Almanac Teams: Forgotten Fathers

 

 

This side is based on players since 1980 who had fathers that played in the VFL/AFL but are lesser known or perhaps even forgotten.

 

The criteria is based that the father must have played at least one game and the sons were established players. For example if a father played 20 games and son played 20 games I have not put them in for consideration.

 

Apart from Brown and Whitnall these players did not qualify as Father-Son picks. When Brown and Whitnall were drafted the requirement was 50 games it is now 100 games. If there was no limit can you imagine Warren Tredrea at Collingwood, Matthew Lloyd and Brett Deledio at Carlton, Brayden Maynard and Scott Wynd at Melbourne or Garry Lyon at Hawthorn?

 

Please feel free to comment I have missed and please feel free to make suggestions even if prior to 1980.

 

 

FB:           Brayden Maynard (Coll)                 Sam De Koning (Geel)                   Nick Smith (Syd)

 

CHB:      Cameron Guthrie (Geel)                 Jeremy McGovern (WCE)             Tim McGrath (NM/Geel)

 

C:           Dennis Carroll (Syd)                        Daniel Hannebery (Syd/St.K)       Brett Deledio (Rich/GWS)

 

CHF:       James Hird (Ess)                             Jonathan Brown (Bris)                   Garry Lyon (Melb)

 

FF:          Shai Bolton (Rich)                           Matthew Lloyd (Ess)                       Warren Tredrea (PA)

 

Ruck:      Scott Wynd (Foots)                         Josh Kelly (GWS)                             Luke Ball (St.K/Coll)

 

Interchange: Liam Jones (WB/Carl), Gary O’Donnell (Ess), Liam Pickering (NM/Geel), Peter Russo (Haw/St.K)

 

Others:  Jonathon Ceglar (Haw/Geel), Justin Charles (WB/Rich), Chris Connolly (Melb) Nik Cox (Ess), Neil Clarke (Ess), Tory Dickson (WB), Andrew Gowers (Haw/Bris), Ryan Hargrave (WB), Elijah Hollands (GCS), Oliver Hollands (Carl), Peter Mann (NM/Freo), Brodie Mihocek (Coll), John Noble (Coll), Matteas Philippou (St.K), Ashley Prescott (Rich/Freo),  Xavier Tanner (NM/Melb), Tyrone Vickery (Rich/Haw), Lance Whitnall (Carl).

 

 

 

Brayden Maynard 165 games (2015- )

Father: Peter Maynard 8 games Melbourne (1980-1981)

While Peter only had two seasons at Melbourne, he did play 196 games at Glenelg and 21 for West Torrens. Brayden was All Australian in 2022.

 

 

Sam De Koning 27 games (2021- )

Father: Terry De Koning 31 games Footscray (1980-1982)

While Sam and brother Tom (currently 45 games at Carlton) are in their infancy of their careers, there is little doubt they will become very good players. Father Terry is best known as a ruck/defender with 15 games 1981 his best. Sam is 2022 premiership player and runner up in the Rising Star.

 

 

Nick Smith 211 games (2008-2019)

Father: Malcolm Smith 1 game St Kilda (1982)

Malcolm debuted aged 23 and had nine disposals in his only game. Nick is a 2012 premiership team member.

 

 

Cameron Guthrie 234 games (2011- )

Father: Andrew Merryweather 1 game Fitzroy (1982) 6 games Essendon (1988)

Andrew used his step-father’s surname of Merryweather while playing but later reverted to his birth surname of Guthrie. Zac has played 58 Games since 2017 and both sons are 2022 premiership players.

 

 

Jeremy McGovern 166 games (2014- )

Father: Andrew McGovern 20 games Sydney (1992-1993) 63 games Fremantle (1995-1998)

Andrew was one of the original Fremantle Dockers while Jeremy’s younger brother Mitch has played 92 games for Adelaide and Essendon since 2016. Jeremy is 2018 premiership player and four time All Australian.

 

 

Tim McGrath 226 games (1989-2002)

Father: Dennis McGrath 36 games North Melbourne (1965-1968)

Dennis was a ruck for North Melbourne. Tim won a Morrish Medal at North Melbourne before he went to Geelong.

 

 

Dennis Carroll 219 games (1981-1993)

Father: Laurie Carroll 11 games St Kilda (1948-1949)

Laurie’s brother Tom played 55 games for Carlton and won the 1961 Coleman Medal with 54 goals. Dennis captained the Swans from 1986-1992.

 

 

Daniel Hannebery 226 games (2009-2022)

Father: Matthew Hannebery 32 games Footscray (1986-1990)

Matthew’s brother Mark played 62 games for Collingwood and Essendon. Daniel was a 2012 premiership player, 2010 Rising Star and three time All Australian.

 

 

Brett Deledio 275 games (2005-2019)

Father: Wayne Deledio 1 game Carlton (1975)

Wayne played one game for one kick as the then 19^th man; he came onto the ground in the last quarter. Brett is  the 2005 Rising Star and a two time All Australian.

 

 

James Hird 253 games (1992-2007)

Father: Allan Hird Jnr 4 games Essendon (1966-1967)

Allan Hird Snr (James’s grandfather) played 154 games at Hawthorn, Essendon and St Kilda. 102 of those were with Essendon. He was on Essendon’s committee from 1955-1975 and served as president from 1969-1975; he also has a grandstand at Windy Hill named after him. James is a 1993 and 2000 premiership player, was captain from 1998-2005, 1996 Brownlow Medallist and five time All Australian.

 

 

 

Jonathan Brown 256 games (2000-2014)

Father: Brian Brown 51 games Fitzroy (1976-1981) 2 games Essendon (1982)

Jonathon is the last player to be picked up as Father-Son selection under the previous 50 game rule. Jonathan is a three time premiership player, two time All Australian and was Brisbane captain from 2009-2012.

 

 

Garry Lyon 226 games 1988-1995

Father: Peter Lyon 16 games Hawthorn (1962-1964)

Peter was a member of Hawthorn’s 1963 Grand Final side. Garry captained Melbourne from 1991-1997 and is a three time All Australian.

 

 

Shai Bolton 94 games (2017- )

Father: Darren Bolton Fremantle 2 games (1999)

Darren won a Best & Fairest at Peel before he was rookie listed by Fremantle. Shai is a two time premiership player and 2022 All Australian.

 

 

Matthew Lloyd 270 games (1995-2009)

Father: John Lloyd 29 games Carlton (1965-1967)

John moved to Eaglehawk after 16 games in 1967 and coached Braybrook to premierships from 1973-1975. Matthew was premiership player in 2000, five time All Australian, three time Coleman Medallist and captain from 2006-2009.

 

 

 

Warren Tredrea 255 games (1997-2010)

Father: Gary Tredrea 19 games Collingwood (1970-1972)

Gary was recruited from Collingwood’s zone of Reservoir and moved to South Australia where he played 65 games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL. Warren is a 2004 premiership player and captain, four time All Australian and skipper from 2006-2008.

 

 

Scott Wynd 237 games (1988-2000)

Father: Garrey Wynd 2 games Melbourne (1966)

Garrey was a centre and debuted at age 19. Scott won the 1992 Brownlow Medallist, was an All Australian and captain from 1994-2000. Brother Paul played three games in 1997 for North Melbourne.

 

 

 

Josh Kelly 179 games (2014- )

Father: Phil Kelly 61 games North Melbourne (1981-1985)

Phil won the Sandover Medal in 1978 and 1979 for East Perth. Josh is a 2017 All Australian and was co-captain in 2022.

 

 

 

 

Luke Ball 223 games (2003-2014)

Father: Ray Ball 12 games Richmond (1969-1970) 43 games South Melbourne (1971-1974)

Ray coached Carlton’s U19s and was an assistant coach at Sydney. Luke was a Collingwood premiership player in 2010, All Australian in 2005 and St Kilda captain in 2006-2007.

 

 

Liam Jones 165 games (2010-2021, 2023- )

Father: Bob Jones 20 games St Kilda (1988-1989)

Bob was 26 when he debuted for the Saints and retired after injuring his knee in Round 1, 1989. Liam started his career at the Western Bulldogs before he went to Carlton and then came back to the Bulldogs.

 

 

Gary O’Donnell 243 games (1987-1998)

Father: Graeme O’Donnell 7 games Geelong (1961-1962) 16 games North Melbourne (1963-1964)

Graeme’s mother is the daughter of Geelong legend Teddy Rankin who played 180 games from 1897-1910, and her brothers are: Bert Rankin 132 games 1912-1923, Cliff Rankin 153 games 1915-1928 and Doug Rankin 9 games 1938-1939. Gary is a premiership player and was captain from 1996-1997, his sisters Shelley and Wendy were champion netballers with Wendy is married to star cricketer Damien Fleming – their daughter Jasmine plays for Hawthorn’s AFLW side.

 

 

Liam Pickering 124 games (1989-1999)

Father: Michael Pickering 6 games North Melbourne (1961-1962)

Michael was a ruck for North Melbourne. Liam was Best & Fairest at Geelong in 1997.

 

 

Peter Russo 195 games (1978-1990)

Father: Felix Russo 14 games St Kilda (1950-1951)

Felix is the grandfather of Luke Ball and Josh Kennedy from Hawthorn/Sydney.  Peter was a two time premiership player at Hawthorn.

 

 

Others

Jonathon Ceglar 105 games (2013- )

Father: David Ceglar 7 games North Melbourne (1986-1987)

David was a tall defender for North Melbourne. Jonathon was replaced in the 2015 Grand Final by Ben McEvoy.

 

 

Justin Charles 90 games (1989-1998)

Father: John Charles 17 games Footscray (1964-1966)

John’s brother Norm played five games from 1950-1951. Justin polled 17 votes in the 1996 Brownlow, four behind the winners.

 

 

Chris Connolly 84 games (1982-1989)

Father: Barry Connolly 13 games Footscray (1958)

Barry kicked three goals in his first and second matches. While Chris’s career was injury plagued he did coach Fremantle to their first finals campaign, he was coach from 2002-2007.

 

 

Nik Cox 27 games (2021- )

Father: Darryl Cox 16 games Fitzroy (1980-1983) 13 games Melbourne (1984-1986) 1 game Brisbane (1987)

Eight games in 1980 was the most by Darryl in a year. Nik at 200cm has been playing on a wing, looks an exciting talent though due to injury has not played since Round 7, 2022.

 

 

Neil Clarke 135 games (1977-1987)

Father: Fred Clarke 21 games Richmond (1951-1953)

Fred wore Number 17 at Richmond after Jack Dyer. Neil was a two time premiership player.

 

 

Tory Dickson 114 games (2012-2020)

Father: Glenn Dickson 11 games Richmond (1977-1978)

Glenn kicked four goals in his fifth match. Tory was a 2016 premiership player.

 

 

Andrew Gowers 140 games (1988-1999)

Father: Trevor Gowers 24 games Richmond (1964-1966)

Trevor was a wing like Andrew. Andrew is a premiership player and current Hawthorn president. Andrew’s son Billy also played for the Western Bulldogs.

 

 

Ryan Hargrave 203 games (2002-2012)

Father: Steve Hargrave 2 games Footscray (1982)

Steve played in two premierships with Perth and coached South Fremantle. Ryan was a reliable tall defender who was also a Rising Star nominee.

 

 

Elijah Hollands/Ollie Hollands

Elijah 9 games (2022- )

Ollie 4 games (2023- )

Father: Ben Hollands 8 games Richmond (1999)

Ben kicked a goal with seconds left to beat Fremantle. Elijah and Ollie while just in their infancy are high draft picks who look very good.

 

 

Peter Mann 116 games (1991-1999)

Father: Ken Mann 13 games St Kilda (1965-1966)

Ken played three games in the Saints’ sole premiership year. Peter was Fremantle captain from 1997-1998.

 

 

Brodie Mihocek 106 games (2018- )

Father: Jack Mihocek 13 games Essendon (1976-1978)

Jack was a half forward/rover. Brodie has been Collingwood’s leading goal kicker four times.

 

 

John Noble 73 games (2019- )

Father: David Noble 2 games Fitzroy (1991)

David coached North Melbourne from 2021-2022 after a career in football admin at the Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Brisbane. David was picked up by Collingwood in the 2019 mid-season draft.

 

 

Mattaes Philippou 4 games (2023- )

Father: Sam Philippou 3 games Footscray (1995)

Sam was a CHF. Matteas may be speculative at this point but is an exciting first year prospect who has a Rising Star nomination already.

 

 

Ashley Prescott 130 games (1993-2001)

Father: David Prescott 13 games St Kilda (1960-1961)

David was a wing, Ashley has coached Claremont and was an assistant at Essendon, Gold Coast and Fremantle.

 

 

Xavier Tanner 111 games (1975-1985)

Father: Gerald Tanner 1 game Richmond (1941)

Gerald passed away last year at the grand old age of 100. Xavier was a premiership player at North Melbourne.

 

 

Tyrone Vickery 125 games (2009-2017)

Father: John Vickery 4 games Collingwood (1971-1972)

John Vickery was a fitness advisor at Richmond for many years including during Tyrone’s stint at Richmond. Tyrone’s best haul in a game is six goals.

 

 

Lance Whitnall 216 games (1997-2007)

Father: Graeme Whitnall 66 games Carlton (1974-1981)

Graeme was best first year player in 1974. Lance is an All Australian and 2007 captain.

 

 

 

 

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