Surprised me as well, a few big Captains goals last year and an important one against the Swans in 2015.
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There was the tap through winning goal in Sydney in 2015. The only time I've ever seen a player kick tge winning goal and take the match saving mark all in the same game
#13 - Daniel Giansiracusa. 265 Games, 331 Goals. 2001-2014. 182cm, 83kg
32nd Pick Overall in the 1999 National Draft. Recruited from Western Jets.
Nominated for: Half Forward Flank.
Alternative: Forward Pocket
Achievements/Awards:
- International Rules Series Represantative 2005
- Club leading Goalkicker 2012-2013
- Best Clubman 2013
A member of the famous 1999 'Superdraft' class, a knee injury meant that Giansiracusa would have to wait until Round 11, 2001 to make his debut on a wet night against Adelaide at Football Park. 'Gia' had an immediate impact, kicking a goal with his first kick.
Gia's strong hands, goal sense and sharp disposal by foot would see him become an integral part of the Bulldogs forward line throughout his career, with the occasional stint in the midfield. Gia was never one to shirk a contest, evidenced by a now infamous bump on StKilda Ruckman Justin Koschitzke that left the latter concussed.
Averaging 18 disposals, 5 marks and over a goal a game over the length of his career, Gia was an integral part of the Bulldogs' run of finals in the late 2000's, his highlights including a 25 possession, 2 goal game against Hawthorn in the 2008 Qualifying Final, and a 35 possession game against Brisbane in the 2009 Semi-Final.
In the final two years of his career, Gia was used extensively by Coach Brendan McCartney in the substitute role. The club had announced during the 2013 season that Gia would retire at season's end, and he played his 'farewell' game against Melbourne, his 250th game, as he and teammate Daniel Cross said goodbye to the Bulldogs faithful in a 20 point win.
During the off-season, McCartney would have a change of heart, and Gia's career continued into a 15th season. Gia would manage 15 more games for the club, again used mostly as a sub, whilst effectively working as a ground level coach from the interchange bench.
Sadly, there would be no fairytale ending this time, with the Dogs going down in a Round 23 clash against GWS by six points with the last kick of the game.
Gia is still involved with the club as an Assistant Coach. He is currently 11th for Games played for the Bulldogs, and 9th for most goals kicked, a testament to his longevity and goal sense.
Gia's one of my favourite players. Sublime skills and remarkably good in close.
Just like Johnno he's a player that would have made more AA teams and more money playing midfield, but alas, he had to play forward during a time when we couldn't draft a decent one to save ourselves.
Bulldogs Team of The Century Squad - As Nominated By You, The WOOFERS is Developing Like This With WD54's nomination of Daniel Giansiracusa (Another great nomination):
B: R. Hargrave B. Lake D. Morris
HB: R. Smith E. Wood R. Murphy (C)
C: N. Eagleton S. West Vacant
HF: Vacant C. Grant Vacant
F: B. Johnson Vacant D. Giansiracusa
R: L. Darcy, M. Boyd, L. Picken
Int: W.Minson, Vacant, Vacant, Vacant
Starting to fill out nicely. Although no eligible full forward in 17 years.
Available to be nominated: Dahl, Libba, Roughy, Higgins, Gryphone, Cooney, Hahn, Gilbee, Cross, Robbins, McMahon.
He would've made an outstanding captain too. He very nearly kicked us into a Grand Final in 2009 as well, it was a great kicked that only just missed. A true club champ, and with his goal kicking accuracy, there's going to be a fair player ahead to dislodge him in this team.
#9 Lindsay Gilbee, 206 games (21st all time list), 119 goals (46th all time list), 2000-2012, Defender, 180cm, 82kg, Eastern Ramges
Nominated For: Half Back Flank
Alternate Nominated For: Backline
Achievements:
All Australian: 2006
International Rules Series: 2005 & 2006 (4 games)
3rd in Charles Sutton Medal: 2005
NAB Cup Premiership player: 2010
Lindsay Gilbee is now the fourth Team of the Century nomination from the 1999 AFL Draft, with Murphy, Hargrave & Giansiracusa. Gilbee was selected at pick 43 from the Eastern Ranges.
Gilbee debuted as a 19yo and had a predigious kick. At a tumultuous club as we were under coach, Peter Rhode, rumours were abound that Gilbee was as good as leaving, likely to Collingwood. New coach Rodney Eade was appointed and was said to have made keeping Gilbee a main priority. Which Gilbee did. Gilbee was a great rebounding defender and who had a very long kick and a very accurate kick. A weapon for the teams that contested preliminary finals 2008-2010.
Gilbee was such an amazing kick of the football that he made mention in 2009 that NFL (aka American Grid Iron) teams had thrown out offers for try outs to him in 2008. Gilbee said he knocked them back to do something special as a club around 2008-2010. A wonderful team ethos that those preliminary teams unfortunately couldnt capitalise on. As a forward looking up at the play, there's not too many better players you'd want kicking it to you. And as a fan, you'd relax with him having a goal from 50m or more out because he could kick long range goals, who as a defender, kicked 119 goals putting him 46th on the list of all time club goal kickers.
A versatile, impressive and nearly unique type of player.
Dear Woofers,
This commences our first article 32.
We have 7 nominations for defenders. Seperate thread to determine this coming shortly.
Thanks all for your input on the A32 for defence. The lines now look like this:
B: R. Murphy (c) B. Lake D. Morris ------ 734* Games, 216 Goals
HB: R. Smith E. Wood L. Gilbee ------ 623* Games, 389 Goals
C: N. Eagleton S. West Vacant ------ 545 Games, 186 Goals
HF: Vacant C. Grant Vacant ------ 341 Games, 554 Goals
F: B. Johnson Vacant D. Giansiracusa ------ 629 Games, 889 Goals
R: L. Darcy, M. Boyd, L. Picken ------ 701 Games*, 338 Goals*
Int: W. Minson, R. Hargrave, Vacant, Vacant ------ 394 Games, 118 Goals
Games: 3,971* --- Goals: 2,690* (Still 6 vacancies)
Eligible Still: Dahl, Tom Liberatore, Higgins, Gryphone, Cooney, Hahn, Cross, Robbins, McMahon.
Ahead of you my friend, Roughy is eligible now so I'm waiting for him to get a nod at some point ahead and when he does we can have an A32 on Darcy, Minson & Roughy.
A genuine AA ruck/forward (Darcy), an old style workhorse who hit AA (Minno) and a new mobile ruck, who can pinch hit at both ends and a great contested grab who was a vital premiership player (Roughy).
I reckon that's going to be very interesting.
Team of the Century Nomination
Name: Jordan Roughead
Position: Ruck
Height: 200cm
Weight: 99kg
Born: November 3, 1990
Drafted: Pick 31, 2008
Debut: Round 5, April 23, 2010
Games: 114*
Jordan was drafted as a ruckman and his early development was focused on this role. Under Brendan McCartney however, he was moved into the backline and played some good games there when matched against opponents of similar height and speed. Under Luke Beveridge, he was moved back to the ruck and preferred over incumbent and former AA Will Minson, for his versatility in being able to play in any part of the ground, and be involved in the play beyond rucking at stoppages
Jordan is a prototype modern ruck, exhibiting agility, endurance and skill beyond more traditional rucks of Minson's ilk. He has developed a strong marking game around the ground, and has been used as a tall Mr Fix It to set things right for the team in any area of the ground, which has made him one of the team's most important players
Jordan had a terrific finals series in our successful 2016 campaign, including a memorable mark, wheel and goal from 50 in the Elimination Final, and a crucial mark in the middle of the ground after a disallowed goal to maintain the momentum in the Grand Final after coming back from an eye injury experienced early in the Prelim to take his place in the side
Jordan is a great clubman, serving as vice-captain in 2015 and doing numerous community appearances for the club, coaching in the VWFL, and is often the last one signing autographs for fans after training and games
Jordan is still only 26 years old, and as a tall you could expect that his best years are ahead of him