Almanac Teams: Hindsight’s always 50/50; Obscure 50+ (1980- )

 

 

 

 

A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 50+ jumper since 1980.

 

 

Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 50+, 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

 

 

This is the last obscure team and final of the series of teams from 1 to 50+. I will have some different pieces next year. I appreciate those who have read these teams and any comments that have been made. There has being some research work involved in these teams, finding out stuff I had been unaware of and I have loved doing it. I want to thank John Harms for The Footy Almanac website that allows novices like myself that are not trained writers to put my love of sport into the universe by publishing these novelty teams online. I really want to give a big thanks to Jarrod Landells for all the support he has given me and for the fantastic editing he has done; I know I am not a wordsmith like others and realise my work needs a bit of polish. I have also loved his enthusiasm for my teams and his weekly summary and team title which he does himself and I have found very amusing. Happy reading and have a Great Christmas and New Year.

 

 

Hope you enjoy and have enjoyed the rest.

 

 

FB:        Jason Croall (Coll)                      Rick Kennedy (Foots)            Mark Roberts (Syd)

 

CHB:    Mark Pitura (Rich)                      Tim McGrath (NM)                Gerard Toohey (Geel)

 

C:          Mark Dwyer (Fitz)                       Jamie Siddons (Syd)              Andrew Witts (Coll)

 

CHF:    Paul Earley (Melb) `                    Matthew Vane (St.K)             Chris Pym (Rich)

 

FF:        Stephen Anderson (Coll)            Craig Davis (Syd)                   Relton Roberts (Rich)

 

Ruck:    Enrico Misso (St.K)                     Garry Hocking (Geel)           Corey Bell (Bris)

 

Interchange: Brent Heaver (Melb/Carl), Declan Mountford (WCE), Greg Sizer (Melb) Lazar Vidovic (St.K)

 

Emergency: Geoff Allardice (Melb)

 

No players from Adelaide, Essendon, Fremantle, Gold Coast, GWS, Hawthorn or Port Adelaide.

 

 

 

Games in Number 50+ (Years played)

Jason Croall (#56) 17 (1987)

Rick Kennedy (#54) 14 (1981)

Mark Roberts (#51) 6 (1985)

Mark Pitura (#50) 2 (1993)

Tim McGrath (#51) 3 (1989)

Gerard Toohey (#56) 1 (1985)

Mark Dwyer (#58) 11 (1986)

Jamie Siddons (#50) 2 (1984)

Andrew Witts (#65) 7 (1985)

Paul Earley (#56) 1 (1984)

Matthew Vane (#51) 6 (1980)

Chris Pym (#51) 15 (1988)

Stephen Anderson (#60) 4 (1991)

Craig Davis (#60) 9 (1988)

Relton Roberts (#50) 2 (2010)

Enrico Misso (#50) 1 (1985)

Garry Hocking (#51) 6 (1987)

Corey Bell (#51) 8 (1991)

Brent Heaver (#54) 9 at Melbourne (1990) (#55) 2 at Carlton (1992)

Declan Mountford (#52) 2 (2022)

Greg Sizer (#57) 1 (1986)

Lazar Vidovic (#58) 1 (1989) (#50) 9 (1991)

Geoff Allardice (#50) 0 1987

 

 

 

Jason Croall – Croall was captain of Collingwood’s victorious U19 team in 1986. The team contained 11 players that went on to play in the VFL/AFL; ten of them made their debut the next year and players like Crosisca, Brown, McGuane and Monkhorst appeared in the 1990 Premiership. Croall debuted aged 19 in Round 2, 1987 and played 15 games in a row, with a best return of 20 disposals and one goal against Footscray. He moved to Number 8 in 1988 and played 11 games in 1988 including Rounds 11-18 and 22 but was dropped for the finals. Croall played only nine games between 1989-1992 with just two in Rounds 2 and 3 of the premiership year. He was delisted at the end of 1992 and finished with 37 career games; he then moved to Sandringham in the VFA/VFL.

 

 

Rick Kennedy – Ricky Kennedy like peers Mick Martyn, Danny Hughes, Rod Carter was the prototype Full Back of the 1980s; they were mean, hated Full Forwards and like to punch from behind. Kennedy came to Footscray from their Traralgon Zone and debuted at age 20 in Round 3, 1981 against Melbourne. He had 21 disposals on debut and the following week had career high 25. Kennedy played 14 games in 1981 and got 20+ disposals four times, but after that he only got over 20+ disposals another five times in 144 games. Kennedy was a very good FB and moved to Number 8 in 1982; he was captain of Footscray from 1986-1988 and played for Victoria in 1986. In 158 games he kicked 34 goals which included five goals twice in 1984 against Melbourne and 1988 against Richmond.

 

 

Mark Roberts – Roberts started off at Sydney as a 19 year old in 1985, he had been recruited from St George in the NSWAFL. 189cm and 104kg when he started, Roberts had the nickname of ‘The Fridge’. He kicked 3.3 on debut but then had stints as a tall defender/third tall or FB. After 18 games in two seasons, Roberts was traded to Brisbane for their inaugural season where he mainly played as a tall defender over 59 games and 14 goals. Roberts was traded to North Melbourne in 1991 and had slimmed down to 92kg and reinvented himself as a mobile half forward alongside Carey, Longmire and McKernan often in the same forward line. He played 125 games for North Melbourne for 150 goals with 47 goals in 1993 his best year and five goals in a match his best. Roberts was a premiership player in 1996 where he kicked two goals; he finished with 202 games.

 

 

Mark Pitura – Pitura had the option of joining Richmond or Sydney as a Father-Son pick, he went to the Tigers in 1992. In 1993 Richmond made the final of the preseason competition and Pitura was one of their best players in the first three games. Pitura was named for Round 1, 1993 against Adelaide for his debut where he had seven disposals in a 94 point loss. He was dropped but was recalled for Round 6 against Melbourne where he had nine disposals in a 93 point win. This was Pitura last game in the AFL, though he played for Richmond in a 1994 exhibition match in London before he was delisted upon his return. He later played for Essendon as a supplementary listed player before being drafted by Collingwood in the 1996 Preseason Draft, but he did not play a game.

 

 

Tim McGrath – McGrath won the Morrish Medal in 1988 for North Melbourne and debuted in Round 9, 1989 against Brisbane as an 18 year old. McGrath played Rounds 9-11 in 1989 but did not play in 1990. In 1991 McGrath wore Number 21 and played the last four games of the year, his best game totalled 16 disposals. He was delisted after 1991 and picked up by Geelong with Pick 12 of the 1992 Preseason Draft. Selected in Round 1, 1992 against Hawthorn, he was given the job on Jason Dunstall who kicked 12 goals in what was a 20 point loss for the Cats. The following week McGrath played on Allen Jakovich who kicked seven in an eight point loss for the Cats…fortunately the next game was against then bunnies Richmond; Geelong won by 20 goals and McGrath was one of the best. McGrath was runner up in the 1992 Best & Fairest and played 219 games for Geelong (226 in total), perhaps best known for his match ups with Wayne Carey. His last game was as captain of the 2002 Geelong Reserves premiership side which included names Ablett, Bartel, Chapman, Hunt, Johnson and Kelly.

 

 

Gerard Toohey – Gerard is three years younger than brother Bernard and at 175cm was 13cm shorter. Gerard debuted in Round 13, 1985 aged 18 against Collingwood as one of five inclusions. Bernard was one of the outs for the match due to suspension. Gerard had nine disposals but was dropped the next week. He stayed on Geelong’s list for 1986 but never added to his one game and went on play for West Torrens and West Adelaide in the SANFL.

 

 

Mark Dwyer – Mark Dwyer started the 1986 season playing for Koroit when he was invited by Fitzroy to have a run in the Reserves; the Lions were keen to look at him for maybe next year. In his second Reserves games Dwyer got 40 disposals; he was picked for his Senior debut in Round 15 against Carlton aged 21. Dwyer stayed in Koroit and trained with them on Tuesday nights and Fitzroy on Thursday. Dwyer had 28 disposals and kicked two goals on debut and earned one Brownlow vote. He stood out with his long sleeves, scruffy hair and Number 58. Dwyer polled Brownlow votes in his first five games with seven votes including one best on – he had a further three votes in his seventh game. Coming into the 1986 Finals Dwyer had played eight games and averaged 21 disposals, he even played another game for Koroit during a split round. He played in all of Fitzroy’s finals with the semi his best with 19 disposals. On Brownlow night Dwyer polled 10 votes; only seven behind winners Greg Williams and Robert DiPierdomenico. Dwyer moved to Number 8 in 1987 but a preseason injury and an Achilles tear in his second game restricted him to two games and then mid 1988 he was traded to St Kilda where he played just one game. It was all over in 2.5 years for Dwyer after 14 games, two clubs, three finals and ten Brownlow votes.

 

 

Jamie Siddons – Siddons joined Sydney from Robinvale and debuted as a 20 year old against Richmond in Round 17, 1984 where he had eight disposals. He played the following week against North Melbourne where he had 16 disposals and kicked a goal. Siddons was named the next week but did not play…indeed he did not play another senior match. Instead Siddons debuted for Victoria in a tour match against West Indies in November 1984, scored 35 and made his Sheffield Shield debut in January 1985. Siddons is probably the best player never to play test cricket for Australia’s men’s side in my lifetime (certainly since 1980). He toured Pakistan in 1988 and played one ODI where he made 32 runs. Sadly for Siddons his 1988-1989 Shield form was poor; an average of 34 with just one hundred meant he missed a tour to England as players like Moody, M.Waugh, Lehmann moved ahead of him and later Bevan, Martyn, Langer, Blewett and Ponting emerged. He made 10,643 Shield runs (then a record) at an average of 44 with 35 hundreds, three double tons and a best of 245; he was also an outstanding cover and slips fielder. In 1990-1991 Siddons won a Sheffield Shield for Victoria where he made 124* in the run chase. Siddons shifted to South Australia as captain for the next season and suffered a broken jaw from a Merv Hughes bouncer (which set Siddons back). He was also Shield player of the year in 1992-1993 with 1,190 runs at an average of 66 but missed an Ashes tour due to the glut of batters in Australia despite being only 29. Siddons captained South Australia to a Shield victory in 1995-1996 and then coached at Australia’s academy and the Bangladesh national team.

 

 

Andrew Witts – Witts is recognised as the player to wear the highest number in a VFL/AFL game, (not counting Indigenous players who wore Number 67 as one off commemoration in 2017). He joined Collingwood from Old Melburnians mid-year and debuted Round 15, 1985 aged 23. Witts played seven games from Rounds 15-21 with a best of 17 disposals. He was listed for 1986 as Number 18 but did not play a game.

 

 

Paul Earley – Earley missed the tryouts to play in the VFL in 1982 due to an ankle injury but was given a personal tryout once fit and was given a two year scholarship. Earley came over in mid 1983 and played the season out in the U19s. In 1984 he played Reserves until a Round 22 debut against Richmond aged 20; he had nine disposals and kicked a goal. Earley returned to Ireland while the Reserves finals were on due to homesickness. Earley is recognised as the first Irishman to sign and play in the VFL/AFL. He played International Rules in 1987 and coached Ireland in 2013 and 2014 series. Earley gets in as the ‘token Irish’ representative ahead of Dermott McNicholl of St Kilda who wore Number 60 for three games in 1990.

 

 

Matthew Vane – Vane was 19 years old when he made his debut for St Kilda in Round 14 in a five point win against Essendon. He played six games out of seven between Rounds 14-20 and had a best game of 23 disposals. Vane must have showed show promise as he was considered good enough to have his own footy card in 1981. I have a copy and had always wondered who he was as I had never heard of his deed before this side was put together! Vane wore Number 40 in 1981 but did not play a game and he was not listed in 1982 in the Record.

 

 

Chris Pym – Pym joined Richmond U19s from Wycheproof-Narraport in 1984 but had to wait until Round 8, 1988 aged 22 to play his first senior game. Once in Pym played the remaining 15 games of 1988; in his fifth game in Round 12 against Carlton he announced himself as a player to watch. Richmond were the reigning wooden spooners, on the bottom of the ladder and faced Carlton (1987 Premiers) who were second on the ladder. Pym was named best on ground in the newspapers in a 17 point win for the Tigers; he had 27 disposals and three goals. He kicked 12 goals in his 15 games. Pym moved to Number 10 in 1989 but only played ten games for one goal. He missed most of 1990-1991 due to injuries and was delisted at the end of the year.

 

 

Stephen Anderson – Anderson stood at just 170cm and had the nickname ‘Shorty’. He was drafted from South Warrnambool – where he was already a legend – with Pick 26 in the 1990 Midseason Draft. Anderson joined Collingwood for the following preseason and debuted for the reigning premiers aged 23 in Round 3 against Fitzroy. He gathered 24 disposals and kicked a goal. Anderson played four games for Collingwood with the last in Round 10; he kicked two goals and averaged 18 disposals. He also won the 1991 Gardiner Medal, all of which was enough for him to stay on the Pies’ list in 1992 but he did not play another game.

 

 

 

Craig Davis – Davis started his career at Carlton aged 18 in 1973 and played 42 games from 1973-1975 for 72 goals with his fifth game a Grand Final. He then played ten games for 20 goals at North Melbourne from 1977-1978. Davis joined Collingwood next, from 1979-1983, ran out for 102 games and kicked 251 goals which included 88 in 1979. Davis retired after 1983 and moved to Sydney and work as a skills coach, runner and an assistant coach to Tommy Hafey. With Warwick Capper out of Sydney, Davis was asked to return aged 33. He played the first seven games of the year and then Round 13-14, a total of nine games for 17 goals with his best haul four goals in Round 1 against Footscray. Davis ended up with 163 games for 360 goals, while his son Nick played for Collingwood and Sydney and won a premiership for the latter.

 

 

Relton Roberts – With Pick 38 in the 2009 Rookie Draft Richmond chose Relton Roberts from the NT Thunder. Roberts must have impressed during preseason as he was selected in Round 1, 2010 against Carlton aged 24. He had seven disposals, missed the following week due to a club imposes suspension and then play in Round 3 where he had six touches and suffered mild concussion after a head knock. A cult figure for his high number, visible level of fitness and being caught on camera eating a hamburger before a VFL match, Roberts unfortunately struggled with homesickness and the rigours of being an AFL footballer; he returned back to the NT in July, 2010. He played on in the Territory and also several games in Victoria for Walla Walla, Ouyen United, Horsham and Euroa.

 

 

 

Enrico Misso – Misso started at Essendon originally, he had come from Ringwood but never got to play a senior game with Simon Madden and Paul Salmon at the club. He moved to St Kilda and when he made his senior debut in Round 13, 1985 against Carlton he became the first Sri Lankan-born player to appear in the VFL/AFL. Misso came in for Allan Sidebottom and had 11 disposals and eight hit outs, however Sidebottom came back into the side the following week; Misso was dropped and never played another game. Misso coached the Sri Lankan team in the last International Cup in 2017.

 

 

Garry Hocking – Garry was three years younger and the same height as brother Steven. Hocking debuted in Round 3, 1987 aged 18 and played six games for the year with his best game being Round 22 where he had 21 disposals and kicked a goal. In 1988 Hocking moved to Number 32 and became one of the champions of the game, known for hardness at the ball and his permed mullet. He played 274 games for 243 goals from 1987-2001, won four Best & Fairests and four All Australians in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1996. Hocking also finished top three in the Brownlow four times. He was appointed captain in 1995, however he resigned mid 1995, before he became stand in captain in 1999 while Leigh Colbert was injured. Post playing he stepped into coaching for the Geelong Falcons, Peel Thunder, South Adelaide, Collingwood VFL, Port Adelaide SANFL and when Matthew Primus was sacked as coach of Port Adelaide, four Power games for three loses and a draw. Garry was commonly known as ‘Buddha’ Hocking however mid 1999 Geelong were in a lot of financial trouble and received a financial proposal from Whiskas the cat food company for one of their players to change their names to Whiskas. Although the amount was not disclosed Geelong and Garry Hocking accepted and Hocking changed his named by deed poll to ‘Whiskas’, this was not acknowledged by the AFL or the media and he was still referred as Garry Hocking in the Football Record, team lists in the paper and the broadcast.

 

 

Corey Bell – Bell was a cult figure for the fact he looked like a little league player, as he was very light at 165cm and 59kg when he debut. Bell was 18 when he debut in Round 10, 1991 against Richmond where he had 16 disposals. Bell played eight games in 1991 for two goals with a best game of 23 disposals and one goal against North Melbourne. He played in the 1991 Reserves Premiership and was named third best for Brisbane. Bell moved to Number 15 in 1992 but did not play another game and was delisted at the end of the year. He later worked as a Game Development Manager at AFL Queensland and Business Development Manager at the Gold Coast Suns.

 

 

 

Brent Heaver – Heaver’s first game was in Round 11, 1990 against Carlton at the age of 18; he kicked five goals in a six point win. Heaver played nine games for the year and finished with ten goals but was dropped for the finals. In 1991 Heaver played only three games for two goals before he was delisted. He was picked up by Carlton (who had long memories from his debut game) with Pick 10 in the 1992 Midseason Draft and played Rounds 15-16 – he kicked three goals in each match. In 1993 Heaver moved to Number 17 and played 23 games for 48 goals with three bags of five and he kicked one goal in the 1993 Grand Final. He was in and out of the side in 1994 and in 1995 he played Round 17-21 for seven goals but did not play in a final in Carlton’s premiership campaign…though he was emergency for each game. After 19 games in 1996 he was traded to Port Adelaide for Ben Nelson and Andrew Balkwill. Another eight games in each of his two years at Port Adelaide ended his career and Heaver retired with 92 games and 131 goals. Heaver is one of very few players I imagine that wore a jumper higher than Number 50 at two different clubs.

 

 

Declan Mountford – Mountford was drafted from Claremont with Pick 60 in the 2015 Draft. Mountford debuted in Round 1, 2017 and was dropped the following week, but he played the last 11 games to finish with 12 games and three goals with a best game of 19 disposals. However Mountford did not play in 2018 and was delisted. He was added to West Coast’s Covid-19 top up list and was named emergency in Round 2 against his old team North Melbourne. West Coast had already made 13 changes from Round 1 due to Covid-19 when Jackson Nelson was withdrawn moments before the start of the game after an injury in the warmup. The change was so late he shared a goods lift with Fox Commentator Dermott Brereton who was on his way to the commentator’s box. Brereton apparently said ‘The game has started’ when he got in the lift and Mountford was still in his civvies on the way to get changed. Mountford had 12 disposals and kicked a goal, in Round 8 he was the sub against Brisbane – he came on and had eight disposals.

 

 

Greg Sizer – Sizer was recruited mid 1986 to Melbourne from Geelong West and made his debut aged 21 in Round 22 against Carlton. Sizer had 15 disposals and kicked 1.1. He moved to Number 46 in 1987 but did not play a game and was delisted. In 1988 Sizer went across to the USA where he was a caddy at Augusta. It seems he got to caddy for the ‘Golden Bear’ Jack Nicklaus (I’m unsure when, but this was a huge honour considering he was Masters Champion only two years prior). Sizer returned to play for Werribee in 1989-1990 and in 2021 sadly passed away aged 55.

 

 

Lazar Vidovic – Vidovic was originally from Castlemaine and was rejected by Carlton before North Melbourne picked him up, but he did not play a game. Vidovic was drafted with Pick 43 in the 1989 Preseason Draft and debuted in Number 58 aged 24 in Round 15 against Fitzroy where he had 14 disposals and eight hit outs. He did not play in 1990 but did earn a lower number in Number 50 and is the only player I could see since 1980 to wear two numbers at the same club that was 50 or over. Vidovic played nine games in 1991 and had his best game for the year against Adelaide with 22 disposals and 22 hit outs. In 1992 he moved to Number 9 and played 17 games. Vidovic ended up playing 80 games until 1997. Sadly Vidovic’s last game was a Preliminary Final in 1997, where he ruptured his ACL. He was 32 and the number one ruck as Peter Everitt was injured in the Qualifying Final, but cruely the Saints’ ruck injury run worsened.

 

 

 

Geoff Allardice – Allardice is the emergency of the team. Allardice was 20 years old in 1987 and had some good form for Melbourne Reserves late in the season and was named emergency in the semi final despite not having played a game. With injuries to a few players in the Preliminary Final, if Melbourne had held onto Allardice he may have been in the frame for a Grand Final debut. Allardice did earn a trip and a game for Melbourne against North Melbourne in Vancouver during the post season. He was listed in Number 32 in 1988 but did not play a game. Allardice played 14 games of cricket for Victoria from 1991-1994 at an average of 33 with a best of 115. Post playing Allardice worked for Cricket Australia as Umpires Manager then Cricket Operations Manager which meant he worked on scheduling, undertaking pre-trips ahead of the Australian side’s own trips. He then joined the ICC, firstly to appoint the umpires and officials for 2015 World Cup, then became General Manager of the ICC and in November 2021 CEO of the ICC, having served as acting CEO since March.

 

 

 

Some of the forgotten Number 50s plus are: Ashley Fernee (Adel), Simon Luhrs (Bris), Heath Culpitt (Carl), Allen Eade (Coll), Brendan Moore (Ess), Andrew Veal (Fitz), Tony Malakellis (Geel), Jeremy Taylor (GCS), Shane McGrath (Haw), Trevor Korn (Melb), Steven Venner (NM), Dean Notting (Rich), Aldo DiPetta (St.K), Mark Whitzell (Syd), Kevin Sait and Frank Lesiputty (Foots).