Almanac Teams: All Well(man) and Good(es); 44 Obscure (1980- )

 

 

 

A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 44 jumper since 1980.

 

 

Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 44, mostly from 1980 onwards but I have made exceptions, such as Mark Alves in Number 39.

 

 

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:         Jed Adcock (WB)                      David Dench (NM)                                            Sean Wellman (Adel)

 

CHB:     Brett Goodes (WB)                   Mark Brayshaw (NM)                                       Adem Yze (Melb)

 

C:           Darryl Freame (Rich)               Shane Kerrison (Coll)                                       Heath Scotland (Coll)

 

CHF:      Jamie Grant (WB)                    David Schwarz (Melb)                                      Shannon Motlop (NM/Melb)

 

FF:          Ross Dunne (Coll)                    Richard Osborne (Fitz/Syd/Foots/Coll)      Tyson Stengle (Rich)

 

Ruck:     Justin Madden (Ess/Carl)       Jai Newcombe (Haw)                                      Touk Miller (GCS)

 

Interchange: Tony Evans (St.K), Shaun McKernan (Ess), Tom Warhurst (Adel), Darcy Wilmot (Bris)

 

No players from Fremantle, Geelong, GWS, Port Adelaide or West Coast.

 

 

Games in Number 44 (Years played)

Jed Adcock 7 (2016)

David Dench 6 (1969)

Sean Wellman 34 (1994-1995)

Brett Goodes 22 (2013-2015)

Mark Brayshaw 32 (1990-1992)

Adem Yze 9 (1995)

Daryl Freame 16 (1978-1981)

Shane Kerrison 141 (1986-1995)

Heath Scotland 22 (1999-2000)

Jamie Grant 5 (1991)

David Schwarz 6 (1991)

Shannon Motlop 54 at North Melbourne (1999-2003) 10 at Melbourne (2005-2006)

Ross Dunne 6 (1978)

Richard Osborne 187 at Fitzroy (1982-1992) 16 at Sydney (1993) 51 at Footscray (1994-1996) 29 at Collingwood (1997-1998)

Tyson Stengle 2 (2017)

Justin Madden 45 at Essendon (1980-1982) 287 at Carlton (1983-1996)

Jai Newcombe 29 (2021- )

Touk Miller 22 (2015)

Tony Evans 27 (1986-1988)

Shaun McKernan 53 (2015-2020)

Tom Warhurst 2 (1991)

Darcy Wilmot 3 (2022- )

 

 

 

Jed Adcock – Adcock started his career with Brisbane in 2004 and played 206 games until 2015. Adcock was co-captain in 2013 with Jonathan Brown and sole captain in 2014. His best year was in 2007 when he came second in the Best & Fairest and make the All Australian squad. In 2015 Adcock was delisted and he was then rookie listed by the Western Bulldogs in 2016 with Pick 46. He debuted for the Dogs in Round 4 and played the next six weeks and seven games for the year – he was also a member of Footscray’s 2016 VFL premiership side. Adcock returned to Brisbane in 2018 as an assistant coach.

 

 

David Dench – Dench is recognised as one of the best full backs of his era, he debuted in Round 15, 1969 aged 17 in Number 44 and played the last six games. Dench moved to Number 23 in 1970 and in 1971 won a Best & Fairest. He  was then appointed North Melbourne’s captain in 1972. Dench was 20 years old when he became skipper but only stayed in the role for one year when new recruit Barry Davis took over in 1973. Dench was vice captain in 1977 and with Keith Greig injured, he led North Melbourne to their second VFL/AFL premiership. He also kicked two goals in the drawn first game. Dench played 275 games, two flags (1975, 1977) won four B&Fs (1971, 1976, 1977 and 1981) and was FB in the North Melbourne Team of the Century.

 

 

Sean Wellman – Wellman joined the Crows from North Adelaide and made his debut at 19 in 1994. He played 17 games in each of his two years at the Crows, mainly as a key defender. Wellman did have one great game against future home Essendon, his 16th overall, where he kicked three goals. At the conclusion of 1995 season Wellman was involved in a complicated three way trade that saw Darren Jarman go from Hawthorn to Adelaide, Paul Barnard from Hawthorn to Essendon, Paul Salmon from Essendon to Hawthorn and Wellman himself from Adelaide to Essendon; some picks were also involved. Wellman went on to have a great career at Essendon over 178 games to finish with 212 for his career. He was a premiership player in 2000 and All Australian in 1998 and 2001.

 

 

Brett Goodes – Brett is four years younger than brother Adam and after playing for North Ballarat, NT Thunder and Williamstown, was drafted with Pick 4 in the 2013 Rookie Draft. Brett made his debut aged 29 in Round 1, 2013 and played 13 games; he earned a Brownlow vote in his first. Goodes only played two games in 2014 but appeared in a reserves premiership and won the Norm Goss Medal. Another seven games in 2015 and Goodes was delisted after 22 career games; sadly Brett never played a game against Adam and his Sydney Swans.

 

 

Mark Brayshaw – Mark is the son of Western Australian cricketer and cricket writer Ian Brayshaw and brother of broadcaster James. Mark was drafted by North Melbourne with Pick 6 in the 1989 Draft and debuted in Round 1, 1990 aged 24. Mark played mainly as an undersized key defender at 187cm and while he played 17 games in his first year, he was in and out of the side in 1991-1992 over 15 games. He played 32 games for two goals for North Melbourne but shone at Claremont in the WAFL where he played 110 games for 70 goals. Brayshaw probably missed playing forward more in the AFL with a young Carey and Longmire at the club. Mark has stayed involved in football since retirement, he was Richmond CEO from 2000-2004, board member with Brother James at North Melbourne and CEO of the AFL Coaches’ Association. Mark’s three sons have all played in the AFL: Hamish for one game at West Coast, youngest Andrew is a star for Fremantle and oldest Angus is a star – and premiership player – at Melbourne.

 

 

Adem Yze – Yze was drafted by Melbourne with Pick 16 in the 1994 Draft from Shepparton. Yze started his career on the half back line but then proved he could play wing, forward or even on-ball. Yze debuted in Round 13, 1995 and played nine games in his first year. From 1996 until retirement in 2008 he wore Number 13. He had a stellar career at Melbourne over 271 games for 234 goals with 41 goals in 2005 his most and five goals in a game his personal best. Yze played 226 games in a row, second only to Jim Stynes with 244. Yze’s streak was broken after he was dropped for Round 2 in 2007; he played only 13 further games. His honours include a Best & Fairest in 2001 and All Australian selection in 2002. Post playing career Yze has been an assistant coach at Hawthorn from 2012-2020 and then joined Melbourne in 2021. Yze coached one game in 2022 while Simon Goodwin was unavailable due to Covid-19 protocols.

 

 

Darryl Freame – Freame was recruited from Essex Heights which was a feeder club to Richmond, known as the ‘Richmond Fourths’. Freame won a premiership for the ‘Fourths’, Under 19s (then aka Thirds), Reserves and Senior sides. He debuted for the Firsts aged 19 in Round 18, 1977 in Number 58. Freame moved to Number 44 in 1978 and played six games in 1979 with his best in Round 22 where he had 32 disposals. Freame played six games in 1979 with four in a row from Round 6-9 where he had two great games with 26 and 24 disposals before he was injured. In 1980 Freame was unsighted in the regular season. In the 1980 Semi Final against Geelong he was brought in along with Ian Scrimshaw and Bruce Monteath for Graeme Landy (suspended), Bryan Wood (injured) and Dennis Collins (omitted). He had nine disposals for the game and after a Richmond victory the next game was the Grand Final. For the Grand Final David Cloke, Barry Rowlings and Bryan Wood came back from injury while Bruce Tempany was out injured there was still two to be dropped from Paul Sarah and Ian Scrimshaw and as per Richard Griffiths’ excellent article last year: HERE.  Dennis Collins was still in the frame. Freame played and spent the whole match on the bench next to Bruce Monteath; he came on for the last eight minutes and had two kicks including one to KB where he dodged around Stan Magro on the boundary. Freame played two more games in 1981 before he relocated to WA.

 

 

Shane Kerrison – Kerrison made his debut aged 21 against Footscray in Round 5, 1986 as a back pocket/on ball tagger. Kerrison played the rest of the year in the seniors and maintained his spot in the side for the next few years. In 1990 Kerrison played 14 games but was dropped from the seniors after Round 20 and was emergency for the finals. In the Grand Final Kerrison was an emergency but came in for Alan Richardson who missed because of a shoulder injury. Kerrison had a job on Darren Bewick and Alan Ezard and also had the first kick of the game which ended up a behind. Kerrison had 18 disposals and restricted Bewick’s and Ezard’s influences on the game. Kerrison was Collingwood runner for a couple of seasons while Tony Shaw was coach.

 

 

Heath Scotland – Scotland was drafted by Collingwood with Pick 44 in the 1998 Draft and debuted in Round 3, 1999 against West Coast. Scotland played twelve games in his first year and in his third year in 2001 he moved from 44 to 29 but played just two games. In 2002 however, Scotland hit some great form and played in the Grand Final; he regularly gathered 20+ disposals over the season. In 2003 he was in and out of the side however he made it back into the seniors for the finals and kicked a goal in the Grand Final. After 53 games for Collingwood, Scotland was traded to rivals Carlton for Pick 35. At the Blues Scotland played 215 games for a total of 268, he won a Best & Fairest in 2012, made the All Australian squad and had a personal record of 41 disposals in a game.

 

 

Jamie Grant – Jamie is two years older than brother Chris but at 183cm was 10cm shorter. Jamie was drafted after Chris had made his debut, he was taken with Pick 22 in the 1990 Midseason Draft from Daylesford. He came down for the 1991 season and made his debut in Round 1. Grant played the first three games and then Round 18-19 for five games and one goal in the season. He left after 1992 without another game and was picked up by Sydney in the 1993 Midseason Draft, but did not play again.

 

 

David Schwarz – Schwarz was recruited from Sunbury, he made his debut in Round 1, 1991 and played six games for seven goals. In 1992 Schwarz moved to Number 5 and played every game, which showed his promise at CHF. He had a breakout year in 1994 when Melbourne made the Preliminary Final; he kicked 60 goals for the year including nine against the Swans. Schwarz kicked four goals in the first game of the Dees’ finals campaign against Carlton and against Footscray he kicked two goals and had 26 disposals. In 1995 he suffered a serious knee injury in a practice match but returned in a record time of 16 weeks in Round 9 where he kicked three goals. Schwarz though reinjured his knee in Round 10 and then again in the 1996 preseason which forced him to miss the whole season. Schwarz came back in Round 11, 1997 and played ten games. The Dees played finals in 1998 and 1999 and Schwarz was close to his best form prior to the knee injuries; he won the Best & Fairest and played for Victoria. Schwarz was vice-captain under David Neitz in the 2000 Grand Final and retired during the 2002 season with 173 games and 243 goals.

 

 

Shannon Motlop – Motlop was drafted by North Melbourne with Pick 85 in the 1998 Draft and debuted in Round 10, 1999. Motlop was dropped after his first game but came back in the side for Round 20 and kicked two goals; he stayed in the side for the finals series and played in a premiership in his 7th game, where he kicked two goals. Motlop played 54 games from 1999-2003. He played for North Adelaide in the SANFL in 2004 and when Troy Broadbridge was tragically killed as a result of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, Melbourne was permitted to add a player, which was Motlop. He played seven games in 2005, including a final, but after three games in 2006 was delisted.

 

 

Ross Dunne – Dunne did not play in the 1980s but I have added him as he was a favourite son at Collingwood just before my time. Dunne started in 1967 in Number 48 aged 19 and moved to Number 12 in 1968. He played 213 games for Collingwood for 238 goals including the 1970 and 1977 Grand Finals. In the 1970 game Dunne had 17 disposals and kicked 2.3. In the 1977 drawn Grand Final he kicked 1.2, but that one goal was in the dying minutes from a pack mark 20 metres out and made the scores level. In the replay and what was thought to be his last game, Dunne kicked two goals in the loss to North Melbourne. In 1978 Dunne had retired but was convinced to make a comeback. Max Richardson had already taken the Number 12 so Dunne wore Number 44 and in his return in Round 20 against Richmond he kicked four goals. Dunne played the last six games of the season including three finals to kick seventeen goals which included four against Carlton in the Semi Final win and three goals in a loss to North Melbourne in the Preliminary Final.

 

 

Richard Osborne – Osborne was recruited from Bulleen-Templestowe and debuted as an 18-year-old with one game in Round 15, 1982. From 1983 Osborne was a regular for Fitzroy and started across half back in a backline that starred Gary Pert and Paul Roos. He played 40 games including finals in this period for sixteen goals and came second in the 1984 Best & Fairest. In Round 22, 1984 Osborne kicked five goals which perhaps sowed the seed for him to play up forward; in 1985 he kicked 39 goals and then from 1986-1989 was Fitzroy’s leading goal kicker with a best of 68 goals in 1989 (before he injured his knee in Round 20), and best of 11 goals. Osborne was appointed captain in 1991 with Pert injured and Roos unsure if he was staying, before Roos was made captain again in 1992. At the end of 1992 Osborne requested a trade to Essendon which was not forthcoming and he ended up in the Preseason Draft as Pick 1 to Sydney. Osborne played 16 games at Sydney for 39 goals with a bag of ten against Melbourne but is best remembered for a collision with team mate Dale Lewis that left him unconscious and an ambulance on the SCG to take him directly to hospital. Osborne wore a helmet for the rest of the year and at end of the season he requested a trade to Footscray. Osborne played 51 games for 98 goals at Footscray with 53 goals in 1995 his best. After ten games in 1996 Osborne was traded to Collingwood for 29 games and 26 goals with his last season spent as a throwback from his past across half back. Osborne was 34 when he retired after 283 games 574 goals – all in Number 44.

 

 

Tyson Stengle – Stengle was rookie listed by Richmond in 2016 and debuted in 2017 against Port Adelaide where he kicked two goals. Stengle played only two games in 2017 and despite strong form in the VFL and named an emergency a couple of times he did not add to his games total due to Richmond having several small forwards in good form in 2018. At end of 2018 Stengle requested a trade to Adelaide for more opportunities and to play with his family mentor Eddie Betts. Stengle played 14 games at Adelaide for 13 goals but was delisted due to off-field indiscretions at end of 2020. At the end of 2021 Stengle was signed by Geelong as a delisted free agent and was reunited with Betts who was on the Geelong coaching staff. Stengle played every game, kicked four goals in the Grand Final and was an All Australian.

 

 

Justin Madden – Justin is four years younger than brother Simon but was 8cm taller at 206cm. Justin debuted in Round 13, 1980 aged 19 and played six games. He played 45 games in three seasons at Essendon including 23 games in 1982, however he was traded to Carlton for better first ruck opportunities and Essendon already had brother Simon and the emerging Paul Salmon. Madden played 287 games at Carlton, won two premierships, two Best & Fairests and was All Australian in 1995 as a 34 year old. What surprised me most was that Madden kicked 190 goals with 39 in 1984 his most and he had two bags of five. His best goal was in a final at Waverley against Adelaide where he had three or four bounces through the centre and kicked it from 55m. After football Madden entered politics for the ALP from 1999- 2014, he was at times Minister for Planning and Sport, Recreation & Commonwealth Games.

 

 

Jai Newcombe – Newcombe was selected by Hawthorn with Pick 2 in the 2021 Midseason Draft and since then has done the great Number 44 at Hawthorn proud. Newcombe came to Hawthorn via Box Hill and the great Gippsland town of Poowong. Newcombe was not initially selected by Gippsland Power in his early years and when he did make the squad in 2020 he was not able to play a game due to Covid-19 restrictions. However he backed his ability and tried out for Box Hill. Newcombe’s form was impressive and he was only player to nominate financial and length of contract conditions upon selection; a loophole which no longer exists. Newcombe was named AFL Coaches’ Association best young player in 2022 and came third in the 2022 Rising Star.

 

 

Touk Miller – Touk Miller is the first ‘Touk’ to play in the AFL and was selected with Pick 29 in the 2014 Draft. Miller is also a talented cricketer having represented Victoria at U15 level; he also played for North Melbourne in 2011 aged 15. Miller made his debut in Round 1, 2014 and played every game with an average of 17 disposals. In 2016 Miller moved to Number 11 and has since played 160 games with an average of 23 disposals and a best of 39. Miller has won the Best & Fairest in each of the last two years, made All Australian and was named AFL Coaches’ Association player of the year in 2022. Miller has been co-captain of the Suns since 2022.

 

 

Tony Evans – Evans was recruited to St Kilda from East Ballarat and debuted aged 20 against Hawthorn in Round 4, 1986. Evans played eight games as small defender in 1986, then the last ten of the year in 1987. After 27 games in three years, Evans went to Footscray in 1989 but only played three games before he injured his knee. He ended up back at East Ballarat where he won a premiership and five Best & Fairests. Evans has continued to play in the Australian Masters Championships where he captained Victoria Country to wins in 2017 and 2019, he also won the EJ Whitten Medal for best player over 45 and over 50 in those years.

 

 

Shaun McKernan – Shaun is 17 years younger than Corey and at 196cm is just a touch shorter (197cm). Corey retired in 2005 and Shaun was drafted with Pick 28 in the 2008 National Draft by Adelaide. McKernan debuted in 2009 and played 34 games in six seasons as a spare ruck/tall forward. He was then taken with Pick 12 in the 2014 Rookie Draft by Essendon. In and out of the side for his first four years at Essendon, he played just 28 games before a breakout season in 2019 with 16 games for 17 goals with two hauls of four. In 2021 McKernan joined St Kilda as a delisted free agent and played four games to finish with 91 career games for 74 goals.

 

 

Tom Warhurst – Warhurst was an original Adelaide Crow and had played over 200 games in the SANFL with Norwood when he signed. He was 28 when he played his first game for the Crows in Adelaide’s first ever game. Warhurst played on Dermott Brereton; he kept him goalless and had eight disposals himself. The following week he played his second and last ever AFL game against Carlton. Warhurst was delisted at the end of the season and retired from Norwood after he injured his knee.

 

 

Darcy Wilmot – Darcy is the son of Grant Wilmot who played five games for Collingwood in 1980 which included a bag of four goals in his third ever game. He was born on December 31 and just made the eligibility for the draft by a matter of hours. Wilmot was taken with Pick 16 of the 2021 Draft and chose Number 44 at Brisbane in honour of his late father who wore it at Collingwood. Wilmot was close to a game late in the year but with injury to Jarryd Lyons and suspension to Cameron Rayner and Noah Answorth, Wilmot was selected in the Elimination Final against Richmond – as such his first three games have all been in finals. Darcy had 11 disposals and kicked a goal against Richmond and 15 disposals against Melbourne. Wilmot has come to be known for his enthusiasm for the game and celebration which was also a highlight on draft night.

 

 

Some of the forgotten Number 44s are: Darren Carlson (Bris), Damien Lang (Carl), Mark Lawson (Coll), Jesse Crichton (Freo), Peter Baldwin (Geel), Cameron Stokes (Haw), John Fidge (Melb), Jarrod Cotton (PA), Troy Taylor (Rich), Eric Clarke (St.K), Grant Bartholomaeus (Syd), Gerrick Weedon (WCE) and Brodie Moles (WB).

 

 

 

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