NORTHERN TERRITORY TEAM OF THE 20TH CENTURY

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Right Centre Wing - Michael Long (St Marys, West Torrens, Essendon)

One of several members of the Long family to play for St Marys, Michael went on to establish himself as one of the finest Territorians ever to play the game.  He made his NTFL debut with the Saints at the age of just 16 and would go on to register 52 games with the club, including 2 winning grand finals.  A member of the Territory's victorious Division Two Australian championship team at the 1988 bicentennial carnival in Adelaide, Long was chosen as an All Australian and went on to spend the remainder of the season with SANFL club, West Torrens.  His class and poise were evident throughout the year, and it was no surprise when he won the eagles' fairest and best award.  He also polled 17 votes in the Magarey Medal, a total exceeded by only 2 players, but a suspension incurred during the year meant that he would not have been eligible for the award in any case.

Fiery in temperament, and sometimes overly robust in approach, suspensions would be one of the banes of Long's career, while he would also be frequently handicapped by injury.

In 1989, after spending the summer months at home in Darwin where he won the St Marys club champion award, he moved to Essendon and enjoyed a stellar debut season which culminated in his being named VFL Rookie of the Year.  Long would go on to enjoy a lengthy and highly fruitful career at Essendon, interspersed with moments of controversy and drama.  This is readily illustrated by his contributions to the Bombers premierships of 1993 and 2000: in the former, he won the Norm Smith Medal as best afield, while in the latter he was involved in a highly contentious clash with Melbourne's Troy Simmonds which resulted in Long incurring a 4 match suspension.

Possessed of extraordinary pace and superlative ball skills, Long had an awkward looking kicking style which belied its great effectiveness.  His best AFL season was probably 1995, when he polled 16 Brownlow votes to finish equal 4th, was runner up to James Hird in the Essendon best and fairest count, and was selected in the AFL All Australian team.

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Centre - Maurice Rioli (St Marys, South Fremantle, Richmond)

Melville Islander Maurice Rioli combined incomparable deftness of touch and great skill with tremendous toughness, this last trait being a legacy of his boxing background. Often reserving his best for big games, Rioli won consecutive grand final Simpson Medals with South Fremantle in 1980 and 1981 (the latter shared), and then went on to secure a notable hat trick when his best afield performance in a losing Richmond grand final side against Carlton earned him the 1982 Norm Smith Medal.

Twice voted Richmond's fairest and best player, he ran 2nd in the 1983 Brownlow to Ross Glendinning.  His best finish in the Sandover was 4th in 1979.

Rioli played interstate football for both Western Australia (13 appearances) and the Northern Territory, and achieved the comparatively rare distinction of gaining All Australian selection with both teams.

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Left Centre Wing - Michael McLean (Nightcliff, Footscray, Brisbane)

Known as 'Magic', Michael McLean's style of football amply justified the nickname.  Joining Footscray in 1983, he made a big impression, particularly early on, before being seriously hampered by an ankle injury.

A member of the Territory's triumphant 1988 Division Two Carnival team, McLean was one of 3 'top enders' selected as All Australians.

After being de-listed by Footscray at the end of the 1989 season, McLean's career was resurrected 2 years later when he was drafted by Brisbane.  He won the Bears club champion award in his debut season with the club, and again in 1993, and went on to play a total of 182 V/AFL games (95 with Footscray, 87 with Brisbane).

Blessed with matchless ball handling skills, McLean also excelled in many of the unglamorous facets of the game, and was highly prized by the coaching staff at Brisbane for his on field leadership qualities.

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