Almanac Teams: 30 seconds (1980- )

 

 

A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 30 jumper since 1980.

 

 

Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 30, mostly from 1980 onwards but I have made exceptions, such as Phil Baker.

 

 

It is a light-hearted team based on cult figures, forgotten/lesser known players or stats/cameos associated with them, players known for other deeds, sons, fathers & brothers and forgotten players.

 

My criteria, similar to my previous efforts was:

 

• Attempt to include one player per club
• I have tried to create as balanced side as possible but this was not a priority

 

 

Stats are based on their time in that number

 

 

 

 

FB:        Francis Bourke (Rich)                     Mick Martyn (NM)                    Lewis Roberts-Thomson (Syd)

 

CHB:    Peter Schwab (Haw)                        Kevin Walsh (Ess)                      Danny Seow (Melb)

 

C:          Mark Fraser (Ess)                             Robert Pyman (NM)                  David Rhys-Jones (SM)

 

CHF:    Martin McGrath (Rich)                    Danny Roach (Coll)                    Richard Tambling (Rich)

 

FF:        Darryl Poole (PA)                             Luke Lowden (Haw)                   Matthew Ryan (Bris)

 

Ruck:    Damian Bourke (Geel/Bris)           Grant Fielke (Adel)                      Nick Carter (Fitz)

 

Interchange: James Manson (Coll/Fitz), Roy Ramsay (NM), Greame Whitnall (Carl), Daniel Wulf (St.K)

 

No players from Fremantle, Gold Coast, GWS, West Coast or the Western Bulldogs.

 

 

Games in Number 30 (Years played)

Francis Bourke 300 (1967-1981)

Mick Martyn 1 (2002)

Lewis Roberts-Thomson 179 (2003-2014)

Peter Schwab 167 (1982-1991)

Kevin Walsh 161 (1982-1991)

Danny Seow 7 (1989-1990)

Mark Fraser 65 (1995-2000)

Robert Pyman 5 (1994-1995)

David Rhys-Jones 72 (1981-1984)

Martin McGrath 4 (2003)

Danny Roach 1 (2001)

Richard Tambling 108 (2005-2010)

Darryl Poole 24 (1997-1999)

Luke Lowden 1 (2014)

Matthew Ryan 18 (1991-1992)

Damian Bourke 88 at Geelong (1985-1992) 22 at Brisbane (1993-1995)

Grantley Fielke 24 (1991-1992)

Nick Carter 17 (1996)

James Manson 120 at Collingwood (1985-1992) 47 at Fitzroy (1993-1995)

Roy Ramsay 70 (1983-1986)

Graeme Whitnall 11 (1980-1981)

Daniel Wulf 30 (2001-2003)

 

 

Francis Bourke – Francis Bourke is a Richmond legend and was named on the wing in the VFL/AFL team of the century in 1996. By 1980 Bourke’s pace had gone and he was playing in the backline before retiring after game 300 in mid-1981. Bourke is famous for an incident at Arden Street in 1980 where he received a split to the eye area which poured out blood. With injuries on the bench Bourke was moved forward and was able to take a mark and kick a goal with blood around the eye and limited vision. This moment was later immortalised in a Toyota add. Bourke’s father and son both played at Richmond and his grandson is currently on Richmond’s VFL list. Bourke won five premierships as a player, captained the club and Victoria and coached Richmond in the 1982 Grand Final.

 

 

Mick Martyn – Mick Martyn played most of his career in the Number 4 jumper from 1989-2002 having started in 1988 in Number 50. In Round 11, 2002 Mick (in honour of his dying father Brian Martyn who won the 1957 Best & Fairest at North Melbourne), swapped his Number 4 for number 30 from Ben Robbins. Mick was amongst North Melbourne’s best in an 11 point win over Richmond. Mick’s father Bryan played 73 games for North Melbourne while Mick played 287 games before rejoining his old coach Denis Pagan at Carlton for 13 games to take his total to 300.

 

 

Lewis Roberts-Thomson – Commonly known as LRT, Lewis started playing Rugby Union before taking up footy at the age of 14. LRT was drafted with Pick 29 in the 2001 AFL Draft and debuted in 2003, when he played 16 games. It was in game 48 when LRT had his best game in the 1996 Grand Final. LRT playing at CHB had 17 disposals with six marks and received one Norm Smith Medal vote. LRT also played the 2006 Grand Final and kicked a goal; he was also among the best with a goal in the 2012 premiership. LRT retired aged 31 at end of 2014 season as a two time premiership player with 179 games.

 

 

Peter Schwab – Peter is the son of former umpire Alan Schwab and nephew of administrator Alan Schwab. Schwab started his career in 1980 in jumper 54 before moving to Number 43 in 1981 and then 30 in 1982. After 13 games in his first three years, Schwab played every game in 1983 including a premiership where he had 21 disposals. Schwab was a premiership player again in 1986 and 1988 but missed the 1989 Premiership after being suspended for striking against Essendon in the Semi Final. After retiring Schwab spent time at Richmond and Hawthorn as an assistant coach and in the umpiring department in 1998-1999. In 2000 Schwab was appointed coach of Hawthorn, taking them to the finals in 2000 and a Preliminary Final in 2001 before he resigned in 2004. Since then Schwab has spent time as Chair of the MRP, CEO of AFL Victoria, AFL Director of Coaching, Director of Coaching at Brisbane and head of the umpiring panel again.

 

 

Kevin Walsh – Early days Walsh was not a favourite with fans at Essendon, many of whom thought he was getting games when should not have. Walsh was a mainstay at CHB for Essendon at was an important player at 195cm allowing Terry Daniher to play more up forward though it meant perhaps popular clubman Ron Andrews was on the outer. Being a Sheedy favourite Walsh was a member of the 1984 and 1985 premiership teams and Sheedy even picked him for the state side when he was Victorian coach in 1986; Walsh won an EJ Whitten Medal. Walsh was dropped from the side after the 1990 Semi Final and in 1991 he played only one game which was the Elimination Final before he retired at the end of the year with 162 games.

 

 

Dannie Seow – Seow was born in Singapore with Chinese heritage and moved to Australia at age of 5. Seow was a cult figure at Collingwood and played 18 games in two seasons from 1986-1987; played some really good football towards the end of the 1986 season and won the best first year player award. In 1987 Seow played only four games and struggled with abnormal electrolysis of the brain. In 1988 Seow received a scholarship at the University of North Carolina but returned back to Australia in 1989 for a second stint, this time at Melbourne. Seow was drafted in the 1989 Preseason Draft alongside rower James Tomkins, but played just seven games in two seasons before moving to Washington DC.

 

 

Mark Fraser – Mark is the son of Essendon champion Ken Fraser but started his career at Collingwood in 1992 in the Number 47 as a pacy winger; he clearly had an impact as he was judged best first year player. Fraser played 45 games in three seasons at Collingwood but quit at end of 1994 to join Essendon. Fraser struggled for games in 1995-1997, he played just 24 but he then played 18 games in 1998 and 19 in 1999 including Essendon’s finals campaign. With Essendon going so well in 2000, Fraser played just four games and retired at the end of the year to become an umpire. Fraser made his debut in 2001 in the VFL competition and in the AFL in 2005 but officiated only five games due to a hip injury.

 

 

Robert Pyman – Pyman was expected to be a high draft pick after winning the Best & Fairest in 1992 at Woodville-West Torrens aged 21. Pyman was in contact with a few of the lower clubs including North Melbourne advised them he would not play with them if they drafted him. North Melbourne remained unperturbed and drafted him with Pick 6. Pyman wore Number 8 in 1993 when he debuted and played in the Elimination Final getting 18 disposals and a goal. Pyman moved to Number 30 in 1994-1995 but played only five games. Pyman was traded to Collingwood in 1996 for five games before going to Melbourne in 1997 where he managed 19 games that season and finished sixth in the Best & Fairest but was still delisted. Pyman returned to North Melbourne as an assistant coach before coaching South Adelaide.

 

 

David Rhys-Jones – Rhys-Jones was recruited from Oakleigh District to South Melbourne in 1980 and wore Number 40 in his first season. Rhys-Jones was a regular for Sydney from 1981-1984 in the Number 30 jumper and played 72 games as a wing/HBF. In 1985 Rhys-Jones started the year as a forward and kicked six goals against Hawthorn in Round 1 and five goals in Round 2 against Melbourne, however the goals dried up and he finished up with 23 goals for the year. After a pay dispute at end of 1985, Rhys-Jones joined Carlton in 1986 and was a premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist in 1987. Rhys-Jones was reported 25 times for 22 games suspended and he retired in 1992 with 182 games in total. Rhys-Jones coached the TV show side Hammerheads in 2002 to a premiership in the Western Football League.

 

 

Martin McGrath – McGrath was drafted with Pick 77 in the 2001 AFL Draft and debuted in Round 17, 2003 against Footscray as a high flying small forward. McGrath had a great debut and kicked 5.2 in a ten goal win. McGrath seemed to be an instant cult hero but the next three weeks he struggled with just one goal and minimal disposals; he was dropped after four games and delisted at the end of the season.

 

 

Danny Roach –  Danny Roach is an example of why Collingwood and Richmond should never do trades between each other. In the 1980s Richmond and Collingwood had trade wars: Cloke, Raines and Brian Taylor went to Collingwood from Richmond and Richmond received Phil Walsh, John Annear, Peter McCormack and Craig Stewart amongst others. In the 1999 trade period Collingwood swapped Clinton King and Pick 4 for Steve McKee and Pick 7. McKee and King were serviceable for a couple of years but with Pick 4 Richmond chose Aaron Fiora while Matthew Pavlich was still available. If no trade was done Pavlich may have being handy in the 2002 and 2003 Grand Finals for Collingwood. With Pick 7 Collingwood picked a tall forward prospect in Danny Roach while Joel Corey went with Pick 8, Luke McPharlin at 10, Darren Glass at 11 and Bob Murphy at 13. Roach made his debut ironically against Richmond in 2001 and unfortunately his stats were just the one tackle, he played no more games.

 

 

Richard Tambling – Tambling was considered a bright prospect for the 2004 AFL Draft after he won the Harrison Medal for best player in the 2004 Teal Cup Division 2. Unfortunately for Tambling he went at Pick 4 in the draft – the next pick was Lance Franklin who had immediate impact and who Tambling’s career was compared to. Tambling debuted in 2005 and unusually for a Richmond player at the time his first six games were wins. After 12 games in 2005, Tambling played 21 games the next year and started showed glimpses of promise. It was not until second half of 2008 that Tambling started to play at a consistent level and he finished fourth in the 2009 Best & Fairest. After going backwards in 2010, Tambling was traded to Adelaide where he played 16 games in three seasons.

 

 

Darryl Poole – Poole was an inaugural Power member who had played for Port Adelaide in the SANFL in 1996 where he missed the Grand Final due to suspension. Poole played in Port Adelaide’s inaugural match against Collingwood and was quickly defined as a cult figure for his ponytail and aggressive play. Poole was 25 when he debuted and played 24 games in three seasons with the most 13 in 1998. Poole only played one game in 1999 but won Port’s SANFL Best & Fairest and after being delisted he captained them from 2000-2003. Poole’s football career is amazing considering he was blind in one eye which was used as defence evidence before the tribunal in 1997.

 

 

Luke Lowden – Lowden was drafted with Pick 63 in the 2008 Draft but had to wait until his sixth year to finally debut. Lowden made his debut in Round 12, 2014 as a forward/ruck. Lowden had 12 disposals, 15 hit outs and kicked three goals but was dropped the next week. Lowden was traded to Adelaide in 2015 but was hampered by achilles injuries and never played a game. Lowden had eight seasons, two clubs, one game and three goals.

 

 

Matthew Ryan – Ryan started his career in 1985 aged 18 and wearing Number 45 for Collingwood. Ryan looked tiny – like a little leaguer – but he was smart goal kicking rover who wore a helmet. Ryan’s best season was 1987 when he played 20 games for 28 goals and (amazingly) one hit out. Ryan came runner up in the 1987 Best & Fairest and made the initial Victorian squad for the bicentenary carnival in 1988. Ryan played 18 games including a final in 1988 but not with the same impact and after only two games in 1989 he was traded to Sydney. Ryan played ten games with Sydney in 1990 and was delisted at the end of the year. Ryan was picked by Brisbane with Pick 7 in the 1991 Preseason Draft; he played 16 games in 1991 but just two in 1992 and Ryan was delisted after 73 games at three clubs.

 

 

Damian Bourke – Bourke is the typical Geelong player: recruited from St Joseph’s and a redhead the same as Barry Stoneham and Cameron Ling. Geelong had plethora of gingers at the time with Stoneham, ‘Scratcher’ Neal and Neville Bruns. Bourke debuted in 1983 in Number 43 before he switched to Number 30 in 1985. Bourke was appointed Captain in 1987 which seemed a surprise as he was only 22 with 31 games, the most in a season eight; perhaps Geelong got confused and meant for Neville Bruns to be captain… Bourke continued to be hampered by injury in 1987-1988 and played just 26 games but in 1989 he played 20 games and captained the club for the 1989 Grand Final. Unfortunately Bourke was injured by quarter time and he sat the rest of the match on the bench with one disposal and five hit outs. Bourke relinquished the captaincy in 1990 and missed the whole year. With Number 1 draft pick recruit Stephen Hooper part of the side in 1991 Bourke had his best year: 20 games and among the best players in Geelong’s finals matches. Bourke played just five games in 1992 and retired. Bourke moved to Brisbane for work reasons as a builder and was appointed ruck coach but at aged 28 he was convinced to be drafted where he played 22 games in three seasons. Bourke continued to work at Brisbane under Leigh Matthews and his son Jordon played six games at Brisbane between 2013-2015.

 

 

Grantley Fielke – Fielke is a legend of SANFL football, he played 364 games at West Adelaide from 1977-1997 having just two seasons off in 1987 to play for Collingwood and 1991 for Adelaide. Fielke is 1983 premiership player, 1985 Magarey Medallist, captain from 1994-1996, West Adelaide’s games record holder and State of Origin player. Fielke played 16 games for Collingwood in 1987 aged 25; he kicked 15 goals but returned to West Adelaide in 1988. Fielke was an inaugural Crows player and played 22 games in 1991 for six goals and two Brownlow votes. Fielke played two games in 1992 and retired from Adelaide Crows at end of season with 40 AFL games.

 

 

Nick Carter – Carter was drafted with Pick 20 in the 1995 AFL Draft. Carter debuted in Round 6 and played the rest of the year, 17 games for four goals and a Rising Star nomination. Carter’s third game was Fitzroy’s last ever win in the VFL/AFL; he had 31 disposals showed promise as a wing/rover. When Fitzroy merged with Brisbane, Carter was one of the eight selections to go north. Carter struggled for games due to Brisbane’s depth and played just five in two seasons at Brisbane before he was traded to Melbourne for 1999 where he played just three more games. Carter’s AFL career finished after 25 games.

 

 

James Manson – Manson was a cult figure at Collingwood, with a nickname of Charlie and boundless energy. Manson was also the guitarist for AFL rock band Trial by Video. Manson was a premiership player in 1990 but is remembered for a faking an injury in 1992 against Geelong. Manson was not a reliable kick at goal and after taking a strong mark near goal but on the boundary he went down holding his back. The kick was given to Ron McKeown who was a great kick and he duly kicked a goal. After the goal was kicked Manson ran back to the centre for the ruck contest which drew the ire of the Geelong crowd. Manson is the uncle of Ben Brown.

 

 

Roy Ramsay – Ramsay made his debut for North Melbourne in 1976 in Number 53. He wore Number 45 in 1976-1977, 38 in 1978-1979 and Number 8 between 1980-1981. Ramsay moved to Essendon in 1982 but played just three games and won the reserves Best & Fairest while wearing 36. Ramsay returned to North Melbourne in 1983 wearing Number 30 and played 70 games from 1983-1986; he finished up with 126 games and wore five numbers in his VFL/AFL career.

 

 

Graeme Whitnall – Whitnall started his career in 1974 and played 57 games from 1974-1978 in the Number 7 jumper and won Carlton’s best first year player award. Whitnall did not play a game in 1979 and in 1980 was back in a new jumper, Number 30. Whitnall played 11 games in 1980-1981 to finish with 66 career games. Graeme is the father of former captain Lance Whitnall and was very similar in looks.

 

 

Daniel Wulf – Wulf started at Western Bulldogs but did not play a game, Wulf was then drafted by St Kilda with Pick 82 in the 2000 Draft. Wulf played 30 games in three seasons, his best season was 2002 with 16 games and he is best remembered for a game in 2002 against Sydney where he ran into open goal with the Saints one point down; Wulf kick hit the post to tie the match.

 

 

Forgotten Number 30s are: Luke Jericho (Adel) Neil Gaghan (Bris), Paul McCormack (Carl), Tony Keenan, Paul Sharkey & David Fanning (Coll), Neil Besanko (Ess), Marcus Drum (Freo), Darren Jackson (Geel), David Cockatoo-Collins (Melb), Sam Colquhuon (PA), Luke Weller (Rich), Wayne Thornborrow (St.K), Clint Browning (WCE) and Christian Howard (WB).

 

 

 

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