Best AFL Player ever to come of the ACT/NSW Southern Highlands?

Question

And supplementary - who's the ACT player in the draft this year?

You may notice I follow on from other questions a lot. Dubya pointed to distribution. I live in the NSW southern highlands near Canberra and got to thinking that the ACT has produced a few over the years. The obvious one is James Hird. There was a very good one for Footasgray but I can't remember his name. Do you know if there was a better player than Hird?

I know Alex Jesa lived here at various times but he wasn't from here. Kevin Neal coached here but again was he drafted from here?

Of course I played here but I don't quite qualify as a great :-))))

If you count Wagga in the district you've got several Danihers but let's not go there.

(Interestingly some of the most amazing Rugby Union players have come from here - Gregan, Campese, Larkham, blah blah)

Answer 1

I would say Paul Kelly a Brownlow medalist and a champion on and off the field.

Answer 2

First one that comes to mind is Wayne Carey, i think he's from Wagga. I second Paul Kelly, too.

Answer 3

Anyone from the Doggies

Answer 4

Carey, then Hird.

Answer 5

I know that Paul Kelly has moved onto a farm near Wagga Wagga, not sure where he is from but as far as good players go there aren't many better.

Answer 6

If you count Wagga then the Danihers would not compete. The best to come out of the area is Wayne Carey.

These stats don't lie:

All-Australian 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000

All-Australian Captain 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000

North Melbourne Premiership Teams 1996, 1999

North Melbourne Captain 1993-2001

North Melbourne Leading Goalkicker 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999

North Melbourne Captain of the Team of the Century

Enough said.

Answer 7

James Hird for sure - from the ACT

Answer 8

James Hird, but I'm bias

Answer 9

Are you counting the Wagga area as part of the southern highlands, that flat joint ain't real high, lol.   but if older blokes are included which i assume they are, without a doubt it would be Jezza for sure, he was a wizard, his ball skills were outstanding, not to mention the marking ability this guy had, i was amazed he never won a brownlow medal. I'm not a Carlton fan, in fact i hate them  almost as much as i do c'wood but he was a champion, if the players of yesteryear had the same media coverage as today you would see what i mean, like Royce Hart, Ian Stewart, Bobby Skilton, Keith Grieg, just to name a few, not that those blokes were from the ACT, but thats just an example, the media makes out players are much better than they actually are some times.

Answer 10

A very good question - but I must admit that this subject is a field that I have absolutely very little knowledge on.

I knew that Jesa was from that way & when they had those State of origin matches & one was called the All Stars - Carey, the Danihers & a few other surprise names (forgotten by me!) were in the team.