The best of the past

[Burgs]

There are 35 players now who have played a match for the Force and have since departed.
Thought before we start this new era at MES that for a bit of fun we could put up our favourite selection of those no longer with us.
There's no "rules", select any of them anywhere, though if it's too obscure you may want to give a cover note!
The only guide would be the default selection criteria is on the respective players standard when he was at the Force, for example Digby and Brocky.

Here's the list, do with it what you will:

The Western Force "Dearly Departed"

Cannon, Brendan
Castle, Ben
Daruda, Scott
Davidson, Tim
DeBartolo, Gavin
Doherty, Luke
Fava, Scott
Fitter, David
Giteau, Matt
Graham, Josh
Hardy, Gareth
Henjak, Matt
Hilgendorf, James
Holmes, Luke
Horua, Tamaiti
Ioane, Digby
James, Brock
MacKay, Lachlan
Mailata, Tajhon
McGrath, Jon
McIsaac, Tai
Mitchell, Drew
O'Connor, Pat
Pelesasa, Junior
Pusey, David
Scott, Angus
Staniforth, Scott
Stannard, James
Takiari, Troy
Te Moana, David
Timani, Sitaleki
Valentine, Josh
Vedelago, Rudi
Welborn, John
Whalley, AJ

[Burgs]

Burgs' "Dearly Departed" XV

1 Hardy, Gareth
2 McIsaac, Tai
3 Castle, Ben
4 Vedelago, Rudi
5 Welborn, John
6 Pusey, David
7 Davidson, Tim
8 Fava, Scott

9 Henjak, Matt
10 Hilgendorf, James
11 Ioane, Digby
12 Giteau, Matt
13 Staniforth, Scott
14 Mitchell, Drew
15 DeBartolo, Gavin

16 Cannon, Brendan
17 Whalley, AJ
18 O'Connor, Pat
19 Horua, Tamaiti
20 Stannard, James
21 James, Brock
22 MacKay, Lachlan

[farva]

Given what they have gone on to, and not how they performed with the Force...

Hardy
Cannon
Castle
Vedelago
Welborn
Pusey
Davidson
Fava

Valentine
James
Staniforth
Giteau
Ioane
Mitchell
Hilgendorf

McIsaac
Fitter
OConnor
Horua
Henjak
McKay
Pelasusa

Thats quite strong with the exception of the props and backrow.

[GIGS20]

The team of guys I liked the most
1 Hardy, Gareth
2 Cannon, Brendan
3 Whalley, AJ
4 Welborn, John
5 Vedelago, Rudi
6 Timani, Sitaleki
7 Pusey, David
8 Fava, Scott
9 Henjak, Matt
10 Hilgendorf, James
11 Ioane, Digby
12 Giteau, Matt
13 Pelesasa, Junior
14 Staniforth, Scott
15 Mitchell, Drew

16 McIsaac, Tai
17 Castle, Ben
18 O'Connor, Pat
19 Doherty, Luke
20 Valentine, Josh
21 Daruda, Scott
22 MacKay, Lachlan



Yeah I know I've got some playing out of positions, but if that's the cattle I had, that's the way I'd pick it!

I went with the assumption of what they did for the Force as well, I haven't seen Brock play for Clermont, so I wasn't going to pick him

I had real trouble with Backrow and Fullback, we've not shifted too many of them along have we?

[James]

There are three players I'd love to see back at the Force:

Brendan Cannon, James Hilgendorf and Rudi Vedelago. Those three being back would leave us with a very nicely rounded squad.

[GIGS20]

yup.....same!

[The InnFORCEr]

In the final edtion of Line Break last year John "The Mayor" Welborn lists a Past Players Presidents XV (didn't include any from 2009)

1. Angus Scott
2. Brendon cannon
3. David Fitter
4. Rudi Vedelago
5. John Welborn (nice selection John!)
6. Luke Doherty
7. Sitaleki Timani
8. Scott Fava
9. Matt Henjak
10. Brock James
11. Digby Ioane
12. Lachlan MacKay
13. Josh Graham
14. Gavin Debartolo
15. James Hilgendorf

16. Alastair Box
17. David Te Moana
18. Tim Davidson
19. Matt Windle
20. Jon McGrath
21. James Stannard
22. Tajhon Mailata

I don't recall 16. Alastair Box, can anyone shine any light on this??

[Burgs]

Boxy was a year older than Wobber at Scotch and they played 1st XV there, I think at Uni (not 100% if Boxy was Uni, others will know) and several years for WA together. Pretty sure he was in or in contention for WA for about ten years.
The selection would be because at that stage Canno would have been the only qualified Hooker.

[Burgs]

Same goes for Matt Windle, he didn't actually debut which is why he isn't on my list, but pre '09 he would have been short of departed backrowers.

[SleazyWineBaas]

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Meanings

auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two

[brokendown gunfighter]

whaat you say Jimmy?

[laura]

1. Hardy, Gareth
2. Cannon, Brendan
3. Castle, Ben
4. Vedelago, Rudi
5. Welborn, John
6. Pusey, David
7. Davidson, Tim
8. Fava, Scott

9. Henjak, Matt
10. Giteau, Matt
11. Hilgendorf, Jimmy
12. Staniforth, Scott
13. Pelesasa, Junior
14. Ioane, Digby
15. Mitchell, Drew

16. McIsaac, Tai
17. Whalley, AJ
18. Scott, Angus
19. Horua, Tamaiti
20. Valentine, Josh
21. Daruda, Scott
22. Mailata, Tajhon

[SleazyWineBaas]

whaat you say Jimmy?

Ah'll see yee Jimmee