The decade started with Albury dominating and finished with three different successive premiers for the first time in 12 years.
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Four clubs claimed premierships, led by Albury with six, so that's why a third of the 21 is from Tiger-land.
For a large part of the decade, Albury's domination turned fans off, but every other club would have done exactly the same if it could.
The league also added glamour, inspired by the Brendan Fevola 'Fevolution'.
The sight of 'Fev' shaking hands with another ex-AFL superstar in Barry Hall after a game in 2012 is one of the league's most iconic images.
The criteria for selection was 45 games, which is two and half home and away seasons.
LUKE PACKER (ALBURY): 167 GAMES. Played in the Tigers' six premierships in the decade. Wonderfully consistent and was terrific in those grand finals where you really judge the mark of a player in the big games. Piercing kick and superb reader of the play, often cutting off attacking forays.
TYSON HARTWIG (WANG. ROVERS): 74 GAMES. Only played four seasons (2012-15), but clearly the best fullback. Could mix it strength wise with anyone, but could also run off and create. Largely mistake-free. Makes his return to Rovers next year, so it will be interesting to see if he can get back near his previous form.
MICHAEL BORDIGNON (WANGARATTA): 122 GAMES. Took over from Hartwig as the game's top backman. Was a quick learner too. Albury's Josh Mellington kicked six in the qualifying final in 2017, winning the match for the Tigers. Mellington got the better of the one-on-one contests, but in the grand final he kicked only three as the defender played two metres behind him and backed his pace. Automatic selection for interleague in recent years.
DEAN POLO (ALBURY): 122 GAMES. Challenged for league's best player at times in his seven-year stint. Perfected the quarterback role in defence, stopping raids and then quickly setting up attack. Had the ability to go to another level as you would expect from an ex-AFL player. In fact, against a lower opposition you felt he was pacing himself. Won the Did Simpson Medal when Wangaratta was storming home in 2018 grand final.
DAN LESLIE (NORTH ALBURY): 151 GAMES. Finished career with 300 matches, so shows his longevity. Started the decade at centre half-forward, kicking 55 goals, but spent the last five years largely in defence. Still hard to know which was his best position. Made the Team of the Past 25 Years (as a back pocket). The league's best physique and crashed a pack against Myrtleford one day in 2017 and was the only player to come out unscathed.
DREW BARNES (YARRAWONGA): 147 GAMES. Ultimate warrior. Tackled every contest as though it was his last. Had tremendous pace and burst his way through trouble with sheer determination. Brendan Fevola once said he was even wary of Barnes at training, given his ferocity. Has been missed at the Pigeons.
CHRIS HYDE (ALBURY): 189 GAMES. A midfielder who can kick goals is priceless and few could finish as well as the ex-Richmond player. Kicked 85 goals from just 39 games in the first two years of the decade at just over two per game. When he swung on that left foot from anywhere within 50m back him in. Deservedly snapped his Morris Medal drought in 2017 and also proved crucial in the final term in his only interleague game against Goulburn Valley. Retired after first semi loss to Myrtleford.
MATT PENDERGAST (LAVINGTON): 120 GAMES. The quickest hands and feet of his time. He had a remarkable ability to fire off a handball or get ball to boot before the opposition had a chance to blink. Multiple best and fairest winner and just so consistent. He left the club in mid-2016 to pursue a career in the CFA, so it was nice to see him return and play that elusive 300th game against North Albury late last season.
BRODIE FILO (WODONGA RAIDERS): 45 GAMES. Played the minimum games required, but is an automatic selection. Along with Brendan Fevola and Craig Ednie, the most skilful player of the decade. Will never forget the day he charged into a pack and with the ball on the ground, picked it up one hand and fired a 15m handpass to a team-mate in space. And that was on a wet day when every other player was, rightfully, struggling. To show how good he was, when he left Raiders after round 11 this year, Filo had 50 Morris Medal votes in his two and a half years. Fellow Morris medallists Jarrod Hodgkin (37), Chris Hyde and Shaun Daly (33) were next best. Doubtful the league will ever see a player like him.
BRAYDEN O'HARA (ALBURY): 100 GAMES; 240 GOALS. Played his 100th game in the first semi loss to Myrtleford. A little like team-mate Hyde on that left foot, once he wheeled around he was deadly. Injuries have stalled his progress at times, but been a wonderful player since leaving the SANFL as a three-time premiership player.
SETANTA O'hAILPIN (ALBURY): 49 GAMES; 234 GOALS. In his debut year, kicked 116 goals at a stunning 5.8 per game. Then when another former AFL player in Josh Mellington arrived he took a back seat, but over three years still kicked 234 goals at 4.78. And nobody celebrated a goal like the big Irishman. Rated enormously at the Tigers and given their success, they're hard markers.
JYDON NEAGLE (WODONGA RAIDERS): 71 GAMES; 147 GOALS. Played one game in 2012, but really blossomed in a three-year stint from 2016, kicking 125 goals. A remarkable utility who could literally play anywhere. If Wodonga Raiders needed someone to kick a goal he could do that. If they needed a player to win the ball and get it forward he was the man and if an opposition forward was on fire, Neagle was the troubleshooter. Can't wait to see how good he will be after a year at SANFL level.
MICHAEL NEWTON (WANGARATTA): 55 GAMES; 238 GOALS. Played 55 of a possible 83 games during his four-year stint, with injuries cruelling the first and last years. Still, averaged 4.33 goals per game and his Did Simpson Medal effort in the 2017 grand final will take some topping. Newton destroyed Albury's undersized defence with eight goals, including four in the first quarter.
BRENDAN FEVOLA (YARRAWONGA): 66 GAMES; 366 GOALS. The first player selected. He changed the league forever. Brought the crowds flocking back with his combination of class and showmanship. Averaged 5.55 goals and you get the impression that it could have been more if 'Fev' wanted it to.
CRAIG EDNIE (YARRAWONGA): 103 GAMES; 118 GOALS. Dubbed 'The Little Master'. There were so many magic moments, where do you start?. Kicked one of the great grand finals goals from the grandstand pocket against Albury in 2010 at Lavington Sportsground. Inspired Yarrawonga from 21 points down at the 17-minute mark of the final quarter against Lavington in the 2011 preliminary final. Played seven AFL games with Richmond in 2002, but former Murray Bushrangers' coach John Byrne said if he was six-foot two, as opposed to five-foot seven, he would have played 200 games.
MATT DUSSIN (MYRTLEFORD): 156 GAMES. Could have easily been named a key backman, he's that versatile. Produced one of the great last quarters as Myrtleford snapped a 13-year winless streak in finals against Wodonga Raiders in the elimination final. He was outstanding the following week against Albury. Of this team, Dussin played with the desperation of Albury's Shaun Daly and you can't speak more highly than that.
SHAUN DALY (ALBURY): 136 GAMES. See above. He was far from the most silky-skilled player, but just willed himself to contests. Has won an Albury record five best and fairests, passing Jimmy Matthews and Terry Cross. Could play anywhere, giving away height in defence and pace in the midfield, but just made it work.
JOEL MACKIE (ALBURY): 186 GAMES. Brought the intimidation factor. Thrived on the rough stuff and was good enough to both dish it out and cop it. But you don't win a league-record equalling seven premierships just by being tough. Charged out of the midfield and brushed aside opponents to set up the team's attack. Coaching Osborne next season and his power game and presence will be missed.
ALSO IN SPORT:
MAT GROSSMAN (WANGARATTA): 125 GAMES. Looks like he's been shot from a cannon when he takes off. There have been few better sights over his seven-year stint - while travelling from Melbourne mind you - than the former Williamstown player taking off from defence and racing up the ground. Could also play forward.
BRAD MURRAY (MYRTLEFORD): 88 GAMES. Only spent five full years at the club during this time, but what a competitor. Tough and classy, he had it all. Could kick goals, get clearances and break the lines. Retired after 2017, but returned this year. In just his third game back, Murray produced an inspirational performance in the wet against Wangaratta Rovers. It was an unbelievable display from a 37-year-old.
MATT KELLY (WANGARATTA): 155 GAMES. If you judge players on the biggest stage, he's one of the best. In the Pies' shock win over Albury in the 2017 grand final, he was dynamic. The following year he was third best in the loss to the Tigers and was sensational in the shock loss to Lavington in September.