Almanac Teams: AFL Players on Reality TV Shows

 

 

 

This week’s team is inspired by my wife Jacki who wondered how many AFL footballers have appeared on Reality TV Shows. Reality TV seems to dominate Channels 7, 9 and 10 each night. While not a big fan of many of these shows, my favourites have been The Recruit, The Club, Amazing Race and The Mole.

 

 

In the starting 18 I have included a participant from each team and focused on those that did well in the show rather than the best footballers. Shows that have not an AFL player from my research are Lego Masters, Bachelor/Bachelorette, Farmer Wants A Wife, The Voice, Australian Idol, Popstars and whatever else that seems to have debuted lately (I cannot keep with them all). If there is any show or player that I have missed, please advise in the comments.

 

 

FB:       Mitch Hibberd (NM/Ess)             Matt Eagles (Bris)                        Ross Thornton (Fitz)

 

CHB:   Paul Starbuck (Syd)                       Michael Laffy (Rich)                    Andrew Welsh (Ess)

 

C:         Jason Akermanis (Bris/WB)        Gavin Wanganeen (Ess/PA)       Anthony Koutoufides (Carl)

 

CHF:    Jake Edwards (Carl)                      Nick Riewoldt (St.K)                    Russell Robertson (Melb)

 

FF:       Ryan Fitzgerald (Syd/Adel)          Brendan Fevola (Carl/Bris)        Jared Petrenko (Adel)

 

Ruck:   Darren Jolly (Melb/Syd/Coll)      Robert Dickson (Haw/Bris)       David Rodan (Rich/PA/Melb)

 

Interchange: Dermott Brereton (Haw/Syd/Coll), Shane Crawford (Haw), Dan Foley (Rich), Josh Gibson (NM/Haw)

 

Coach: David Rhys-Jones

 

 

 

Mitchell Hibberd

9 games North/Essendon (2016-2020)

Winner of the 2021 edition of Love Island on Channel 9

 

 

Matt Eagles

6 games Brisbane (2018-2020)

Winner of the 2016 edition of The Recruit on Foxtel

 

 

Ross Thornton

146 games Fitzroy (1980-1989)

Appeared with his daughter on the 2012 edition of Amazing Race on Channel 7

 

 

Paul Starbuck

1 game Sydney (1990)

Member of the television football team ‘The Hammerheads’ on The Club in 2002 on Channel 7

 

 

Michael Laffy

26 games Richmond (1987-1990)

Contestant on 2001’s The Mole on Channel 7 where it was revealed he was the mole and committed sabotages on the team…a role some Richmond fans thought he also did while at Punt Road.

 

 

Andrew Welsh

162 games Essendon (2002-2011)

Contestant on 2013’s Celebrity Splash on Channel 9

 

 

Jason Akermanis

325 games Brisbane/Western Bulldogs (1995-2010)

Contestant on 2012’s Celebrity Apprentice on Channel 9

 

 

Gavin Wanganeen

327 games Essendon/Port Adelaide (1991-2006)

Contestant on Survivor’s 2021 edition on Channel 10

Contestant on Dancing with the Stars’ 2023 edition on Channel 7

 

 

Anthony Koutoufides

278 games Carlton (1992-2007)

Winner of Dancing with The Stars in 2006 on Channel 7 and returned for the All Star Edition in 2022

 

 

Jake Edwards

5 games Carlton (2008)

Contestant on Married at First Sight in 2021 on Channel 9

 

 

Nick Riewoldt

336 games St Kilda (2001-2017)

Winner of 2021’s Celebrity Master Chef on Channel 10

 

 

Russell Robertson

228 games Melbourne (1997-2009)

Runner Up on 2008’s It Takes Two on Channel 7

 

 

Ryan Fitzgerald
18 games Adelaide/Sydney (1999-2002)

Contestant on Big Brother in 2004 on Channel 10

 

 

Brendan Fevola

204 games Carlton/Brisbane (1999-2010)

Winner of 2016’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10

 

 

Jared Petrenko

76 games Adelaide (2008-2014)

Contestant on 2018’s House Rules on Channel 7

 

 

Darren Jolly

237 games Melbourne/Sydney/Collingwood (2001-2013)

Contestant in 2014 and winner of the 2015 edition of The Block on Channel 9

 

 

Robert Dickson

19 games Hawthorn/Brisbane (1988-1991)

Winner of 2002’s Survivor on Channel 9

 

 

David Rodan

185 games Richmond/Port Adelaide/Melbourne (2002-2013)

Winner of 2014’s Dancing with the Stars on Channel 7

 

 

Dermott Brereton

211 games Hawthorn/Sydney/Collingwood (1982-1995)

Contestant on 2006’s Dancing on Ice on Channel 9

Contestant on 2013’s Celebrity Apprentice on Channel 9

Contestant on 2019’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10

 

 

Shane Crawford

305 games Hawthorn (1993-2008)

Contestant on 2011’s Celebrity Apprentice on Channel 9

Contestant on 2019’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10

 

 

Dan Foley

13 games Richmond (1983-1985)

Contestant on 2016 edition of The Block on Channel 9

 

 

Josh Gibson

225 games North Melbourne/Hawthorn (2005-2017)

Contestant on 2018’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10

Contestant on 2021’s Celebrity Apprentice on Channel 9

 

 

David Rhys Jones is coach as he coached The Hammerheads to a premiership in the Western Region Football League Division 2 on ‘The Club’ in 2002.

 

 

Others

 

Richard Champion

183 games Brisbane (1991-2000)

Contestant on 2006’s It takes Two on Channel 7

 

 

Ed Lower

46 games North Melbourne (2006-2010)

Contestant on 2013’s Big Brother on Channel 9

 

 

Todd Elton

10 games Richmond (2012-2017)

Contestant on 2019’s Love Island on Channel 9

 

 

Ryan O’Keefe

286 games Sydney (2000-2014)

Constant on 2009’s Celebrity Masterchef on Channel 10

 

 

Joel Patfull

220 games Brisbane/GWS (2006-2017)

Quit after two episodes of the 2022 edition of The Block on Channel 9

 

 

Brodie Holland

155 games Fremantle/Collingwood (1998-2008)

Contestant on 2005’s Dancing with the Stars on Channel 7

 

 

Paul Licuria

192 games Sydney/Collingwood (1997-2007)

Contestant on 2008’s Dancing with the Stars on Channel 7

 

 

Peter Everitt

291 Games St Kilda/Hawthorn/Sydney (1993-2008)

Contestant on 2009’s Dancing with the Stars on Channel 7

 

 

David Wirrpanda

227 games West Coast Eagles (1996-2009)

Contestant on 2010’s Dancing with The Stars on Channel 7

 

 

Jude Bolton

325 games Sydney (1999-2013)

Contestant on 2015’s Dancing with The Stars on Channel 7

 

 

Travis Cloke

256 games Collingwood/Western Bulldogs (2005-2017)

Contestant on 2020’s Dancing with The Stars on Channel 10

 

 

Brian Lake

251 games Western Bulldogs/Hawthorn (2002-2015)

Contestant on 2018’s Survivor on Channel 10

 

 

Shaun Hampson

98 games Carlton/Richmond (2007-2016)

Contestant on 2019 and 2023 editions of Survivor on Channel 10

 

 

Simon Black

322 games Brisbane (1998-2013)

Contestant on 2019’s Survivor on Channel 10

 

 

David Zaharakis

226 games Essendon (2009-2021)

Contestant on 2023’s Survivor on Channel 10

 

 

Barry Hall

289 games St Kilda/Sydney/Western Bulldogs (1996-2011)

Contestant on 2015’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10

 

 

Dane Swan

258 games Collingwood (2002-2016)

Contestant on 2017’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10         

 

 

Dale Thomas

258 games Collingwood/Carlton (2006-2019)

Contestant on 2020’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Channel 10         

 

 

Bill Brownless

198 games Geelong (1986-1997)

Contestant on 2020’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10         

 

 

Travis Varcoe

230 games Geelong/Collingwood (2007-2020)

Contestant on 2021’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10         

 

 

Robert DiPierdomenico

240 games Hawthorn (1975-1991)

Contestanton 2021’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10         

 

 

Nathan Buckley

280 games Brisbane/Collingwood (1993-2007)

Contestant on 2022’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10         

 

 

Derek Kickett

152 games North Melbourne/Essendon/Sydney (1989-1996)

Contestant on 2022’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10         

 

 

Adam Cooney

250 games Western Bulldogs/Essendon (2004-2016)

Contestant on 2023’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on Channel 10         

 

 

 

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