The Dutch Team of the Century will consist of 18 ‘first-bounce’ players, plus interchange, plus emergencies. A captain, and two vice-captains will be selected, as will a coach of Dutch-heritage. Final selection will group players in their closest, ‘best-fit’ general field position.
The initial selection list includes 6 AFL/VFL premiership players (sharing 12 premierships between them), 9 team captains, 6 club best & fairest winners, a cluster of leading club and league goalkickers and several club life members. Several have also attained All-Australian selection and others have represented their state.
Eligible Players of Dutch-Heritage
(50 AFL / VFL games, or 100 SANFL / WAFL games)
*current player
Ah Chee, Brendon – 58 AFL games
Ah Chee, Callum – 130* AFL games
Bais, Renz – 111 SANFL games
De Boer, Matt – 223 AFL games
De Koning, Tom – 77* AFL games
De Koning, Sam – 58* AFL games
Groenewegen, Robert – 79 VFL games
Hale, David – 237 AFL games
Klomp, Kim – 235 SANFL games
Klomp, Robbert – 93 VFL/205 SANFL games
Kreuzer, Matthew – 189 AFL games
Mandemaker, Rudi – 141 SANFL games
Pannenburg, John – 107 SANFL games
Rosbender, Wim – 156 WAFL games
Rutten, Ben – 229 AFL games
Schoenmakers, Ryan – 121 AFL games
Smedts, Alby – 61 VFL games
Swallow, Andrew – 224 AFL games
Swallow, David – 220* AFL games
Vander Haar, Paul – 201 VFL games
Van Berlo, Jay – 32 AFL games, 183 WAFL games
Van Berlo, Nathan – 202 AFL games
Vandenberg, Richie – 145 AFL games
Van Dommele, Rene – 273 SANFL games
Verstegen, Hans – 204 WAFL games
Vlastuin, Nick – 229* AFL games
Zurhaar, Cameron – 117* AFL games
Several other players are being contacted to check whether they also have Dutch heritage. Any who do have, will also be in contention for the Dutch Team of the Century.
Other AFL / VFL, SANFL and WAFL players of Dutch-heritage
(not eligible for final selection due to lower number of games played)
- Boekhurst,Blaine – 25 AFL games
- De Boer, Ron – 7 WAFL games
- De Koning, Terry – 31 VFL games
- Gysberts, Jordan – 19 AFL games
- Hoogland, Cor – 20 WAFL games
- Paap, Shane – 84 WAFL games
- Pearce, Daniel – 6 AFL games
- Schoenmaker, Arie – * AFL games
- Smedts, Billie – 47 AFL games
- Melai, Eddy – 7 VFL games (also 202 VFA games)
- Vandenberg, Dick – 3 VFL games
- Van Lint, Wennie – 2 VFL games
- Van t’Hag, Ron – 2 VFL games