasston youth system?

“I thought you’d ask me why my tackling wasn’t better. Thanks for the favourable line of questioning. Well back then you didn’t have any youth exchange or scout report features, and youth conditioning camps, forget about it. This was old school zoning, you had to live within the boundaries of your local club and mine was Glasston. My old man worked at the bottle factory of the team owner and well I guess I never left my working class roots.”

So you still live locally?

“I did for a long time. But a couple of years back I bought a house on the coast, nice place to relax and go for a surf. Though I’m still learning to keep my balance and a mid-forties guy learning a new skill can result in a lot of personal embarrassment, but I enjoy it. I guess you’d call me a sea-changer these days, might have to go down the local park for a kick now though.”

The Strikers

9 Murdock Rizzardo 2 249 957 AUD 30 667 AUD 39 16
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
24-10-2009 Youth Joined  Rutgers Utd –
06-10-2012  Rutgers Utd  Arrested Developers 6 667 124
10-07-2014  Arrested Developers  Keep Walking Project 6 644 100
29-03-2015 Released  Keep Walking Project
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 33 284
Goals 33 194
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 7

If his stats registered on any of the honour boards for the national team Rizzardo would be 3rd overall on 33 Cup games, 1st by more than 100 in friendlies played, 3rd on goals in cup games and 1st in friendly goals scored. Combined he is Australia’s overall leader in matches played and goals scored. Thus the greatest player in Australian history to the casual observer is a mystery, which only fuels the myth.

At the club level his goals propelled Arrested Developers to:

5 A-League Title season 44, 47, 48, 49 and 50

National Cups in season 46, 47, 49 and 50

No elite cup victories, but there was definitely a Bessie A-League title.

So let’s allow Dagriggstar to tell us of his immeasurable contribution to the 2013 confederations cup run which wouldn’t have been won without his crucial late game goals:

“This was his performance in the 2013 confed cup knockout stages – round of 16 came on as a sub 66 mins in and scored an 84th minute winner against Ecuador, quarter-finals came on in the 80th minute and scored an 89th minute winner against Paraguay, semi-final scored a hat-trick against Colombia, final scored 4 goals against Uruguay. In 214 minutes of football he scored 9 goals, that’s a goal every 24 minutes.”

His overall abilities meant that after his goal scoring feats in the 2013 Confed Cup, the rise of Boyde Minne pushed Rizzardo back into an Attacking Midfielder role for the national team, setting up goals for others instead scoring them himself.

As a club player he was never sold for less than $6,000,000 AUD. Arrested Developers had the best of his club years. The service he got was first class, but you need to put the goal in the net and Rizzardo loved scoring.

On having this put to him Rizzardo replied “I think with me being released from my last club it somehow screw up the national team databasse, but as Dag said I scored 9 goals in 214 minutes of high pressure knockout football to deliver the Confed cup to Australia. Why they don’t officially recognise my contribution to winning the tournament or any of my performances for the national team I’ll never understand, but as Tony Greg famously said ‘I’m not one to hold a grudge. To me a grudge is just another place to park your car’”

10 Bickford Bundy 1 802 701 AUD 23 184 AUD 42 13
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
24-01-2009 Youth Joined  Skoolage United –
11-01-2013  Skoolage United  Dribblers FC 4 653 297
15-01-2013  Dribblers FC  Duffield United 4 195 000
13-04-2013  Duffield United  Festina Lente 4 266 157
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 20 163
Goals 32 112
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 4

“Won multiple youth league MVP’s back when that was a thing and capitalized on the hype to become one of our most well-known players despite in the end not a hugely successful career” ~ Dagriggstar

He’s in the top 5, but he’s not Australia’s most prolific striker, the only title he won was with Duffield United and yet he’s the most well-known striker within Australia. He had 4 clubs officially, but one lasted 3 days before being sold on from Dribblers FC to Duffield United, where he spent one season before ending his career overseas in the obscurity of Estonia with Festina Lente for his final 3 seasons.

In his time with his original club Skoolage United he was the star player, at club that never placed higher than mid-table in the A-League. Similarly with the national team his career ended shortly before 2013 Confed Cup run, but still he is remembered so fondly that the A-Leagues end of season Golden Boot is named in his honour.

How would describe your career overall?

“As a youth we won a lot and I scored heavily, then things became tough. I did my best for Skoolage, but we never had the overall talent to be a contender. Winning the A-League title with Duffield was great though, that would be my career highlight. We had a really good squad with fellow national team legend Munroe Waterland at my side up front, he played the attacking midfield role and we went all the way. Then at Festina Lente we again had a good squad, but we didn’t win anything. The closest we came to the title was 2nd in season 47.”

How was Estonia, not many Australians even know where that is?

“Neither did I before I went there, it’s not very big and borders Latvia and Russian, North-Eastern Europe. It’s beautiful, more than half the country borders either the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland or Lake Peipus. Separating it by sea or fresh water from Russia, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Lots of Gothic Architecture and hot springs, it gets very cold during winter, you really freeze, but summer is beautiful.”

Where do you live now?

“I split my time between Europe and Australia. You could say I follow the sun through both the European and Australian summer and autumn.”

11 Ivan Hogan 10 529 379 AUD 156 943 AUD 66 -12

Transfer history and national team stats aren’t available

“It was his goals that steered Australia to their highest ever World Cup finish, and in particular a hat-trick he bagged in the Quarter Final.

He is a player who succeeded against the odds,  scraping into the squad for the WC he was not expected to ever see pitch time. Due to formation circumstances and a red card dished out in the first group game he was drafted into the team, and made an immediate impression only failing to score in 1 game (the semi-final). Armed with a mighty 7 speed and 8 Shooting he managed to take the MZ world by storm and made the entire globe sit up and take notice of our little country.” ~ Grinner

He’s a myth that has loomed large over Australian Football. But his story is one of opportunism and good fortune. As Grinner remembers so fondly and our current national team head coach confirms ~

Just looked at Hogan’s stats. Would’ve been discarded in today’s game. 7 speed 7 stamina 8 shooting 8 ball control ~ Senile_old_men

Never the most gifted player, but in his defence our perceptions of a great player have changed, with teams having the ability to train youths with Training Camps from the age of 15. 9 and 10 speed and shooting for a forward is must, but somehow even missing the first game Hogan scored 21 goals in a World Cup campaign to take Australia to their highest ever finish of 4th in the 2005 competition.

This record has held ever since and the way the modern game is played will stand for a long time to come.

Does it surprise you that your record of 21 goals in a single world cup campaign has stood the test of time?

“Yeah, absolutely. I’m still surprised that I made the starting XI. If it hadn’t been for the red card to our starting striker forcing a tactical change to our formation I’d have been on the bench and stayed there.

It was a moment in time when I played out of my skin, I was never going to get the opportunity to start in a world cup ever again so I just went for it and until the semi-finals most things I tried worked. I think even the coaching staff were scratching their heads by then, as I wasn’t the fastest, could barely last 90 minutes, with average ball control and shooting.

By the books it shouldn’t have happened, but I’m glad it did, we were on a run that still to this day has never been match by an Australian team at the World Cup. Then for a long time after 2008 we never made the World Cup.”

Do you think you’ll get on the pitch for the legends game?

“I can’t run like I use to and I was never quick. Now I’m more of a novelty, but give me 10-15 minutes at the start or the end and I’ll be happy. There are some great strikers on the squad, perhaps Rizzardo will have to play in the midfield or defence.”

12 Irwin Finden 1 798 216 AUD 21 637 AUD 58 -3
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
04-12-2004 Youth Joined  *Chard City –
24-10-2005  *Chard City  OzForce TNT 20 000
03-11-2009  OzForce TNT  再见MZ 3 094 906
07-04-2010  再见MZ  Crimson Eagles FC 1 850 001
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 30 119
Goals 60 121
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 1 8

Wow Irwin Finden is 58 years old – he was 20 years old when I bought him many seasons ago now. Glad he is in the team. He hates playing alongside any other forwards so I suggest dump the other forwards and add a few extra midfielders. Long balls would work. Lol. ~ Chelsea2006

It’s been said that you hated playing alongside other strikers?

“Can you blame me? It strange that I’ve always played better as one out striker, but maybe it was the sim that I played under. Who knows how I’ll play in the current version, probably not very well since I’m terrible in the air. Does parking the bus and playing long balls to a lone striker still work?”

“5th most goals in NT tournaments worldwide. Had an interesting career, spent most of it with mid-table A-league team OzForce before heading to China then crossing to arch rival Crimson Eagles to finish up a winner…Well I think he won something while there” ~ Dagriggstar

“Irwin Finden is still Australia’s all-time leading NT scorer in cups. He was the highest of any player until he was overtaken in the last 12 months.” ~ Senile_old_men

Not under the current system, long balls has gone out of fashion. Everyone plays wings now. Your career with the national team was long without winning anything, similar to your club career?

“In terms of league titles that’s quite true. But at Marzipan Minger the former name of current A-League side Crimson Eagles I won a few things.”

“He was in my squad for my only international cup win (season 9 – season 34), national cup win season 34 and a Bessie A-League Title” ~ Senile_old_men

“I was in my twilight years then, so the success was a fitting end to a long career.”

17 Munroe Waterland 1 797 774 AUD 25 230 AUD 45 10
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
26-04-2008 Youth Joined  Katanning –
12-01-2012  Katanning  ƒı®TıNA ƒ© 2 689 051
24-01-2012  ƒı®TıNA ƒ©  SARI ZEYBEK 2 589 776
17-07-2012  SARI ZEYBEK  Duffield United 3 738 990
09-04-2013  Duffield United  Woodbury 2 463 184
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 21 178
Goals 11 42
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 1 2

“With Rizzardo being absent from the Australian national team honour boards, Munroe Waterland represented the NT in more friendlies games than any other player in Australian NT history. He was the ultimate team player and for this reason has the overall A-League Team Award named after him. With 10 PI he was smart enough not to back pass the ball when one on one with the keeper, yet knew when a pass was the better option than a shot. He was the Raul of Australian Football.” ~ Scruttino

Waterland played for quite few clubs, but his greatest successes came late in his career as Grinner explains ~

“Waterland was one of the greatest players in MZ History, as he single handedly drove the Duffield Utd team to their final title, thus robbing tosspot of yet another piece of tin, he followed it up by moving to Woodbury to again deny tosspot more trinkets, therefore he is a perfect representative of the Australian spirit when confronted with what seems like insurmountable odds such as the AD fascist dogma. He is a symbol, a shining beacon of hope to the masses, to believe, to dare to dream, to know that our efforts aren’t in vain and that the savage reign of tosspot can be ended if you just persevere. There has never been a player to ever embody the ANZAC spirit quite like the great Munroe Waterland.”

With the National Team your career ended just prior to the 2013 successful Confed Cup, how to do feel about it?

“It would have been nice play on the bench. But I was just a bit over the hill by then and there was a purge of players as the next generation came through in a big way. It was a timing thing, I was part of the struggle that built the platform for success to be possible.”

Without Rizzardo being recognised in the statistical database of Australian football history you hold the record for the highest amount of friendly games played by an Australian player?

“It’s strange with the Rizzardo situation, I think with him being released from his last club it threw the system out order. He played about 100 more than me, but I’m happy to hold the record in his absence.”

You were famed for being a smart player, where did you develop your football intelligence?

“You either have it or you don’t, some have the ability to develop it, but not everyone is given the time to do so. I was lucky that my development as a player wasn’t stunted and it served me well. Minimising mistakes in front of goal, reducing back passes from strikers that infuriate coaches and fans alike, so I tried to make the right choices and did most of the time.”

19 Jessop Howard 2 172 752 AUD 28 139 AUD 49 5
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
27-01-2007 Youth Joined  *Milang –
29-10-2007  *Milang  Glasston 599 999
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 26 91
Goals 17 51
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 9

Picked up as a teenager for a nominal transfer fee from a club that no longer exists, Jessop Howard was at Glasston for all 5 of their A-League titles in season 25, 26, 28, 36, and 40. 3 National Cups in season 27, 35 and 37. As well as their Champions Cup victory in season 27.

He was still a youngster learning the craft during the early days of their success, playing a supporting role. But everything season 35 and beyond was driven with him as the starting striker

Like many national team players before, during and after his generation, he won no trophies and joined the club of players to have 3rd place finishes in their World Cup qualification groups with his 2010 and 2011 campaign.

“The name use to strike fear into an opposing A-league team. Along with Cullen Rowdon, Jessop Howard led Glasston on their second phase of success. With Rowdon feeding him silky smooth dead weight passes from midfield Jessop was unstoppable right up until his retirement.” ~ Scruttino

You transferred to Glasston as a teenager and were a part of their greatest period of success ever?

“I transferred over as a teenager in season 25, which when you look back at the records was the beginning of an amazing period of sustained success. I didn’t contribute much in my early years but towards the end we had some great results.”

Quite a contrast to your national team duties?

“Indeed! They couldn’t be more different, so close but so far, on numerous occasions.”

How does it feel to be a legend?

“Old, perhaps they’ll play these games on my 50th birthday, it would be a good joke. Rowdon made the team as well?”

Yes

“I hadn’t seen since the last Glasston end of season best and fairest awards, have you spoken to him yet?”

Yeah, he’s taken up surfing, living on the coast

“That’s him. I enjoy swimming, but surfing at my age (shakes his head). Still it’ll be fun to step onto the pitch again together.”

The Utilities

3 Martin Cusbert 1 819 176 AUD 22 439 AUD 45 9

Transfer History

Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
26-01-2008 Youth Joined  HASSELHOFF BABES –
31-07-2012  HASSELHOFF BABES  Duffield United 2 646 001
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 4 25
Goals 2 16
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 0

“Hoff controversially selected his own player ahead of Bundy in 2011 to play as a striker because Cusbert had more tackling. I figure he was such a good tackler why not put him in defence” ~ Dagriggstar

What might seem an obscure selection, well it is an obscure selection but we have our inverted reasons and are known to enjoy a practical joke. Cusbert himself was surprised to receive the call, replying “Ah, sure… I’ll do it. Utility, aye? You picked me for my defensive skills! Haha… Well with those guys up front I wouldn’t be playing as a striker, perhaps I might get on the pitch as a wing back.”

Cusbert only started in one national team campaign and that was thanks to being a “captain’s pick” from his club manager becoming national team head coach. But after his transfer from Hasslehoff Babes to Duffield United, Cusbert proved to himself that he really could play.

16 Russ Colling 1 933 214 AUD 25 034 AUD 39 16
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
24-10-2009 Youth Joined  Australian Youth Academy –
31-03-2012  Australian Youth Academy  Kromolin SA 3 279 052
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 14 128
Goals 1 6
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 1

Russ Colling was another of those Australian players whose early career was played with a local lower division team before being sold overseas and never returning. Kromolin SA in Poland was the destination. A foreign place far away from anything the greatest player to emerge from the Australian Youth Academy had ever known.

Having never played for a competitive senior team in a league higher than Division 3, Kromolin SA was a huge step up for Russ Colling. While he was national team player before the sale, it wasn’t until after his transfer that he became a regular starter. His development went into overdrive at Kromolin SA, yet he still maintained his relaxed approach to life.

“In Australia outside of national team circles not much is remembered about Russ Colling. He lived far away and was an unassuming fellow, but damn the boy could play. A versatile swingman that could play forward or back. While off the field he was a keen musician playing the saxophone. Oozing cool he was the John Paul Jones of the national team, willing to let others have the spotlight while being indispensable to the structure of the team.” Scruttino

Playing in Poland was the making of Russ Colling. He was a central figure in their season 49 Ekstraklasa title and the season 50 – season 14 cup. In retirement he took some time off to travel as a backpacker. Upon hearing he’d been selected as a legend he was surprised anyone in Australia remembered who he was. But he accepted the invitation, though he wasn’t sure how he’d play as he hadn’t kicked a football in a few years. As in parting from our very brief chat he jested “hopefully it’s like riding a bike, but either way I’ll have some fun. Ivan Hogan’s playing as well, I’d like to meet that guy.”

The Wingers

14 Donovan Kuch 1 776 152 AUD 23 438 AUD 45 10
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
26-04-2008 Youth Joined  Rutgers Utd –
06-10-2012  Rutgers Utd  BONDI ICEBERGS 2 276 043

They are somehow still considered active, yet remain one of many invisible teams that keep getting older and have players in their 40’s still kicking the ball around twice a week in league games. Kuch played for the national team yet not enough games to show up on an honour boards, as he was a winger in an era when people didn’t play wings.

His move to Bondi never result in any senior trophies or titles, but he was a starting player when they were a lower table A-League side. Rutgers are one of those forgotten side that played 4 seasons in the A-League with a highest finish of 4th in season 38, the same season they won the National Cup. Before their manager lost interest in the game and sold up. Kuch and Rizzardo are both Rutgers youth products, so it’s little wonder with a young Rizzardo up front they won a National Cup.

“I’d wish I had Kuch in the team now for his obvious wing play abilities. He was a man before his time, when there was no wing play, and he was most probably a wasted talent in a talentless squad.” ~ Troyh65

One could say he propped up a talentless Bondi squad and gave them a chance of staying in A-League, as when he retired they quickly went back to Division 1.

These day’s people would love to have you on their squad, you were a modern day winger playing in the wrong era?

“I can’t disagree with you, but people just didn’t play the way they do now, spamming wings with shameless abandon. Do any top sides not play wings?”

On occasions when they can turn a game 11 vs 9 in their favour. In the recent World Cup the top nations took to playing a 5 man defence with the short passing defensive triangle in the middle. Effectively leaving only 2 players forward of the centre line, a striker and a winger. With a strong squad of high tackling and aerial passing players it was impossible to counter with short passing. Brazil, Sweden, the Netherlands and others, I think all teams that made the semi-finals used the same tactic and subbed the same positions.

“Really? Then I’d have been a highly paid club player and played for the national team?”

No doubt about it, 10 aerial passing players are gold dust nowadays. Just like all the people who put their savings into developing mobile technology in the 70’s and 80’s and lost them all. These days you’d make a killing, everyone has an Iphone in their pocket. What are the 3 things you always take with you when you walk out the door?

“Keys, wallet and phone”

Exactly, you were the mobile phone before it made a profit.

18 Ryan Pincini 1 578 017 AUD 23 710 AUD 39 16
Transfer History
Date Team/Action Team Price (AUD)
24-10-2009 Youth Joined  Plainland –
07-01-2012  Plainland  Arrested Developers 3 000 000
10-07-2014  Arrested Developers  BONDI ICEBERGS 2 750 000
National Team Stats Available Cup Friendlies
Matches 25 143
Goals 4 1
Red Cards 0 0
Yellow Cards 0 4

I’m still not sure why Plainland left the game, but it seems something happened between them and Arrested Developers when they reached the A-League and it involved the trade of Ryan Pincini from Plainland to Arrested Developers. It may have been during Tosspot’s being an NCA and him using his access to player skills for scouting purposes to improve his team through asking to buy their best players from them. Something he did many times before and after this incident, but was never officially punished for, I even got a few proposals from him but turned them down each time. Yet he was wasn’t the first or the last person to do this.

Pincini never won anything as a senior at Plainland, but at Arrested Developers the list of titles is long.

5 A-League Title season 44, 47, 48, 49 and 50

National Cups in season 46, 47, 49 and 50

No elite cup victories, but there was definitely a Bessie A-League title.

While at Arrested Developers he was the starting winger for the 2013 winning Confed Cup Run

His final home was Bondi Icebergs where he won another league/cup double to make it 4 in his career with his final season at the ripe age of 38.

“Ryan Pincini was brilliant, I bought him as a broken down old man at the age of 34, for over 2,000,000 hoping I’d get 1 more season out of him before retirement, but the old bloke just kept giving and giving and retired with grace at the ripe old age 38. Value for money.” ~ Troyh65

“143 friendly games for the NT and an integral member of Confed Cup winning team as the starting winger. Played until he was 38 and won the League/Cup double with Bondi in his final season after transferring from Arrested Developers age 34.” ~ Scruttino 

You’ve only just retired, how did you play until your 38th birthday, most people are long gone before then?

“Ryan Giggs swears by his special pillow for his career longevity, sound sleeping posture and strong neck muscles. I got hit with deterioration late on, but I just managed to get through to the end before keeling over. I’m not sure how slow trainers these days will make it to 38, they’ll be dead in the water by 35/36 max after the deterioration prevention wears off. Either that or they’ll need 10 speed and stamina.”

You don’t fancy their chances?

“No, not one bit. Only the very best of the slow training players will ever get close to playing out their full careers.”

You won 4 league cup doubles, that’s a record for a player in the legends team?

“We were lucky enough to be part of a nigh unstoppable domestic team for a period of 7-8 seasons, the success was nice coming from a Plainland team that climbed the league before, well even I don’t know what really happened. But securing the League/Cup double at Bondi in my final season was the icing on the cake.”

Written by Scruttino