VICTORIAN TEAM OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Back Line

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Right Back Pocket - Jack Mueller (Melbourne)

Famed for his 'eight finger grip', a legacy of his losing 2 fingers above the knuckle in a factory accident during his first senior season, Jack Mueller was an inspirational player without whom the Melbourne sides in which he played during a 17 season, 216 game career in the 1930s, '40s and '50s would almost certainly not have been as successful.  Certainly he was the primary instigator of Melbourne's 1948 flag victory after being recalled from retirement (with the reserves) for that year's preliminary final in which he kicked 8 of his team's 25 goals against Collingwood.  He followed this up with 6 out of 10 in the drawn grand final with Essendon and another 6 out of 13 the following week when Melbourne won the replay.

Mueller was much more than just a goalkicker, however.  An immensely versatile footballer, he was at full back in Melbourne's 1939 premiership team, rucked for the 1940 and 1941 flag winning combinations, and represented the VFL at both ends of the ground as well as as an on baller.  Never the most elegant of players, he was nonetheless more than adequately endowed with all the major skills of the game and it was this, combined with his formidable physique and typically effervescent, explosive attack on the football which made Jack Mueller so inordinately effective - more so, it might be said, than the ostensible 'sum of his parts'.

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Full Back - Jack Regan (Northcote, Collingwood, Kalgoorlie Railways)

Given the fact that he played during an era replete with champion full forwards Jack Regan's consistent success as a 'goalkeeper' lends a fair amount of credence to claims that he was the greatest ever custodian of that position.  The main secret of his success was his uncanny aerial judgement which enabled him repeatedly to out mark - often from seemingly outlandish positions behind his man - even the Pratts, Mohrs and Vallences of this world.  As his career went on and his confidence grew Regan's repertoire expanded to include strong rebounding skills, vigorous - but always scrupulously fair - close checking, and an accurate, penetrating kick.

Arguably Regan's most memorable performance in a glittering career came in the 1935 VFL grand final when his containment of star South Melbourne goalsneak Laurie Nash (who managed just a single goal for the game) was instrumental in securing the Magpies' 11.12 (78) to 7.16 (58) victory.

Although full backs do not traditionally fare well in awards decided by central umpires, such as the Brownlow Medal, Regan was voted Champion of the Colony by members of the Victorian media in 1938.

In 1947, Jack Regan was appointed captain-coach of GNFL club Kalgoorlie City, whom he steered to a flag in the second season of his three season stint.

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Left Back Pocket - Kevin Murray (Fitzroy, East Perth, Sandringham)

Never the most elegant or poised of footballers Kevin Murray did not let such trifling matters stand in the way of his effectiveness.  With pace, good judgement, and a tremendous leap Murray was equally effective both in the backlines and on the ball.  He was also an inspirational leader who skippered Fitzroy for 8 seasons, captain-coached them in 1963 and 1964, and captain-coached East Perth in 1965 and 1966.  Twice an All Australian (once with the VFL, once with Western Australia) Murray was a veritable stalwart of the interstate scene donning the Big V jumper 24 times and representing Western Australia on 6 occasions.  He won a Brownlow in 1969 at the age of 31 having previously finished 2nd twice and 3rd once and was no stranger to club awards either winning best and fairests at Fitzroy on an unprecedented 9 occasions, plus once with the Royals.

Murray's durability was emphasised not only by his incredible ability to keep on playing whilst carrying injuries that would have floored most other players, but also by the sheer extent of his playing career which encompassed no fewer than 448 senior games over more than 2 decades.

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