Almanac Teams: A Cloke(d) Hunter in the Weed; Obscure 33s (1980- )

 

 

 

A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 33 jumper since 1980.

 

 

Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 33, mostly from 1980 onwards but I have made exceptions, such as Bob Chitty.

 

 

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:         Gary Ayres (Haw)                          Darren Mead (PA)                        Terry Thripp (Syd)

 

CHB:     Cameron Hunter (Melb)              Josh Thurgood (Haw)                  Wayne Weidemann (Adel)

 

C:           Tony Malakellis (Syd)                   Max Rooke (Geel)                         Kym Russell (Coll)

 

CHF:     Brad Ebert (PA)                              Gavin Bayes (Rich)                       Ian McMullin (Coll)

 

FF:         Lachlan Ross (Ess)                        Andrejs Everitt  (Carl)                 Austin Wonaeamirri (Melb)

 

Ruck:     David Cloke (Rich/Coll)              Dean Kemp (WCE)                       Brandon Jack (Syd)

 

Interchange: Bob Chitty (Carl), Chris Hemley (St.K), Paul Hudson (Haw), Brett Stephens (Fitz)

 

No players from Brisbane, Fremantle, Gold Coast, GWS, North Melbourne or the Western Bulldogs.

 

 

 

Games in Number 33 (Years played)

Gary Ayres 2 (1978)

Darren Mead 122 (1997-2002)

Terry Thripp 26 (1983-1988)

Cameron Hunter 2 (1983)

Josh Thurgood 13 (2005-2007)

Wayne Weidemann 64 (1991-1996)

Tony Malakellis 5 (1993)

Max Rooke 135 (2002-2010)

Kym Russell 3 (1991)

Brett Ebert 166 (2004-2012)

Gavin Bayes 2 (1986-1987)

Ian McMullin 4 (1992-1993)

Lachlan Ross 2 (1994)

Andrejs Everitt 52 (2014-2016)

Austin Wonaeamirri 13 (2010-2011)

David Cloke 176 at Richmond (1974-1982) 114 at Collingwood (1983-1989)

Dean Kemp 23 (1990)

Brandon Jack 28 (2013-2017)

Bob Chitty 8 (1933)

Chris Hemley 1 (1995)

Paul Hudson 32 (1990-1991)

Brett Stephens 133 (1987-1993)

 

 

 

Gary Ayres – Ayres was recruited to Hawthorn from their Warragul Zone and made his debut in Round 18, 1978 in the Number 33 jumper against Footscray. In a six-point win Ayres was Hawthorn’s leading goalkicker with three. He played the next week but didn’t kick a goal and was dropped for Round 20. The next year Ayres took over the Number 7 from Kelvin Matthews. Ayres became one of Hawthorn’s greats and one of the great back pockets in the history of the VFL/AFL. Ayres played in five premierships, won two Norm Smith Medals, captained the Hawks from 1992-1993 and won the 1986 Best & Fairest. He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. The best player in the AFL Finals Series now wins the Gary Ayres Medal. Ayres coached Geelong for five years and made a Grand Final, went to Adelaide for five years and has most recently won two premierships as coach of Port Melbourne. He now coaches Montrose.

 

 

Darren Mead – Mead was initially drafted as a 17 year old by Essendon with Pick 107 in the 1988 National Draft but never came over. Mead won three premierships for Port Adelaide’s SANFL side and was an inaugural member of Port Adelaide AFL side in 1997. Mead missed only three games in Port Adelaide’s first five years and was the inaugural winner of Port Adelaide’s Best & Fairest in 1997. Mead played 12 games in 2002 but retired at the end of the year. Darren’s son Jackson was drafted as a Father-Son with Pick 25 in 2019 and made his debut this year.

 

 

Terry Thripp – Terry is the son of former Collingwood player Bill Thripp who played 46 games 1959-1962. Terry was the first Sydney local to join the Swans after they relocated; he was recruited from Pennant Hills. Terry debuted in Round 2, 1983 as a 19 year old against Hawthorn. After five games in 1983-1984 Thripp did not play again until 1987 when he played 16 games including a Qualifying Final. After 26 games in six seasons Thripp moved to the lower Number 12 and played every game in 1989. Injury continued to hamper Thripp and he retired at the end of 1992 after 78 games in ten seasons.

 

 

Cameron Hunter – Cameron is the son of Carlton great Ken but was not picked up as a Father-Son draft pick as he was considered too light, despite the fact that Ken was on the Carlton board at the time. Hunter was drafted by Melbourne with Pick 54 in the 2002 Draft and at time was 186cm and 64kg. Hunter debuted aged 19 in Round 18 2003 against the Bulldogs; he had just two handballs. Hunter played the following week but had just one kick and two handballs. This was his last game as he was dropped the next week, played no games in 2004 and was delisted.

 

 

Josh Thurgood – Thurgood was a cult figure; very light at 190cm and 70kg, red hair in dreads and later on a ginger beard. Thurgood’s great great uncle is Albert Thurgood. Thurgood was rookie listed in 2004 and elevated from the list in 2005 and made his debut in Round 1, 2005 with Lance Franklin. Thurgood played the first seven games of the 2005 season and returned late in the year for his best game in Round 22 with 19 disposals.  Shoulder injuries from his light frame and loss of form meant Thurgood only played two games in each of 2006 and 2007 and he was delisted at the end of 2007. Sadly he never played in a winning Hawthorn side from his 13 games.

 

 

Wayne Weidemann – The popular ‘Weed’ was a cult figure from Adelaide’s early years with his Viking mullet and strong dash from the half back line with cries of ‘Weed!’ every time he went near the ball. Weidemann hailed from Fish Creek but after having done preseasons at St Kilda, Richmond and Collingwood and never selected, moved to Woodville-West Torrens to play. Weidemann was picked by Adelaide and made his debut aged 24 in Round 16, 1991 and earned three Brownlow votes in his fifth game. Weidemann was a regular from 1992-1994, he played 51 games and all finals in 1993 where he was among the best in the Crows’ win against Hawthorn, with his shirtfront on Darren Jarman making him even more popular…though not with teammate Andrew Jarman. Weidemann played only 12 games in 1995-1996 and was delisted at the age of 30. Despite having played just 68 games Weidemann today is still considered one of Adelaide greatest ever cult figures.

 

 

Tony Malakellis – Tony is the younger brother of Spiro and started his career at Geelong in 1990 as a small forward where he played nine games for eight goals with a best haul of three goals. Malakellis played five games in 1991 and no games in 1992 – he was then traded to Sydney. He joined the Swans for Pick 65 but only played five games from Rounds 2-7 as a forward/second rover. He averaged 15 disposals a game. Malakellis was delisted at the end of the year and then played for Port Adelaide in the SANFL where he came second in the Magarey Medal in 1994.

 

 

Max Rooke – Max started his AFL career in 2002 as Jarad Rooke but changed his name to Max in November of 2006 as it was his middle name and both his grandfathers were known as Max. Rooke was drafted with Pick 41 in the 2001 Rookie Draft from Casterton and was upgraded to the senior list the next year. Rooke was a tough player who was known for his tackling and ability to play anywhere on the ground. In 2007 Rooke was flown to Germany for treatment for a badly torn hamstring with the hamstring expert Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfarth. This treatment proved to be successful as Rooke was able to re-join the side for the finals and play in a premiership. In the 2009 Premiership Rooke kicked the first goal and finished off another premiership by kicking his second goal after the siren.

 

 

Kym Russell – Kym was two years older than Scott but was drafted with Pick 98 in 1989 draft while Scott was drafted in 1988. Kym came over a year after Scott in 1991 and was of similar size. With the likes of McGuane and Crosisca injured and Collingwood having lost three in a year a year after a premiership Kym was selected against Hawthorn in Round 10. Kym had 11 disposals and kicked a goal on debut and the following week had 19 disposals but after the sixth loss in a row in Round 12 and just 10 disposals Kym was dropped and played the year out in the seconds before returning to Adelaide. He was CEO of West Adelaide from 2009 to 2013.

 

 

Brett Ebert – Brett is the son of Port Adelaide legend Russell and was taken with Pick 42 in 2002 as a Father-Son. He did not play a game in 2003 and spent the year in the SANFL where he won the Magarey Medal. Ebert was just 179cm but was capable of playing on a HFF or as a smaller key forward. Brett debuted in 2004 and played 16 games out of the first 18 but after Round 18 there was no more games – despite a Rising Star nomination – and subsequently he missed out on a premiership. Ebert became a regular in the Port Adelaide side from 2005 and in 2007 when Port Adelaide made the Grand Final Brett won the goal kicking with 56 goals with a best of six goals in a game. He continue on until retirement in 2013 aged 29 due to injuries, finishing his career with 166 games and 240 goals.

 

 

Gavin Bayes – Gavin is almost two years older than Mark and made his debut in Round 19, 1985, while Mark debuted in Round 2, 1985. Gavin wore Number 45 and played three games in 1985 as a key forward – he kicked one goal. Gavin moved to Number 33 in 1986 but played just one game per year in 1986-1987 before he was delisted. Bayes moved to Barooga and kicked 100 goals twice while at the border club. Just recently on SEN and in the Herald Sun, Greg Miller in an interview about his time in football said when he was at Sydney the Swans were keen on Mark Bayes but there was an issue; Mark was not in the Swans’ zone. Bayes parents had separated and Mark lived with his Mother who was in the Bulldogs zone but the Swans got Mark to list his address at his Dad’s which was Swans zone and that is how Mark ended up in Sydney. Greg or the Bulldogs were obviously were not so keen on Gavin as he ended up at Richmond. He was recruited from Jordanville and Mark was from Noble Park.

 

 

Ian McMullin – McMullin started with a bang in 1984 in Number 31 when he made his debut in Round 22. In his second game the Elimination Final McMullin kicked five goals against Fitzroy and then followed up with two in the Semi Final. McMullin played nine games in the first 11 of 1985 and kicked another bag of five before he missed the second half of the year with injury. McMullin then played just eight games in 1986-1987 before he was delisted with 21 games for 24 goals. McMullin was a surprise preseason draft pick for Essendon from Old Melburnians in 1990; he played five games but in 1991 he played 18 games for 20 goals and made the Victorian B State of Origin squad. McMullin’s 1992 season was quite weird. McMullin lined up for Essendon against Collingwood in Round 4 for his only game for Essendon that year. He had 18 disposals and kicked a goal but was dropped the week after. McMullin was then delisted picked up by Collingwood with Pick 25 in the Midseason draft and wore Number 33 his first game against who else but Essendon! The Round 19 clash saw McMullin gather ten disposals and kick two goals. McMullin played three games in 1992 for five goals but was dropped for the Elimination Final. After just one game in 1993 McMullin was delisted after 49 games and 55 goals in total.

 

 

Lachlan Ross – Ross was drafted from West Adelaide with Pick 28 in the 1993 Preseason Draft. Ross was lightly framed with lightning pace and made his debut against Sydney in Round 14, 1994 – he kicked one goal. Ross did not play the next game but was recalled for the Round 16 match against West Coast in Perth. This proved to be his last game, with seven disposals. Essendon suffered a six goal loss and Ross will be remembered at the end of the match for taunting Brett Heady about how big his ears were.

 

 

Andrejs Everitt – Everitt was drafted by the Bulldogs with Pick 11 of the 2006 Draft as tall 194cm mobile utility. Andrejs was 15 years younger than brother Peter and like Peter he also played for three clubs. The brothers played against each other once in Round 18, 2008 with Andrejs’ Bulldogs winners by 16 points. Andrejs started his career at the Bulldogs and made his debut in 2007 with eight games. In 2008 he received the honour of wearing Number 3 from the retired Chris Grant. Everitt never held a regular spot in the side however; he played 36 games in four seasons. In 2010 Everitt was traded to the Swans for Patrick Veszpremi and played 43 games in three seasons with his best 20 games in 2013. Everitt was traded to Carlton at the end of 2013 for Pick 32 which the Swans used for George Hewett, who is now at Carlton. Everitt played 17 games in 2014 but in 2015 he had his best season – he played all 22 games for 31 goals as a mobile forward. Everitt won Carlton’s goal kicking that season with his best haul four goals. In 2016 Everitt struggled for 13 games and 17 goals and at the age of 27 was perhaps a surprise delisting.

 

 

Austin Woonaeamirri – Austin was a cult figure for Melbourne, he initially came to the club from a remote community on Melville Island. Austin was drafted with Pick 19 in the 2007 Rookie Draft after a season with Norwood. Austin started his career wearing Number 39 in 2008 and played 18 games for 24 goals, including a Rising Star nomination. Woonaeamirri’s best game netted four goals against Fremantle in a six point win which included two goals at the 21 and 22 minute marks of the last quarter to put Melbourne two points in front at that stage. Woonaeamirri suffered from hamstring and knee injuries in 2009 and did not play a game. He struggled to just 13 games in 2010-2011 due to ongoing injuries and also lost some interest in the game due to the untimely death of his father in a car crash in 2011.

 

 

David Cloke – Cloke joined Richmond in 1974 as a tall forward and played 23 games as a 19 year old, he won a premiership and kicked a goal in the Grand Final that year. David remained a regular at Richmond and in 1980 as vice-captain he was in doubt for the Grand Final having not played since Round 22. Cloke was picked for the 1980 Grand Final and played as a forward pocket due to fitness concerns. He kicked 6.4 from 12 disposals. Injuries restricted Cloke to 12 games in 1981 and in 1982 Cloke was appointed captain and led Richmond to a Grand Final which Richmond lost and though Cloke kicked three goals he was still well held by Mario Bortolotto. A fallout with Coach Francis Bourke and a big offer to join Collingwood saw Cloke leave and play as a ruck, not a key forward. Cloke came runner’s up in the 1984 Brownlow Medal and his later career saw him as a wet ground ruck specialist for Collingwood. After being delisted at Collingwood after 1989 Cloke re-joined Richmond for 1990-1991 as a ruck but in his last game he kicked eight goals. Cloke’s first stint at Richmond (in Number 33) was for 176 games and 261 goals while at Collingwood he played 114 games for 51 goals.

 

 

Dean Kemp – Kemp was drafted by West Coast in 1989 as an additional top up selection. Kemp had an immediate impact debut in Round 1, 1990 aged 21. Kemp played 23 games including all four finals as an onballer and one of the recruits of the year. Kemp moved to Number 2 in 1991 and was a star for the Eagles in one of the best centre lines ever in Matera-Kemp-Mainwaring. Kemp played 243 games in total and won two premierships, a Norm Smith Medal in 1994, All Australian and Best & Fairest in 1992 and was club captain in 2001.

 

 

Brandon Jack – Brandon is seven years younger than Kieran and was Pick 53 in the 2013 Rookie Draft. Jack debuted in 2013 and played nine games for the year, he kicked four goals in his third match against Melbourne. Brandon followed up with eight in 2014 and ten including a final in 2015 but played only one more in match Round 6, 2017 before he was delisted at the end of the year. Jack is now a writer for the Sydney Morning Herald and wrote a book released in 2021 titled ’28’, named after the total of games he played.

 

 

Bob Chitty – Chitty was born in 1916 and passed away in 1985, he played 147 games for Carlton in the Number 33 in his first year before he moved to Number 6. Chitty played in two premierships, won two Best & Fairests and was Carlton captain for two seasons. In the 1945 ‘bloodbath’ Grand Final against the Swans, Captain Bob Chitty reportly started the fights by king-hitting Ron Clegg. Chitty himself was knocked out by Laurie Nash. Chitty was suspended for eight weeks for his role in the bloodbath. The main reason Chitty is selected in the side is for his acting role as Ned Kelly in the 1951 movie ‘The Glenrowan affair’.

 

 

Chris Hemley – Hemley was a tall defender picked by St Kilda with Pick 13 in 1994 from the Geelong Falcons. Hemley debuted against Adelaide in Round 18, 1995 but failed to trouble the stats sheet in any category. Hemley stayed on St Kilda’s list until 1997 but did not add to his games and was rookie listed by Geelong in 1998 but did not play a game at the Cats. Hemley was interviewed at the 2009 Grand Final as a ‘random fan’ in the crowd that was not identified until he said he played a game for St Kilda. Hemley did say he was supporting Geelong in the Grand Final.

 

 

Paul Hudson – Hudson is the son of Hawthorn great Peter and debuted as 19 year old in 1990, when he played seven games for one goal. In 1991 Hudson had a brilliant year in the Number 33 and played every game, he kicked 62 goals including a bag of nine against the previous year’s premiers Collingwood in Round 10. Hudson was selected in the All Australian side in 1991. In 1992 Hudson was best on ground in the Night Grand Final and won the newly formed Michael Tuck Medal as best on Ground. Hudson was then given the honour of wearing Number 17 for Hawthorn from 1992 as Tuck had retired after the 1991 Grand Final. He played 134 games for Hawthorn before moving to Western Bulldogs for 108 games and another All Australian selection before adding three games at Richmond. In total Hudson played 245 games for 379 goals.

 

 

Brett Stephens – Stephens did not play his first game until he was 26 in 1987 having being playing reserves for Essendon and Sydney, he then played at North Hobart and East Perth. Stephens played 133 games in seven seasons with his last season the only onein which he did not play at least 20 games. He mainly played as a defender but could be swung forward to kick a goal; he kicked seven against Richmond in 1987 and had two bags of five. Stephens also played for the Victorian B side and captained them against Queensland in 1990, he was also runner’s up in the Best & Fairest twice. After football Stephens joined the tennis scene as a fitness trainer to Pete Sampras and Mark Philippoussis, he also married Zimbabwe’s tennis champ Cara Black.

 

 

Forgotten Number 33s: Jared Petrenko (Adel), Rhan Hooper (Bris), Mark Majerczak (Carl), Chad Liddell (Coll), Dylan Van Unen (Ess), Neville Taylor (Fitz), Craig Burrows (Freo), Darren Forssman (Geel), Rex Liddy (GCS), Russell Shields (Haw), Glenn Payne (NM), Brent Hartigan (Rich), Ben Walton (St.K), Don Holmes (WCE), Christian Macri (WB)

 

 

 

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