‘‘He’s great with four bowls, but this is a pennant list,’’ one quipped.
‘‘A good bowler is a good bowler,’’ the other fired back.
And so the dance goes on until they have both had their say on the list in front of them, eventually satisfied their own is far superior.
Another season of bowls in the region finishes tomorrow, but Nisbet and Hardie have already decided which 20 players they would want in the trenches across a campaign — and not all of them are division one bowlers.
Only 13 names appear on both lists this time around, but one thing the duo can agree on is Brad Orr’s spot on top of the podium.
‘‘It’s an easy selection,’’ Hardie said.
Other agreements include usual suspects Mark Ryan, David Cartwright, David Daws, Greg Shilling and Brett Gunning, while Paul and Daniel Nichols slide into Hardie and Nisbet’s list.
But Shepparton Park veteran Hardie has thrown a few spanners in the works this year.
Former Parker Jarryd Tinning slots into number five, while fellow Hill Top bowlers Lee Farrell and Garry Russell are also unique picks.
‘‘Tinning is as good as any bowler in the league, he just can’t get the time off work (to play every week),’’ Hardie said.
‘‘Garry Russell, I don’t think he lost a game as skipper, and Lee Farrell helped him do it.’’
East Shepparton young gun Connor Trewren, Nagambie star Greg Brack, Shepparton Golf’s John Dagger and Parker Ross Higgins also stand out in Hardie’s mind as top 20 bowlers of the region, which Nisbet has left out of his list.
Nisbet’s unique choices include Justin Spedding, Rob George, Graeme Myers, John Stokes, Murray Stark, Scott Adams and Nick Boyd.
‘‘Tatura’s in the grand final and you’ve got to look at how they got there,’’ Nisbet said of Boyd’s inclusion.
Spedding and Stark were special mentions from Hardie as players stiff to miss the cut, as was John Gribble and Seymour’s Max Hammond.
For Nisbet, the unlucky list included Tinning, Brack, Farrell and Nagambie’s Rob Page.
