Centre line (football)

The centre line refers to a set of positions on an Australian rules football field. It consists of three players: two on the wings (left and right), and one in the centre.

Australian rules football positions
B:	back pocket	full-back	back pocket
HB:	half-back flank	centre half-back	half-back flank
C:	wing	centre	wing
HF:	half-forward flank	centre half-forward	half-forward flank
F:	forward pocket	full-forward	forward pocket
Foll:	ruckman	ruck rover	rover
Int:	interchange bench	interchange bench	interchange bench
	interchange bench
Coach:	coach

Wing

The two wingmen control the open spaces in the middle of the ground.[1] They can vary in size, depending on team balance or opposition match-ups, but in general they need to be highly skilled, especially in kicking.[2] Wingmen also require considerable pace and stamina, as they run up and down the ground linking play between defence and attack.[2] The Victorian Football Association (VFA) abolished the wing role for many years, which sped up play and increased the average team score. However, this was not copied in other leagues.[1]

Notable wingmen in Australian football over the years include:

Wilfred "Chicken" Smallhorn (Fitzroy, 1930-1940),[3] Brownlow Medallist 1933
Herb Matthews (South Melbourne, 1932-1945),[3] Brownlow Medallist 1940
Thorold Merrett (Collingwood, 1950-1960)[3]
Stan Alves (Melbourne and North Melbourne, 1965-1979)[3]
Dick Clay (Richmond, 1966-1976)[3]
Keith Greig (North Melbourne, 1971-1985),[3] Brownlow Medallist 1973, 1974 and also named on wing in AFL Team of the Century (1996)
Bryan Wood (Richmond and Essendon, 1972-1986)[3]
Robbie Flower (Melbourne, 1973-1987)[3]
Russell Greene (St Kilda and Hawthorn, 1974-1988)[3]
Michael Turner (Geelong, 1974-1988)[3]
Robert DiPierdomenico (Hawthorn, 1975-1991), Brownlow Medallist 1986[3]
Doug Hawkins (Footscray and Fitzroy, 1978-1995)[4]
Dennis Carroll (Sydney, 1981-1991)[3]
Darren Millane (Collingwood, 1984-1991)[5]
Chris Mainwaring (West Coast, 1987-1999)[3]
Nicky Winmar (St. Kilda and Western Bulldogs, 1987-1999)[3]
Peter Matera (West Coast, 1990-2002)[3] Norm Smith Medallist 1992
Peter Riccardi (Geelong, 1992-2006)[6]

Centre

The centre player usually consists of a hard-running midfielder capable of feeding outside running teammates.

Notable centres in Australian football over the years include:

Tom MacKenzie (West Torrens and North Adelaide, 1901-1913) Magarey Medallist 1902, 1905, 1906
Jock McHale (Collingwood, 1903-1920)[3]
Edward "Carji" Greeves (Geelong, 1923-1933),[7] inaugural winner of the Brownlow Medal in 1924
Allan Hopkins (Footscray, 1925-1934),[7] Brownlow Medallist 1930
Allan La Fontaine (Melbourne, 1934-1945)[7]
Les Foote (North Melbourne and St Kilda, 1941-1955)[7]
Jack Clarke (Australian footballer, born 1933) (Essendon, 1951-1967)[7]
Denis Marshall (Claremont and Geelong, 1958-1972)[7]
Ian Stewart, (St Kilda and Richmond, 1963-1975),[7] Brownlow Medallist 1965, 1966, 1971
Russell Ebert (Port Adelaide and North Melbourne, 1968-1985),[8] Magarey Medallist 1971, 1974, 1976, 1980
Maurice Rioli (South Fremantle and Richmond, 1975-1990),[9] Norm Smith Medallist 1982
Tony Shaw (Collingwood, 1977-1994),[7] Norm Smith Medallist 1990
Terry Wallace (Hawthorn, Richmond and Footscray, 1978-1991)[7]
Garry McIntosh (Norwood, 1982-1998),[10] Magarey Medallist 1994, 1995
Greg Williams (Geelong, Sydney and Carlton, 1984-1997),[7] Brownlow Medallist 1986, 1994
Paul Couch (Geelong, 1985-1997),[7] Brownlow Medallist 1989
Nathan Buckley (Port Adelaide Magpies, Brisbane Bears and Collingwood, 1991-2007), Magarey Medallist 1992; Norm Smith Medallist 2002; Brownlow Medallist 2003
Michael Voss
Mark McVeigh
Mark Ricciuto
Ben Cousins
James Hird
Shane Crawford
Scott West
Jobe Watson
Chris Judd

References

Pascoe, 1995, p. 30
Northey, John (13 April 2010). "Playing Position Wingman". Swooper Coach. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012.
Pascoe, 1995, p. 31
D'Anello, Luke (21 May 2012). "Doug Hawkins is Bulldogs' favourite son". Herald Sun.
"Darren Millane Trophy – clubman". 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 December 2011.
McNicol, Adam. "Peter Riccardi at GWSP". countryfootyscores.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
Pascoe, 1995, p. 32
"The Greatest Team Of All". portadelaidefc.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012.
"Football legend Maurice Rioli dead from suspected heart attack". The Sunday Times. 25 December 2010. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010.
Rucci, Michelangelo (8 August 2012). "Hail Macca the great". The Advertiser.

Bibliography

Pascoe, Robert (1995). The winter game : the complete history of Australian football. Port Melbourne: The Text Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-85561-644-1.

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[Pascoe,_1995,_p._30-1] Pascoe, 1995, p. 30

[northey-2] Northey, John (13 April 2010). "Playing Position Wingman". Swooper Coach. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012.

[Pascoe,_1995,_p._31-3] Pascoe, 1995, p. 31

[4] D'Anello, Luke (21 May 2012). "Doug Hawkins is Bulldogs' favourite son". Herald Sun.

[5] "Darren Millane Trophy – clubman". 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 December 2011.

[6] McNicol, Adam. "Peter Riccardi at GWSP". countryfootyscores.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

[Pascoe,_1995,_p._32-7] Pascoe, 1995, p. 32

[8] "The Greatest Team Of All". portadelaidefc.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012.

[9] "Football legend Maurice Rioli dead from suspected heart attack". The Sunday Times. 25 December 2010. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010.

[10] Rucci, Michelangelo (8 August 2012). "Hail Macca the great". The Advertiser.