Like an Amanda Vanstone buffet, we believe a good column is long, drawn out and filling.

So here’s the second compelling instalment of the reasons why every state and territory should stand up and be prouder than a honeymooner on his wedding night.

ACT

George Gregan: So what if little Georgie was born in Africa. He has spent more time in the nation’s capital than anyone else who wasn’t a bureaucrat or a member of the Boer War Recreation Society.

The “Guvna” spent enough time in the southern hemisphere’s most boring city to win two Super 14 titles with his beloved Brumbies while displaying the finest chocolate-coloured chrome dome since MJ was dominating the NBA like Ian Hewitson dominates a 16-piece fun bucket.

Herb McEachin: He was Canberra’s favourite son during the basketball glory days of the ’80s. He was the first player in the NBL to reach 2000 points and was the first player to play 300 games. There was no truth to the rumour that he actually went bananas.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Mick Dundee: So what if he is not a “recognised” sportsman. Any man who can wrestle a 300kg dinosaur throwback and then bed the then very saucy Linda Koslowski and not get a single mark on his leather vest is all right by me.

And anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing the special-edition DVD of Crocodile Dundee, where he re issues the famous, “That’s not a knife… that’s a knife”, line sans pants and in front of a somewhat startled but impressed Linda would agree wholeheartedly.

Nova Peris-Kneebone: This woman could run faster than a Kiwi with a full set of hubcaps. Not only did she carve up the world’s best hockey players, she then dropped the stick and ran even quicker.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Bruce Reid: The big quick had a paper mache spine and a cheeky glint in his eye. He troubled many a foreign batsman in the ’80s and ’90s with his left-arm action and steepling bounce from the WACA deck.

The beanpole is still one of the worst batsmen that the big state on the left has produced (not including Damien Martyn) but did some tremendous work for charity, especially as it seemed that he was raising money for “Movember” every day between 1983 and 1991. He had one of the finest lip worms to take shelter under the baggy green.

Brad Hardie: The combination of red hair and robust thighs were the hallmarks of Hardie, who made a name for himself picking up more possessions than Ben Cousins while in defence for the Brisbane Bears.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Craig Gower: The little battler from the foot of the Blue Mountains is a shining beacon to all. A naturally gifted footballer, he played 14 Tests and seven State of Origin matches all while battling a potentially debilitating allergy to pants.

“Gowy” led the Panthers to a premiership in 2004 and his amateur “Puppetry of the Penis” has been appreciated from the 16th green at Twin Waters to Katoomba District Magistrates Court.

Wayne Carey: The Duck delivered some good work in Pagan’s paddock, but went on to produce some of his best form in the bathroom with his mate’s missus. He’s an innovator. We’re unsure whether he was responsible for the pantsless fondue phenomenon which took Adelaide by storm late in his career.

Richard Chee Quee: Did wonders for bringing multiculturalism to Australian cricket, although he did lack the grace of Hunter Poon, who was the first Chinese player to strap on the pads in first-class cricket.

Poon played one game for Queensland simply because his name rhymed with Boon.

VICTORIA

Paul Reiffel: Known as the “Pistol” (officially ranked No.3 on the world’s most unclever nicknames behind Macca and Smithy) sported a magnificent head of hair that at the time was simply known as the “Broughy”.

Young Paul, in fact, was so keen to take on the Rob Brough persona so far that in his prime years when he rattled a batsman on the pads instead of yelling the more customary “Howzat”, the Pistol could be heard pleading to the umpire with a “survey says?”

Jack Dyer: Captain Blood was so tough, there were signs of rust on his feet at the end of each season for his beloved Richmond Tigers. Jack spilt a pint of blood each game, his or someone else’s.