The 1948 'Sporting Life' Team of the Year

by Peter Argent

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Backs Charlie Sutton (Footscray) Shane McGrath (Melbourne) Robert McClure (Essendon)
Half Backs Marcel Hilsz (Perth) Bert Deacon Carlton) Len Fitzgerald (Collingwood)
Centres Stan Heal (West Perth) Bill Twomey (Collingwood) Noel Jarvis (Fitzroy)
Half forwards Bill Hutchison (Essendon) Jack Howell (Carlton) Bob Hank (West Torrens)
Forwards Bill Morris (Richmond) Lindsay White (Geelong) Lou Richards (Collingwood)
1st Ruck Merv McIntosh (Perth) Les McClements (Claremont) Jack Sheedy (East Fremantle)

The second 'Sporting Life' magazine All Australian team from 1948 had seven members from the previous year, and this time included five West Australian players.

Louie 'the Lip' Richards.

From the backline, Footscray’s 1954 captain-coach Charlie Sutton was named in the back pocket, alongside Melbourne full back Shane McGrath, who was selected for the 2nd time as the nation’s best full back.  In the other back pocket was the resting 2nd ruckman, Essendon leading big man Robert 'Bluey' McClure. He was a member of 3 VFL premierships out of 6 grand finals between 1946 and 1950 (including the 1948 replay) before a crippling knee injury ended his career at the relatively young age, especially for a ruckman, of 26.

After being selected on a half back flank the winter before, Carlton star Bert Deacon was given the key centre half back post in the 1948 side. On one half back flank was emerging Collingwood star, and still a teenager in 1948, Len Fitzgerald. He started his league career with the Magpies in 1945 before his sixteenth birthday and would move to Sturt in South Australia in controversial circumstances in 1950.

On the other half back flank Perth’s Marcel 'Nugget' Hilsz was selected for the first time. He performed exceptionally in the two Western Australian wins over Victoria in Perth that season.

In the pivot, one of the three Twomey brothers who played with Collingwood in that era, William Joseph, was picked. The oldest of William Twomey senior's sons, who had himself played 64 games with Collingwood and Hawthorn in the period just after World War One, William junior was clearly the pick of the progeny, having exquisite skills and plenty of pace. William senior also won the Stawell Gift (a professional foot race) in 1924.

West Perth’s Stan Heal was assigned to one wing, with the pacy Noel Jarvis of Fitzroy being given the corresponding one. Jarvis has the unique distinction of playing in both a reserves and league premiership in 1944. He played state football in 1947 and 1952, being noted for his effective use of the football. Heal was a perennial state footballer who captained his state and was captain-coach of the West Australian carnival side of 1950.

Charlie Sutton, the only man to lead Footscray to a VFL premiership.

Both half forward flankers retained their positions from the previous years. Bob Hank and Bill Hutchison were widely regarded as the most accomplished footballers in their respective competitions. Hank was the only South Australian selected this season.

Claremont's 1947 Tassie Medallist, Les McClements.

Jack Howell, who was the second generation of the Howell family to play League football (he and his son Scott would play in flag-winning sides for Carlton in 1947 and 1981 respectively), was picked in the key centre half forward position this winter after receiving selection in the 1947 side as a follower. A great exponent of the drop kick, he was also an excellent mark and could play in either of the two key forward positions, or in ruck.

That year's Brownlow Medallist big Bill Morris was selected as the change ruck-rover in one forward pocket, while a third Collingwood player, legend Lou Richards, was chosen in the other pocket, for his second 'All Australian' selection.

The VFL’s leading goal kicker, fast leading full forward from Geelong, Lindsay White, was given the goalsneak's position. In his 86 goal season in a side that finished 9th, he had five hauls of seven goals or more.

The first ruck was a Western Australian trifecta, with big Merv McIntosh and Claremont’s Les McClements being the followers, and East Fremantle and East Perth legend Jack Sheedy (then with Old Easts) given the roving position.

Merv McIntosh would win the first of his three Sandover Medals in '48, being a powerful performer in both domestic and interstate matches. McClements collected the Tassie Medal at the 1947 carnival in Hobart, while Jack Sheedy still holds the record for the most games in the West, 355 matches which included 23 state appearances.

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