The link between defence and attack can make or break a side's ability to transition from defence to attack in the hope of scoring freely and frequently.
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A team with a good centre line is the dream of coaches across the land and is part of the way to a top midfield brigade.
This line usually consists of two silky wingmen and a midfield bull who finds himself on the inside or bottom of packs feeding out to free teammates on the outside.
The player named in the centre is often racking up more contested possessions and handballs than any other person on the field.
A centre is also strong without the ball in hand, applying constant pressure via tackles and assisting his side with one per centers such as smothers and freeing teammates with blocks.
His teammates on the wings are usually high up in the uncontested possessions and often use their feet to great effect.
They usually have large aerobic capacities and in the modern game they are some of the fittest and fastest runners in their sides.
Together they can carve up teams in a matter of possessions and prove more often than not to be the key to successful forward forays.
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All three are also handy contributors on the scoreboard, particularly in the AFL today.
This centre line has combined for 546 games at AFL level, played in one premiership, kicked 185 goals, scored three best and fairests, one Rising Star nomination, has one former vice-captain and accumulated 95 Brownlow votes.
These workhorses provide the vital connection this team needs from its stringent defence to its star-studded forward line.
Chris Heffernan
AFL clubs: Essendon 1997-2002, 06-7, Melbourne 2003-5
South-west connection: Terang
Height: 186cm
Games: 170 - 12 finals, 89 wins, 79 losses, two draws
Achievements: 2000 premiership player, 56 goals, six Brownlow votes
The premiership Bomber was a mainstay through the wing in the early stages of his AFL career and slots perfectly into the same position on this team.
Former Essendon coach and Heffernan's Bendigo VFL mentor, Matthew Knights, said he was an unselfish and terrific team player, which suits the role he would play if this side ever took to the field.
A prime example of this is the 2000 grand final when he sacrificed his own game to play an effective shutdown role on that season's Brownlow medallist Shane Woewodin.
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"I just went out there and thought, 'Shane Woewodin is more important to Melbourne than I am to Essendon...so if he doesn't play well, they're going to really struggle to win'," Heffernan said in 2018.
"He'd had a big year and if he had a break-out 30 touches and kicked two or three they could win."
Apart from his shutdown roles he averaged 13 disposals a game with most of those being kicks (8.24).
Over half of his possessions were also uncontested while he averaged three inside 50s a game, putting him in the perfect mold for a wingman in the modern game.
His possession count might not be as high as other wingman but his impact is what sees him start in the side.
Ben Cunnington
AFL clubs: North Melbourne 2009-present
South-west connection: Cobden
Height: 185cm
Games: 210 - eight finals 109 wins, 101 losses
Achievements: two club best and fairests, 83 goals, 53 Brownlow votes
Cunnington is the perfect man or bull, with his brother Sam sharing a story of how when they were growing up they used to tackle sheep on their family's farm, for this side.
The Kangaroos onballer is known for his toughness around the ball and for his ability to turn a contested possession for himself into a uncontested one for a teammate on the outside.
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The consistent performer has over his 210 games established himself as one of the best and toughest midfielders in the competition.
The 28-year-old is in the elite category as an inside midfielder, with his clearance and contested possessions among the best in the game.
Cunnington does most of his talking on the field, especially on the bottom of packs, where he averages 21 disposals with 13 of those touches coming via handballs. He also averages five clearances.
He also lays almost five tackles a game, showing he is doing the work without the ball.
Brent Moloney
AFL clubs: Geelong 2003-4, Melbourne 2005-12, Brisbane 2013-14
South-west connection: South Warrnambool
Height: 182cm
Games: 166 - four finals, 54 wins, 109 losses, three draws
Achievements: one club best and fairest, 46 goals, 2004 Rising Star nominee, former club vice-captain, 36 Brownlow votes
While Moloney would not be the traditional wingman in today's game his kicking ability and with other pure midfielders, soon to be unveiled, in the side is why he is pushed to the open spaces in this one.
The uncompromising midfielder was renowned in AFL for his bullocking work at stoppages and bullet-like kicking.
Moloney's influence on matches was sometimes underrated because his tireless work in close at clearances went largely unnoticed.
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The big former Cat, Demon and Lion averaged 19 disposals a game with most of those being kicks and of an uncontested nature.
From his 10 kicks a game at least four of them were going inside 50.
His ability around the contest was also strong, averaging three tackles and four clearances a game, making him a valuable rotation through the true midfielder positions.
Around the goals he was also sharp with his kicking netting him 46 goals across his 166 games.
The former Demon vice-captain is also a handy leader who would lead this side by action and words when needed.
- The Standard is revealing a new line of its south-west starting 22 team across the next few editions. The upcoming reveal is the half-forward line online Wednesday.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
