Almanac Teams: Elected Members of Parliament

 

This week’s side is themed around the upcoming Federal Election. The starting team have all being Federal or State members of parliament. I have also listed some players that have stood as candidates. I have not put in any local council members. I am sure I have missed some, especially players that stood for candidates and especially some WAFL and SANFL players which am happy to hear from those in South and Western Australia.

 

From what I have researched I found 21 players that served as members of parliament but am happy to be proven wrong.

 

FB:         Don Chipp (Fitz)                           Bob Miller (Melb)                         John Devine (Geel)

CHB:      Joel Bowden (Rich)                      Ray Groom (Melb)                       Peter Hall (Carl)

C:            Brian Dixon (Melb)                       Maurice Rioli Snr (Rich)              Damian Drum (Geel)

CHF:      Stephen Patterson (Coll)           Darrel Baldock (St.K)                   Bill Sykes (Fitz)

FF:          Stan Heal (Melb)                          Sam Loxton (St.K)                        Max Holten (Coll)

Ruck:       Justin Madden (Ess/Carl)           Hugh Delahunty (Ess)                 Neil Tresize (Geel)

Interchange: Jack Galbally (Coll), Bill McGrath (Ess), Murray Thompson (Rich)

Captain/Coach: Darrel Baldock

Ass Coach: John Devine, Brian Dixon and Damian Drum

 

 

Don Chipp (Federal, Liberal/Democrats)

3 games Fitzroy 1947

Chipp played for Fitzroy then Prahran and ran in the Stawell Gift in 1953. He entered politics in 1960 in the seat of Higinbotham and when that was abolished, he was member for Hotham from 1969. Chipp was Minister for Navy and Tourism from 1966-1968, Customs and Excise from 1969-1972 and when Liberals returned to office following the dismissal in 1975, he was Minister for Health, Social Security and Repatriation and Compensation in the 1975 caretaker ministry but when Malcolm Fraser was declared the winner of the election, Chipp did not get any portfolios. Chipp resigned from the Liberal Party and formed the Australian Democrats in 1977 where he was elected in the Senate and was leader from 1977-1986.

 

Bob Miller (Victoria, ALP)

69 games Melbourne 1961-1965

Miller was recruited from Horsham as a defender and ruck rover. His best seasons were 1962 and 1963 when he played 17 games in each year. Miller was a professor of law at University of Western Ontario between 1966-1967 and a human rights officer for the UN in New York from 1967-1970. He was elected to the lower house seat of Prahran in 1979, replacing Sam Loxton who had retired. Miller served two terms before contesting the upper house seat of Monash in 1985 which he lost.

 

 

Geelong’s John Devine [Source: Author]

John Devine (Tasmania, ALP)

118 games Geelong 1960-1966

Coached Geelong 1986-1988

Devine was recruited from Colac, he played in the 1963 premiership and was vice captain from 1961-1966. He played with North Hobart as captain coach from 1967-1971 and 1974-1975 where he won three premierships before he returned to Geelong as coach for three years from 1986-1988. Devine was a member for the lower house seat of Denison from 1979-1984.

 

 

Joel Bowden (NT, ALP)

265 games Richmond 1996-2009

Bowden was recruited from West Alice Springs as a father-son selection in 1995 as his dad Michael had played 59 games (the rule was 50 games then) and was also a 1969 premiership player. Joel was a two time All Australian and two time Best and Fairest. He was elected in 2020 to the seat of Johnston before he lost his seat in 2024. Bowden had several ministry portfolios including Infrastructure, Business, Tourism and Recreational Fishing.

 

Ray Groom (Federal/Tasmania, Liberal)

92 games Melbourne 1963-1968

Groom joined Melbourne from the Cooee club in Tasmania and though he missed the 1964 premiership, the following year he was given Ron Barassi’s number 31. He won the Best and Fairest in his last year, 1968. Groom was elected to the federal seat of Braddon in Tasmania in 1975 and held the seat until his retirement from federal politics in 1984. Groom was Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development from 1977-1978 and then Minister for Housing and Construction until 1980. He entered Tasmania politics in 1986 and won the seat of Denison. In 1988 he was Deputy Premier of Tasmania, opposition leader from 1989 to 1992 and the Premier of Tasmania from 1992-1996.

 

 

Peter Hall (Victoria, National)

36 games Carlton 1971-1974

Hall was recruited to Carlton from Castlemaine and was traded to Subiaco for Mike Fitzpatrick. Hall served in the Victorian upper house as a National MP from 1988 to 2014 representing Gippsland Province and its successor Eastern Victoria. Hall was shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Youth and Affairs in 1999-2002. When the Coalition won in 2010, Hall served as Minister for Higher Education and Skills as well as Minister for the Teaching Profession.

 

Brian Dixon (Victoria, Liberal)

252 games Melbourne 1954-1968

Coached North Melbourne 1971-1972

Dixon is a Melbourne great who played in five premierships, won a Best and Fairest and was named on the wing in the Melbourne Team of the Century. He entered politics in 1964, won the seat of St Kilda and held it to until he was defeated in 1982. Dixon was an MP while still playing and also coach of North Melbourne. Dixon held portfolios of Youth, Sport and Recreation, Housing and Aboriginal affairs and one of his most notable achievements was the introduction of the ‘Life, Be in It’ campaign.

 

Maurice Rioli Snr (NT, ALP)

118 games Richmond 1982-1987

Rioli was a star at South Fremantle where he played 163 games and at Richmond where he won a Norm Smith Medal and two Best and Fairests. He was elected to parliament in 1992 in the seat of Arafura and he held it until 2001. Rioli was the shadow Minister for Mines and Energy as well as Sport and Recreation.

 

 

Damian Drum (Victoria/Federal, National)

63 games Geelong 1982-1989

Coached Fremantle 1999-2001

Drum was recruited from Shepparton and after retiring in 1989 he went on to coach Port Melbourne and was an assistant at Sydney for six years. After being sacked at Fremantle, he coached Bendigo Diggers in the U18 competition in 2002. Drum was elected to the Victorian upper house, for Northern Victoria until 2016. Under the Napthine Government, Drum held the role of Minister for Sports and Veteran Affairs. In 2016 Drum switched to Federal Politics and to the seat of Murray in the House of Representatives. In 2019 the seat was abolished for a new seat called Nicholls, which Drum won in the 2019 Election and held the seat until his retirement in 2022.

 

Stephen Patterson (South Australia, Liberal)

96 games Collingwood 1995-2000

Patterson joined Collingwood from Norwood where he had played 86 games. He was a councillor for Holdfast Bay from 2010 and became mayor in 2014. Patterson became member for Morphett in 2018 and in 2020 was appointed Minister for Trade and Investment. In 2022 with the Liberal party out of office Patterson was appointed Shadow Minister for Energy and Net Zero as well as Mining, Defence and Space Industries.

 

 

Darrel Baldock (Tasmania, ALP)

119 games St Kilda 1962-1968

Coached St Kilda 1987-1989

Baldock is a Tasmanian football legend who played 233 games at East Devonport, Latrobe, and New Norfolk from 1955-1961 and 1969-1974. He captained St Kilda to their sole Premiership in 1966, won three Best and Fairest and is a Legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Baldock was an MP for Wilmot from 1972-1987 and served as Minister for Social Welfare as well Minister for Municipal Planning, Main Roads, and Transport.

 

 

Fitzroy’s Bill Sykes [Source: Author]

Bill Sykes (Victoria, National)

48 games Fitzroy 1969-1971

Sykes was recruited from Drouin and went on to coach Shepparton and Benalla after Fitzroy. He was a lower house MP for Benalla from 2002-2014. Sykes was a Parliament Secretary for Primary Industries in the 2010-2014 Liberal Government.

 

 

Melbourne’s Stan Heal [Source: Author]

Stan Heal (Western Australia, ALP)

8 games Melbourne 1941

180 games West Perth 1939-1953

Heal is a Western Australian Football Legend who was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2010. He won three premierships with West Perth and one with Melbourne but notably won two premierships in the one year in 1941. From 1953 to 1962 Heal was the member for West Perth in the WA lower house and when West Perth was abolished became the member for Perth from 1962 to 1965.

 

 

Sam Loxton (Victoria, Liberal)

41 games St Kilda 1942-1946

Loxton topped the goalkicking for St Kilda in 1944 with 52 goals. After 1946 season Loxton concentrated on cricket making his test debut against India in 1948 and going on the 1948 Ashes Invincibles Tour. Loxton was an all-rounder who played 12 tests until 1951. While still playing cricket Loxton was elected Member for Prahran from 1955-79.Loxton even defeated Jack Dyer in the 1967 election with Dyer running as the ALP candidate. Loxton was the government whip from 1961-79.

 

 

Mac Holten (Federal, Country/National)

79 games Collingwood 1942-1948

Holten was a flying instructor and test pilot for the RAAF during World War 2 and played five games until 1944. He captain/coached Wangaratta to four premierships from 1949-1952. Holten was elected the Member for Indi in 1958 and served until he was defeated in 1977. He was Minister for Repatriation from 1969 to 1972.

 

 

Justin Madden (Victoria, ALP)

332 games Essendon and Carlton 1980-1996

Madden was a two time premiership player, two time All Australian and was President of the AFL Players Association from 1990-1997. He was elected to the Victorian upper house from 1999-2010 and then served the lower house as member for Essendon from 2010-2014. Madden served as Minister for Sport, Recreation, and the Commonwealth Games from 1999-2006 and then Minister for Planning from 2006-2010.

 

 

Hugh Delahunty (Victoria, National)

47 games Essendon 1971-1973

Delahunty was recruited from Murtoa and after three seasons he moved to Donald where he coached from 1974-1976 and then back to Murtoa from 1979-1982 where he won a premiership in 1980 before coaching Dimboola in 1983-1984. Delahunty was elected to the lower house seat of Wimmera from 1999-2002 and with that abolished he served as member for Lowan from 2002-2014. He served as Minister for Sport, Recreation and Veteran Affairs from 2010-2014. Delahunty sister is Mary who was an ALP Minister from 1998-2006.

 

 

Geelong’s Neil Treizise [Source: Author]

Neil Trezise (Victoria, ALP)

185 games Geelong 1949-1959

Trezise was recruited from Redan and was a Geelong premiership player in 1951 and 1952. He was the member for Geelong West from 1964-1967 and then when Geelong West was abolished, he was member for Geelong North from 1967-1992. He was Minister for Sport and Recreation from 1982-1992. His son Ian was a member for Geelong in the upper house from 1999-2014.

 

 

John Galbally (Victoria, ALP)

7 games Collingwood 1933-1934

During Galbally’s time at Collingwood he acted as the club solicitor and was vice-president from 1951-1962. Galbally was elected to the upper house seat of Melbourne North and held this position from 1949-1979. He was minister for Electrical Undertakings and Forests from 1952-1955 and Labour and Industry from 1954-1955.

 

 

Bill McGrath (Victoria, National)

15 games South Melbourne 1959

McGrath was recruited from Minyip aged 23 and returned to the family farm after one year with the Swans. McGrath was elected to the upper house of  Lowan in 1979 and held it until 1992 before a redistribution pushed him to upper house seat of Wimmera from 1992-1999. McGrath was Minister for Agriculture from 1992-1996 and then Minister for Corrections and Police and Emergency Services from 1996-1999.

 

 

Murray Thompson (Victoria, Liberal)

14 games Richmond 1973-1976

Thompson missed all of 1974-1975 due to knee injuries which forced him to retire aged 23. He was elected to the lower house seat of Sandringham from 1992-2018. Thompson had many roles in the shadow ministry but was never a minister while in Government. Murray is the son of former premier Lindsay Thompson who was leader from June 1981 to April 1982.

Many politicians have been board members of football clubs, and it is an area I have not really researched. There has also been many that have been Number 1 ticket holders. For this exercise I have just listed four politicians that were Presidents of their club that I knew of the top of my head.

 

Jeff Kennett

Hawthorn President 2006-2011 and 2017-2022

Victorian Liberal MP from 1976-1999

Premier 1992-1999

 

 

John Olsen

Adelaide President 2020-

SANFL President from 2014-2020

South Australia MP from 1979-2002

Premier 1996-2001

 

 

Billy Snedden

Melbourne President 1981-1985

Federal Liberal MP from 1955-1983

Liberal Opposition Leader 1972-1975

 

 

Lindsay Tanner

Essendon President 2015-2020

Federal ALP MP from 1993-2010

Minister for Finance from 2007-2010

 

 

Commentators

Basil Zempilas

Channel 7 Caller from 2002-2021

State Liberal MP from 2025-

Opposition Leader WA 2025-

 

 

Ian Cover

Coodabeen Champions 1981-2023

Victoria Liberal Upper House MP 1996-2002

 

 

AFL players who were candidates:

Geoff Ablett (Victoria, Liberal)

229 games Hawthorn, Richmond, St Kilda 1973-1985

Ablett ran for the seat of Cranbourne in 2010 and 2014.

 

Paul Couch (Victoria, National)

259 games Geelong 1985-1997

Couch ran for the seat of Polwarth in the 1999 State Election.

 

Gary Cowton (Federal, Independent)

199 games North Melbourne, Footscray and South Melbourne 1971-1984

Cowton ran as an independent for the ACT Senate at the 2019 Federal Election.

 

Carl Ditterich (Victoria, Independent)

285 Games St Kilda and Melbourne 1963-1980

Ditterich stood as an independent candidate for Swan Hill at the 1999 Victorian State Election.

 

Jack Dyer (Victoria, ALP)

311 games Richmond 1931-1949

Dyer ran for the seat of Prahran at the 1967 State Election, where he lost to Sam Loxton.

 

Shaun Hart (Federal, Family First)

273 games Brisbane 1990-2004

Hart stood in the 2007 Federal Election as a candidate for a Queensland Senate spot.

 

Doug Hawkins (Federal, Palmer United Party)

350 games Footscray and Fitzroy 1978-1995

Hawkins was a candidate at the 2013 Federal Election for a Victorian Senate spot.

 

Des Headland (Federal, Palmer United Party)

166 games Brisbane and Fremantle 1999-2010

Headland was a candidate for the Western Australia seat of Durack at the 2013 Federal Election.

 

Max James (South Australia, Independent)

54 games South Melbourne/Sydney 1978-1982

James ran in the 2010 State Election for the seat of Port Adelaide.

 

Peter Jones (Victoria, Liberal)

249 games Carlton 1966-1979

Jones ran for the Victorian seat of Melbourne in 1985 State Election. Jones ran on the campaign “Point Percy to Parliament”.

 

Anthony Koutoufides (Federal, Independent)

278 games Carlton 1992-2007

Koutoufides is standing in the 2025 Federal Election for the seat of Melbourne.

 

Steven Oliver (Victoria, National)

13 games Carlton 1992-1994

Oliver ran for the 2010 State Election for the seat of Bendigo West.

 

Nigel Smart (South Australia, Liberal)

278 games Adelaide 1991-2004

Smart ran for the 2006 State Election for the seat of Norwood.

 

Scott Turner (Victoria, National)

144 Games Richmond 1991-1999

Turner ran for the seat of Ripon at the 2014 Victoria State Election.

 

Doug Wade (Victoria, Country/National)

267 Games Geelong & North Melbourne 1961-1975

Wade ran for the seat of Polwarth in the 1970 State Election.

 

David Wirrpanda (Federal, National)

227 games West Coast 1996-2009

Wirrpanda ran in 2013 Federal Election for a spot in the Senate for Western Australia.

 

 

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