Almanac Teams: Alliterative All-Stars
Melbourne’s Graham Gaunt [Source: Author]
This week’s team idea comes via my wife Jacki and father in law Jim; they were inspired when watching Essendon a few weeks ago with Vigo Visentini on debut.
This side is players with double letters starting their first and last names. Of the 26 letters of the alphabet, I could get 21. Most are from my preferred era of 1980 onwards, with a couple of exceptions. Hope you enjoy.
FB: Aliir Aliir Stephen Silvagni Paul Peos
CHB: Graham Gaunt Harry Himmelberg Wayne Weidemann
C: Fabian Francis Mick McGuane Kym Koster
CHF: Charlie Cameron Toby Thurstans Luamon Lual
FF: Nic Naitanui Danny Del-Re Relton Roberts
Ruck: Vigo Visentini Brad Boyd Jason Johnson
Interchange: Ern Elder, Oswald O’Connell, Zane Zakostelsky
Sub: Che Cockatoo-Collins
Coach: Mick Malthouse
Assistant Coaches: Brendan Bolton and Grahame Gellie
Home Ground: Princes Park
President: Allen Aylett
Number one member: Sir Isaac Isaacs
Sponsor: Just Jeans
Umpires: Brian Bulluss, Mark McKenzie, Neville Nash, Vas Vasilou
Commentators: George Grljusich, Mark Maclure, Mick Molloy
Football Manager: Brian Boyd
Aliir Aliir
164 games
Sydney and Port Adelaide (2014- )
There was really only one player for the AA spot, All Australian Aliir Allir. Alan Atkinson is another one.
Stephen Silvagni
312 games
Carlton (1985-2001)
The Full Back of the Century gets the SS spot ahead of players like Stephen Schwerdt, Sam Sheldon, Steele Sidebottom, Steven Stretch and Sydney Stack.
Paul Peos
88 games
West Coast and Brisbane (1987-1995)
Peos beat out Paul Payne, Paul Patterson, and Patrick Parnell
Graham Gaunt
88 games
Richmond and Melbourne (1972, 1976-1982)
Gaunt beat out assistant coach Graham Gellie.
Harrison Himmelberg
192 games
Greater Western Sydney (2016- )
Himmelberg beat out Heath Hocking, Henry Hustwaite and Harvey Harrison.
Wayne Weidemann
68 games
Adelaide (1991-1996)
Cult figure Weidemann beat Will White in this team.
Fabian Francis
119 games
Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Adelaide (1991-1994, 1997-2001)
Fred Fanning could have been another option if Francis had not played since 1980.
Mick McGuane
155 games
Collingwood and Carlton (1987-1997)
MM had plenty of options with McGuane chosen ahead of Martin Mattner, Mal Michael, Mick Martyn, Marlon Motlop, Martin McKinnon, Michael McLean, Mark Mercuri and Michael McLean.
Kym Koster
133 games
Footscray and Adelaide (1994-2000)
Koster was picked ahead of Kim Kershaw, Kade Kolodjasnij and Kayle Kirby
Charlie Cameron
244 games
Adelaide and Brisbane (2014- )
Cameron was picked ahead of Cedric Cox, Callum Chambers, Cameron Cloke, Cameron Clayton, Craig Cleave, Chad Cornes and Charlie Constable.
Toby Thurstans
110 games
Port Adelaide (2003-2009)
Thurstans was picked ahead of Travis Tuck, Troy Taylor, and Tobie Travaglia.
Luamon Lual
4 games
Essendon (2025- )
New bomber Lual was picked ahead of Luke Livingstone and Luke Lowden
Nic Naitanui
213 games
West Coast (2009-2023)
Naitanui is the back up ruck because the team was inspired by Visentini. Nic Newman is the other NN player.
Danny Del-Re
62 games
Footscray (1990-1994)
Del-Re was selected ahead of Daniel Dzufer, Danny Dickfos, Donald Dickie, Daniel Donati, David Donato, and Darren Denneman
Relton Roberts
2 games
Richmond (2000)
Cult figure Relton Roberts was picked ahead of Roy Ramsay and Russell Richards
Vigo Visentini
1 game
Essendon (2025- )
The player that inspired the team.
Brad Boyd
85 games
Fitzroy and Brisbane (1992-1999)
Brad gets in because we have the same surname though not related. Boyd beat Brett Burton, Bryan Beinke, Brendan Bower, Ben Brown, Bret Bailey, Bob Beecroft, Barry Breen, and Bill Brownless
Jason Johnson
184 games
Essendon (1997-2008)
Johnson made the team ahead of Josh Jenkins, Jarrad Jansen and Jarhan Jacky.
Ern Elder
12 games
Hawthorn (1940-1941)
I needed an EE and luckily, I found Ern Elder.
Oswald O’Connell
9 games
South Melbourne and St Kilda (1903-1906)
O’Connell is the only double OO I came across.
Zake Zakostelsky
Zero games
Pick 53, 2023 National Draft
Zakostelsky is on Brisbane’s list as a 196cm ruck…hopeful they give him a game soon.
Che Cockatoo-Collins
160 games
Essendon and Port Adelaide (1994-2003)
Cockatoo-Collins with three Cs is frankly overqualified for this team, so therefore he can be sub.
Coach Mick Malthouse
718 games
Footscray, West Coast, Collingwood, and Carlton (1984-2015)
Assistant Coach Brendan Bolton
82 games
Hawthorn and Carlton (2014, 2016-2019)
Assistant Coach Grahame Gellie
48 games
St Kilda (1984-1986)
Home Ground Princes Park
Carlton loves the double letter so much that when chosing a sponsored name for Princes Park they went with Optus Oval. Ikon Park is so disappointing when it could have been Ikon Island.
President Allen Aylett
North Melbourne President (1971-1976, 2001-2005)
Others considered were Stuart Spencer, Colin Carter, and Clinton Casey
Number one ticket holder Sir Isaac Isaacs
Sir Isaac Isaacs was Governor General from 1931-1936. I have no idea if he followed football, but he was born in Melbourne, raised in Beechworth and was a Victorian MP. His initials are II and that is enough for me.
Sponsor Just Jeans
Just Jeans was owned by Craig Kimberley who was a former South Melbourne President, Sydney board member and AFL commissioner. Just Jeans were a Swans and AFL sponsor.
Umpire Brian Bulluss
28 games
(1982-1988)
Umpire Mark McKenzie
157 games
(1995-2003)
Umpire Neville Nash
211 games
(1974-1984)
Umpire Vas Vasilou
26 games
(1982-1984)
Commentator George Grljusich
Grljusich was a famous ABC commentator of Western Australian games. He started in 1960 until his death in 2007. He played 12 games for South Fremantle and commentated harness racing, football (soccer), and the Olympics. My memory of him is saying things like ‘Free kick to Sumich, not paid then’ a lot.
Commentator Mark Maclure
Expert commentator on the ABC from 2001 to 2023.
Mick Molloy
Not strictly a commentator but has been on football shows Before the Game and The Front Bar.
Football Manager
Brian Boyd
Brian is my father and he is a double BB, so I have to give him a job. Dad has done a bit of cricket managing at Melbourne Country Week so he would clearly adjust to a role as a football manager.
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The hits keep coming Rodney, keep up the good work. While they don’t fit into your post-1980 criteria, I was able to help you get to 22 of the 26 letters.
Ike Isley (two games in 1962 for the Saints)
Ike was even mentioned by Almanac favourite KB Hill: https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/pigeon-bert-reflects-on-a-lifetime-career-in-football-by-kb-hill/
Thanks Jarrod
I completely missed Ike. I did see Oswald and Ern in Russell Holmesby book of every AFL footballer. Having Ike in does give me 22. I only put Sir Isaac Isaacs in so I could have a double I.
Thanks again for all your help.
Excellent work! Pity you couldn’t find room for Stuart Stewart, a stalwart at Hawthorn in their first ten years in the VFL. Incidentally, he married one Beatrice Bardon.
Cheers
Good side – wrapt Vigo made it – it is very prestigious and you not only need talent, but your parents on board! I would have liked to have seen Jimmy Jess in the team, however!
Don Dunstan could be the players’ advocate at the Tribunal.
Another good team.
The Alliterative All-Stars should play a match against the Sydney Swans (of the early 1990s) at their previously mentioned home ground of Princes Park.
Damian Drum could coach the Sydney Swans, if he wants to be elected.
Entertainment: Janet Jackson, Gloria Gaynor
Transport: Ansett Australia (for the Sydney Swans players if the match is played in the early 1990s)
Rolls-Royce cars for the Victorian based players
After match meal: Sirloin Steak with French Fries
Ron Reed should write his report of the match.
Another player who Stephen Silvagni beat for his initials, as well as for the full back position, was Steven Smith, who played 203 games and kicked 144 goals for Melbourne from 1974-85.
He won the Best and Fairest for Melbourne in 1981.
Another player who Jason Johnson beat for the JJ initials is Jason Johannisen, who has currently played 199 games and kicked 77 for the Western Bulldogs from 2012-present.
He won the Norm Smith Medal in 2016.
If we’re talking Stephen Silvagni, what about his dad Sergio? A career that saw him play 239 games, kicking 136 goals not a bad return.
From his vintage there was also Footscray full back David Darcy. He played 133 games, kicking 47 goals.
Interestingly both played their last VFL games in 1971. Sergio Silvagni retiring, David Darcy heading over to play in Adelaide.
Glen!
Good Gets Glen (triple of the same initial). We must be getting on if we can remember the grandfathers of current AFL players Jack Silvagni (Sergio Silvagni) and Sam Darcy (David Darcy) playing.
Molly Meldrum could be another contender for the Number one ticket holder, even if his real name is Ian “Molly” Meldrum.
For the trivia buffs, interestingly with the father and sons, Peter Daicos was born 20 September, 1961. Gary Ablett Sr. was born 11 days later on 1 October, 1961. Gary Ablett Jr. was born 14 May 1984 and 19 years later, Nick Daicos was born 3 January 2003, so it’s almost a different generation. I know there are other siblings born in between on both sides of their families.
To put that in perspective, Terry Milera, who played 30 games and kicked 31 goals for St Kilda, from 2012-2014, was born on 8 January 1988 and his stepson Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who has played 78 games and kicked 15 goals for St Kilda from 2022-present, was born on 22 February 2003, so he’s only 15 years younger than his stepfather. I’ve also heard of cases of nephews actually being older than their uncles.
Getting back to the topic, players who played in the 1970s include Russell Reynolds, who played 78 games and kicked 29 goals for St Kilda from 1973-1976. He played in the same team as the previously mentioned Michael Malthouse, who played 53 games and kicked 5 goals for St Kilda from 1972-76, before playing 121 games and kicking 10 goals for Richmond from 1976-1983.
Don Discher played 12 games and kicked 6 goals for St Kilda from 1978-1979. He played in the same team as the previously mentioned Graeme Gellie, who played 32 games and kicked 12 goals for St Kilda from 1978-1983. Gellie won St Kilda’s Best and Fairest in 1978.
Malthouse, Gellie and Discher all come from Ballarat.
Although Barry Breen was beaten by Brad Boyd for the BB initials, Breen could be the General Manager for the Alliterative All-Stars. In that role, Barry Breen may just have a winning point to prove!
Acknowledging this team kicks off in 1980, I noticed 14 senior players from 1979 who could be selected. Some names are in the team, others get a mention in comments.
One of those 14 a player who had a good season in 1979 was Bob Beecroft, who played for a club we knew as Fitzroy. In his VFL career he played 96 games, kicking 291 goals; 1979 was probably his best season with 24 games and 87 goals.
If we’re talking B Beecroft’s from the 1970’s there was the South Melbourne defender Barry Beecroft. He turned out 71 times, kicking 10 goals. He also spent two seasons with Port Melbourne including the 1977 flag.
Glen!
Thanks Rick, love the marriage between the two.
Thanks Dan, I initially had Jim Jess being a Tigers supporter, unsure how I missed him out from my draft.
Thanks Swish, great suggestion
Thanks Glen Bob Beecroft is a good one
Thanks Anon, some good suggestions