Melbourne's 1946 Brownlow Medal winner, Don Cordner.
| Backs | Max Oppy (Richmond) | Shane McGrath (Melbourne) | Peter Bushby (Essendon) |
| Half Backs | Wally Lock (Melbourne) | Wally Buttsworth (Essendon) | Bert Deacon Carlton) |
| Centres | Sam Gallagher (Norwood) | Ern Henfry (Carlton) - vice captain | William King (South Melbourne) |
| Half forwards | Bill Hutchison (Essendon) | Gordon Lane (Essendon) | Bob Hank (West Torrens) |
| Forwards | Jack Howell (Carlton) | Fred Fanning (Melbourne) | Lou Richards (Collingwood) |
| 1st Ruck | Merv McIntosh (Perth) | Don Cordner (Melbourne) | Bob Quinn (Port Adelaide) - captain |
In the Hobart carnival year of 1947, the October edition of 'Sporting Life' magazine selected its best Australian Rules team from that season. Fourteen representatives were from the VFL, three from the SANFL, and one from Western Australia.
The entire backline was from the Victorian competition, with dual Essendon premiership player of 1942 and 1946, Wally Buttsworth, a former West Australian who arrived in 1938, being the centre half back. He had in the two previous seasons won the best and fairest award for the Bombers. Melbourne’s 1941 premiership player, Wally Lock, was selected on one half back flank, while Carlton’s first Brownlow Medallist, Bert Deacon, was given the other.
| No nonsense full back Shane McGrath of Melbourne was
given the position in the last key defensive post, with Richmond 1943 grand
final hero Max Oppy as one of the pockets. The other back pocket went to change
ruckman and former heavyweight boxing champion Percy Bushby of Essendon.
Carlton's Western Australian import, captain and co-best and fairest for this premiership season for the Blues, Ern Henfry, was listed in the centre, also being given the title of vice-captain. From the SANFL, Norwood’s Sam Gallagher was one wingman, with William King of South Melbourne being his counterpart. Gallagher was the patriarch of a footballing family, who had three sons play for the Redlegs. One, Phil, played 292 club games through the 70s and 80s. A third generation is currently moving through the ranks of this traditional South Australian club. King was a Victorian representative in 1946 and the 1947 carnival. |
Carlton's Ern Henfry, "a cool, clever centreman who was one of the most astute leaders the club ever had". (Jim Main and Russell Holmesby) |
Although missing from the Essendon side that lost the 1947 grand final in the dying seconds of the game, Gordon Lane was picked at centre half forward in this 'All Australian' team. In the Bombers' 1946 VFL premiership win, Lane had kicked 7 goals and had been widely regarded as best on ground.
He was flanked by two of the most skilled players of the game in that era, West Torrens dual Magarey Medallist Bob Hank, and diminutive Essendon dynamo Bill Hutchison. Hutchison played from the age of 18 until past his 34th birthday, clocking up 290 games, the 1953 Brownlow Medal, and a retrospective one for his efforts in 1952. He would play in eight grand finals and collect four flags as a player.
Melbourne’s greatest full forward, Fred Fanning, in the year he would get the closest to the magical hundred mark (he finished with 97 in a season that Melbourne finished 6th), was selected at the goal front.
Collingwood rover Lou Richards was selected in one forward pocket and for second rover duties, while Carlton’s Jack Howell was on the other side of Fanning in the full forward line.
First ruck went to Perth and West Australian Goliath Merv McIntosh, who captained the WA carnival side and would go one to win three Sandover Medals.
The follower's position was given to Doctor Don Cordner, the 1946 Brownlow Medallist and one of three brothers who would play in premierships with the Demons.
|
Bob Quinn: "He had everything - including the most perfect disposal I have seen". (Jeff Pash) |
The third South Australian picked in this team was the man many regarded as the best rover the state ever produced, Bob Quinn. Quinn, whose league career would finish a season later, had achieved nearly everything in the game. He won a Military Medal while serving with the AIF, two Magarey Medals (1938 and1945), and was an accomplished ball handler, as well as being tough and uncompromising. Quinn was given the honour of being South Australian captain-coach in the 1947 carnival. In 1945, he was Port Adelaide’s coach, captain, best and fairest and leading goal kicker. Quinn started as off field leader in 1939, while still at the height of his playing days, leading the Magpies to a premiership in that first season, after being a member of the Magpies' flag winning sides in 1936 and 1937. |
Bob Quinn was also named as captain of this 'All Australian' combination.
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