It is the main takeaway point I had when I finished researching and deciding who would line up on this hypothetical team of some of the best players to come out of the region.

As many coaches around the country would know, picking the best side and nailing every position can be a tough challenge and they might not be happy to admit but I am happy to say you can't always get it perfect.

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I compiled this team on how I felt they would stand up in a hypothetical game in the modern era and as a way to drive debate during a time when their is no football being played at all in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.

I set the boundaries of my research into players from the region around Warrnambool going as far in the east to Camperdown and Cobden while I stretched as far west to Portland and Casterton.

Of course not everyone could fit and there were some who I did consider but decided against putting in due to how I felt the team would work best as a cohesive unit.

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I considered lengthening the boundaries in the east to include Colac which would have seen the likes of four-time premiership star Luke Hodge, Swans premiership winner Amon Buchanan and Richmond's Nathan Foley as certain starters.

In terms of the side's make up I went for a mix of players who were fine performers during their playing days, current players in their prime and rising stars who are starting to make their name.

That meant players like Jordie McKenzie, Luke Vogels (Terang), David Haynes, Billie Smedts, Dion Johnstone, (North Warrnambool Eagles), Dan Nicholson (Port Fairy/Derrinullum), Shannon Watt (Cavendish) and Michael Jamieson (Hamilton) were ultimately squeezed out.

The likes of Cedric Cox (Camperdown) and Josh Corbett (North Warrnambool Eagles) were also considered but have not had the time to show their truth worth on the AFL stage.

As for south-west stars in Joe McLaren (Koroit), Paul Broderick (Camperdown) and Wayne Schwass (South Warrnambool) I didn't consider them as they played a majority of their careers before the 2000s and retired just after the turn of the millennium.

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The omissions of the players above were not because of what experience they had, what their achievements were or what they had done at the highest level.

It was tough to omit these players as they are all worthy of being in this side but as I stated in each of my line reveals I was putting players I thought fit the bill.

Yes, there were many positions I considered heavily in this side. The back six, the whole midfield group and wings, the right half-forward flank, interchange and emergencies.

But I am happy with the puzzle I have put together and believe this or any team featuring the players who were omitted above would dominate any other team from any other country region in Victoria.

That is how blessed we are to have so many stars come from this region since the start of the new millennium.

The poll results from each of the lines revealed that 50 per cent of readers liked what I had selected, 33.33 per cent thought I hadn't while 16.66 said I almost got it right.

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The final pieces of this puzzle, however, have yet to be revealed and explained.

Brisbane Lions champion Jonathan Brown and Western Bulldogs premiership skipper Easton Wood being named the side's captain and vice-captain are those final pieces.

Brown led the Lions proudly for three seasons between 2009-12. His terrific leadership qualities and his extensive resume were the reason why he was selected as skipper of this side.

As for Wood, his selection as Brown's deputy was based on the leadership he showed as the Bulldogs skipper through a successful 2016 season following the knee injury to captain Bob Murphy and during his time as the club's formal captain in 2018-19.

Both led by example and are great people on and off the footy field whilst being stars whenever they stepped foot onto the many stadiums around the country.

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In the leadership group are Zach Merrett, Jordan Lewis and Brent Moloney, who all terrifically served as vice-captains at their respective clubs.

Looking back at this side it has a fairly long list of achievements and a vast amount of experience

It has a total of 3149 AFL games at an average of 131 per player. The 25 players have also featured in 159 finals and scored 2370 goals.

They have secured 1574 wins, 1551 losses and 24 draws to record a win percentage of 49.25.

It features 9 premierships players and 15 medallions with Liam Picken, Wood (2016), Tom Cole ('18), Chris Heffernen, Scott Lucas (2000) collecting one each, Max Rooke (2007, '09) and David Astbury (2017, '19) two each, three were claimed by Brown (2001-3) and four by Lewis (2008, 2013-15).

While none of the players in the side have won a Brownlow Medal they have accumulated over 500 votes in the prestigious individual award during their collective careers.

In the competition's other major individual medal, the Coleman, two have been good enough in front of goals to win it with Brown (2007) and Jeremy Cameron (2019) collecting one each.

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When it comes to emerging stars, the region's side is lucky to have two players in Lewis Taylor (2014) and Sam Walsh (2019) win the AFL's Rising Star award.

Six other players have been nominated for the award, which began in 1993, with Merrett (2014), Cameron ('12), Hugh McCluggage ('17), Cole ('18), Lewis (2005) and Moloney ('04) all receiving nods.

Eight players in this side have combined to win 13 club best and fairests with Lewis (2014), Wood, Cameron ('13), Moloney ('11) all collecting one, Merrett ('16, '19) Ben Cunnington ('14, '19) and Lucas (2003, '06) two, while Brown finished with three ('07-9).

Five players have also been selected in the competition's prestigious end of season All-Australian side.

Wood, Merrett (2017), Lewis (2014) have secured one blazer, which is awarded to selected players, each while Cameron (2013, '19) and Brown (2007, '09) have two hanging up at home.

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While five other players have scored eight selections in the AFL Players Association's 22-under-22 side with Walsh, McCluggage (2019) and Sean Darcy ('18) with one each, Cameron ('13, '15) with two and Merrett three ('16, '17, '18).

From the 25 players in this team they played or played for 15 different AFL teams.

Brisbane, Essendon (five), Geelong (four), Melbourne (three), Western Bulldogs, Sydney, St Kilda (two), Carlton, Hawthorn, West Coast, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney, Richmond and North Melbourne are those teams.

From the players selected they are connected to the south-west via Cobden (six), South Warrnambool (five) Camperdown, Koroit, Warrnambool, Terang/Terang Mortlake (two), Dartmoor, Tatyoon, Timboon, Portland, Casterton and Hamilton.

A team with a list of achievements and experience like this one would be the envy of coaches across the country and the region should be proud to have players like this who have or are continuing to represent it.

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