anch: I was exactlly the same -- sort of followed Carlton because of Fitzpatrick and Vinny C -- but the conextion was not deep.
They took players from everywhere. I would caution whether the Victorians knew anything about the WAFL: If they did North Melbourne would not have 'ripped up the form for' which tied the 'buzz' to them.
Also, and this will probablly make me unpopular on here, just because the Victorians recruitted players in those does not mean they were any good. I remember an article in 'westside football' in the mid 1980s, where none other than John Tood, went through a list of players whom had gone to play in Victoria that year, and describbed few as top notch. What did/does that say about Victorian recuritment?
I am sure someone will have a copy of that article somewhere, or alternativelly, remember readding. By the way, at the time I disliked the article, but looking back, on the whole, I think Todd was correct in his analysis.
Anyway. 'anch' it is a good debate.
