IT IS doubtful that there has ever been a more illustrious group of retirees in the history of the AFL.

Comparisons have been made with the 2007 batch — which was a decorated group in its own right — but that’s only half the story.

What has not been as prevalent in the pub-style conversation surrounding the most recent retirees has been the sheer depth of talent.

Ranking the top five or six is a tough task, but what if you had to select 22 players for an imaginary game of football?

Finals Week 1

How would that side shape up? And where would you slot a three-time All-Australian with both back flanks occupied by Luke Hodge and Bob Murphy and a midfield consisting of two current and one former Brownlow Medallist?

And what about Scott Thompson? It seems outright rude to consign the two-time best and fairest and 2012 All-Australian to the bench. But that’s exactly what has happened.

These are just a few of the many conundrums foxfooty.com.au has attempted to navigate while selecting the 2017 team of retirees.

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The pure depth of talent and accolades is quite astonishing, while there could still be more to come with the futures of Leigh Montagna, Mark LeCras, Jarrad McVeigh and Angus Monfries all undecided.

It is important to note that unlike the All-Australian team (at times), this side was selected based on positions. Thompson was never going to be picked in a forward pocket, just as Zac Dawson was never a chance to slot in on the wing.

The back-up specialist ruckman is all but extinct in the modern game, so a forward who can pinch-hit seemed the logical option.

THE CLASS OF 2017 XVIII*:

COACH: Neil Craig

B: Andrew Mackie (Geelong), Tom Lonergan (Geelong), James Kelly (Geelong/Essendon)

HB: Bob Murphy (Western Bulldogs), Josh Gibson (North Melbourne/Hawthorn), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) — captain

C: Brent Stanton (Essendon), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn/West Coast) — vice-captain, Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)

HF: Steve Johnson (Geelong/GWS), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) — vice-captain, Dennis Armfield (Carlton)

F: Jesse White (Sydney/Collingwood), Drew Petrie (North Melbourne/West Coast), Chris Yarran (Carlton/Richmond)

FOLL: Ivan Maric (Adelaide/Richmond), Jobe Watson (Essendon), Matt Priddis (West Coast)

I/C: Sam Butler (West Coast), Heritier Lumumba (Collingwood/Melbourne), Sean Dempster (Sydney/St Kilda), Scott Thompson (Melbourne/Adelaide)

EMERG: Jack Fitzpatrick (Melbourne/Hawthorn), Garrick Ibbotson (Fremantle), Zac Dawson (Hawthorn/St Kilda/Fremantle)

FULL-BACK LINE

Andrew Mackie and James Kelly select themselves in respective back pockets courtesy of their combined six premierships and two All-Australian guernseys. The full-back spot was tightly contested between Tom Lonergan (2011 premiership player) and Sean Dempster (2005 premiership player and 2012 All-Australian team). In a line-ball decision, Lonergan got the nod largely due to his ability to play on monster full-forwards. Dempster was ultra consistent and finished on the podium in St Kilda’s best and fairest on four occasions, but was 6cm shorter than Lonergan and was more comfortable on second or third tall forwards.

HALF-BACK LINE

Luke Hodge was the first selected in this team and named captain without any shadow of doubt. Two Norm Smith Medals and three flags as skipper of Hawthorn make him an automatic inclusion. The only minor debate was whether Josh Gibson should be on the full-back line or at half-back, but his rebounding ability won out in the end. Bob Murphy could have been selected on any flank on any wing, but ultimately he was at his best in defence and that’s where he’s been picked in this team.

Luke Hodge and Robert Murphy (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

CENTRELINE

Brent Stanton was your typical modern-day wingman. Prolific and durable, the Bomber could run all day and would be a perfect link player in this star-studded team. Sam Mitchell skippered a flag which earns him joint vice-captaincy status, while you’d be hard-pressed to find a player that exhibited the qualities of a traditional centreman better than the four-time premiership player. Matthew Boyd could have been picked at half-back, but was ultimately selected on the wing because it was around the contest where he made a name for himself. Although he was not overly speedy, arguably the most successful rookie-listed player of all time rarely wasted a disposal.

HALF-FORWARD LINE

You wouldn’t select Steve Johnson anywhere else other than half-forward. What a player, what a craftsman. Having vice-captain Nick Riewoldt alongside him would only make him a better player too. Riewoldt may never have skippered a flag, but he’s the second-longest serving captain of all time and his six best and fairests and five All-Australian guernseys mean he is a walk-up start as this team’s primary focal point. Finding a another genuine forward-flanker was no easy task, but for the sake of team balance Dennis Armfield gets the nod. When he looks across and sees Johnson before the first bounce, Armfield will know he will be the one to impact defensively!

Steve Johnson runs away from Nick Riewoldt in the 2009 Grand Final. Source: News Limited

FULL-FORWARD LINE

With the greatest of respect, this is probably the weakest line in the Class of 2017 XVIII. Jesse White and Drew Petrie can both play forward and offer ruck relief, while Chris Yarran booted three or more goals in a game on nine occasions for Carlton. He makes this team on a technicality, since he has remained on Richmond’s list this year even though he was released from his contract last November.

FOLLOWERS

Having played a total of 157 games for Adelaide and Richmond, Ivan Maric will have first dibs on ruck responsibilities in this side. He will also be the unofficial cult figure, much like he was at the Tigers. He will enjoy feeding Jobe Watson and Matt Priddis, who for the last decade have made a living off winning contested ball. These two ball magnets finish their careers with a combined three All-Australians, four best and fairests and let’s say one-and-a-half Brownlow Medals.

Matt Priddis & Jobe Watson. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

INTERCHANGE

Much like Chris Yarran at Richmond, Heritier Lumumba remained on Melbourne’s list this year after retiring in December. At his best, he was a star and was named in the All-Australian team in 2010. In this side he would play a mixture of half-back and wing. Sam Butler was a journeyman who never played more than 20 senior games in a season, but was still one of West Coast’s most important players when it was up and going. Sean Dempster was an incredibly underrated player for a long time and was frightfully unlucky not to make the starting 18. Nevertheless, he is this team’s ‘Mr Fixit’ and will slot in anywhere in the back six. Lastly, Scott Thompson can consider himself this team’s Stuart MacGill. The midfield will not be weakened when he makes his way on to the field whenever Priddis, Mitchell or Watson need a rest. He is also on the front cover of the team swimsuit calendar.

EMERGENCIES

Jack Fitzpatrick is ready to step up and win the game for this team if one of Maric, White or Petrie get injured in the warm-up, while Fremantle teammates Garrick Ibbotson and Zac Dawson provide support for a superstar-laden defensive unit.

COACH:

Neil Craig retires from coaching this year as one of the most respected football brains in the industry. Despite his impressive CV which includes 177 games as senior coach of Adelaide and then Melbourne, he can probably relax at the helm of this side.

*All selections up for debate, post your comments (well, criticisms) in the comments section below.

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