My best grade team - Brett Neill 1985 to 2004

Brett Neill | May 04, 2023

I played First Grade across NSW, SA and QLD from 1985/86 through to 2003/04 gave me the opportunity to play with many very good players and more importantly be able to have lifelong friends. In Sydney I played with Parramatta, Balmain and Campbelltown. Woodville in SA and Valley in Brisbane where I’m still involved today.

Selecting a team of players I played with is extremely difficult and many quality players have been left out. A great bunch of guys who I’m sure would deliver the opposition a few headaches.

Here's my team:

1. Matthew Hayden - Valley 

What a player. Nothing more to be said.

2. Greg Hayne - Balmain

Prolific run scorer who was always consistent.

3. Darren Tucker - Balmain

A good technique and could also bowl handy Medium pace

4. Lee Carseldine – Valley

Fantastic player with tremendous all round ability.

5. Rod Bower – Balmain  -

Hard hitting Batsman and ideal in the middle order

6. Phil Marks – Balmain

 An ideal number 6. Aggressive Bat and fantastic medium pacer

7. Greg Dyer - Balmain (Captain and Wicket Keeper)

Excellent gloveman, handy Bat and a tough skipper                   

8. Greg McLay – Balmain

Great spin bowler and should have played more at Shield level

9. Peter March – Balmain

Swing bowler who fits nicely into our attack. 

10. Andrew Jones – Balmain

Left Arm and could bowl serious pace

11. Joe Dawes - Valley

Great bowler with an outstanding record. 

12. Adrian Tucker – Balmain

Every team needs a quality Leg Spinner 

 

I firmly believe this team could compete across all three formats.