This week’s side is based on players who have changed clubs to join a team that would win a premiership that year. This time I have gone back to players that are from 1980 as there are enough to feature. If I have missed any, please let me know.
FB: James Frawley Mal Michael Brett James
CHB: Oleg Markov Brian Lake Martin Pike
C: Josh Caddy Dion Prestia Clay Sampson
CHF: Blake Caracella Tom Lynch Bobby Hill
FF: John Barnes Ben Brown Peter Bell
Ruck: Darren Jolly Tom Mitchell Luke Ball
Interchange: Matt Clape, Glenn Manton, Ben McEvoy, Toby Nankervis
Sub: Jonathan Simpkin
Others – Steven Armstrong, Mario Bortolotto, Billy Frampton, Paul Harding, Peter Welsh
Coach – David Parkin
Not quite qualified – Stuart Dew, Josh Mahoney and James Thiessen
James Frawley
139 Games Melbourne 2007-2014
100 Games Hawthorn 2015-2020
Premiership player 2015
2 Games St Kilda 2021
Frawley was Pick 12 in the 2006 draft and played in 34 wins at Melbourne in 139 games before joining Hawthorn for 2015 as a free agent. At Hawthorn Frawley played 18 games in 2015 for 13 wins and would play in a premiership at the age of 27.
Mal Michael
61 Games Collingwood 1997-2000
140 Games Brisbane 2001-2006
Premiership player 2001, 2002 and 2003
37 Games Essendon 2007-2008
Mal Michael was originally drafted with Pick 6 in the 1996 Rookie Draft, and he became the first player from a rookie list to play a senior game. At the age of 23 Michael was traded to Brisbane with Pick 22 for Jarrod Molloy. Michael would play 140 out of a possible 145 games at Brisbane winning three premierships. After retiring at the end of 2006, Michael would be drafted by Essendon where he had two seasons.
Brett James
42 Games Collingwood 1994-1996
76 Games Adelaide 1997-2000
Premiership player 1997 and 1998
James was drafted by Collingwood with Pick 31 in the 1992 draft. James would play 42 games in three years with his debut year the best playing 17 games. James was 23 when he would seek a trade home to Adelaide at the end of 1996 in which Collingwood would receive Jonathon Ross. James played seventeen games in 1997 but after playing in Round 20 he would not play again until the Grand Final. James had 15 disposals in 1997 premiership. In 1998 he played 23 games and had 17 disposals and one goal in 1998 premiership.
Oleg Markov
23 Games Richmond 2016-2020
28 Games Gold Coast 2021-2022
43 Games Collingwood 2023-2025
Premiership player 2023
Markov was an emergency for Richmond in the 2020 premiership but would move to Gold Coast for more opportunities. After two seasons at Gold Coast, he was delisted but at the age of 26, Markov received an opportunity at Collingwood as a SSP selection. Markov would play 23 games a career best in 2023 and would have 12 disposals in Collingwood 2023 premiership.
Brian Lake
197 Games Western Bulldogs 2002-2012
54 Games Hawthorn 2013-2015
Premiership player 2013, 2014 and 2015
Lake was drafted by the Bulldogs with Pick 71 in the 2001 draft. Lake would play 197 games and win a Best and Fairest and two All Australian jumpers at the Bulldogs. At the age of 30 Lake was traded to Hawthorn with pick 27 for Picks 21 and 43. Lake would play 21 games in 2013 and would win the Norm Smith Medal with 22 disposals and 10 marks. Lake would also win premierships in 2014 and 2015 where he was still among Hawthorn’s best before retiring after 2015 premiership.
Martin Pike
24 Games Melbourne 1993-1994
36 Games Fitzroy 1995-1996
81 Games North Melbourne 1997-2000
106 Games Brisbane 2001-2005
Premiership player 2001, 2002 and 2003
Pike was Pick 9 in the 1992 draft for Melbourne and after an impressive sixteen games in 1994, Pike was traded to Fitzroy because of off field issues. Pike had two seasons at Fitzroy before they merged and would win their last ever Best and Fairest. Pike had four seasons and a premiership in 1999 at North Melbourne before he was delisted again for off field issues. Pike was 28 when he was drafted by Brisbane with Pick 33 in the 2000 draft and would play 22 games in 2001 and every game in 2002 and 2003 to become a four time premiership player. Pike’s best Grand Final was 2003 where he had 16 disposals and kicked a goal.
Josh Caddy
24 Games Gold Coast 2011-2012
71 Games Geelong 2013-2016
79 Games Richmond 2017-2022
Premiership player 2017 and 2019
Caddy was drafted as an inaugural Gold Coast Sun with Pick 7 in 2010. After 22 games in 2012, Caddy requested a trade back to Victoria which was to be Geelong for a first and third round selection. At the age of 24 Caddy was traded from Geelong to Richmond for Picks 24 and 64. Caddy played 22 games in 2017 and would have 12 disposals and a goal and then 19 disposals in 2019. Caddy was named emergency in the 2020 premiership.
Dion Prestia
95 Games Gold Coast 2011-2016
142 Games Richmond 2017-
Premiership player 2017, 2019 and 2020
Prestia was drafted as an inaugural Gold Coast Sun with Pick 9 in 2010. Prestia was a regular for the Suns except for 2015-16 where he had injury interrupted seasons. Prestia was 24 when moved to Richmond for Pick 6 at the end of 2016. Prestia played 22 games in 2017 and had 27 disposals and kicked one goal in the premiership. In 2019 Prestia had 22 disposals and would go on and win the Best and Fairest in a premiership season. Prestia was restricted by injury and did not play a game between Round 5 and the Qualifying Final. Prestia had 14 disposals and two goals in the 2020 premiership.
Clay Sampson
13 Games Melbourne 1995-1996
24 Games Adelaide 1997-1998
Premiership player 1997
27 Games Richmond 1999-2000
Sampson was drafted with pick 51 in 1994 draft. Sampson would play five and then eight games in his two seasons at Melbourne. Sampson was traded at the of 1996 for Nick Pesch. Sampson played ten games in 1997 all of them from Round 17. In the 1997 premiership Sampson had a quiet match with just one handball. Sampson played 14 games in 1998 but was delisted at the end of the year. Sampson would be drafted by Richmond with Pick 6 in 1999 pre-season draft where he would play 27 games.
Blake Caracella
126 Games Essendon 1997-2002
34 Games Brisbane 2003-2004
Premiership player 2003
27 Games Collingwood 2005-2006
Caracella was drafted with Pick 10 in the 1994 draft but had to wait until 1997 to make his debut. Caracella would play in the 2000 premiership kicking three goals from 21 disposals. Caracella was traded at the age of 25 to Brisbane at the end of 2002 for Pick 15 and Damian Cupido as Essendon having Salary Cap Issues. Caracella had 16 disposals and kicked two goals in the 2003 premiership. At the end of 2004 Caracella left Brisbane due to contract issues and was picked up by Collingwood with Pick 2 in 2005 Pre-Season Draft.
Tom Lynch
131 Games Gold Coast 2011-2018
106 Games Richmond 2019-
Premiership player 2019 and 2020
Lynch was picked up by Gold Coast with Pick 11 and had a great record there as an All Australian, Best and Fairest winner and club captain between 2017-18. Lynch would join Richmond aged 26 at the end of 2018 as a Free Agent. Lynch played every game in 2019 and would kick two goals in the 2019 premiership from 13 disposals. In 2020 Lynch missed just two games and kicked one goal from eight disposals in the grand final.
Bobby Hill
41 Games Greater Western Sydney 2019-2022
61 Games Collingwood 2023-
Premiership player 2023
Hill was Pick 24 in the 2018 draft and debut in the 2019 season but was omitted for the Grand Final that year. Hill’s best year was 2021 where he played seventeen games and after eleven games in 2022, he requested a trade to Victoria to be closer to family. Hill was 23 when he was traded to Collingwood for Pick 43 and a future second round. Hill played 24 games in 2023 and won the Norm Smith Medal for his four goals and eighteen disposals in Collingwood’s premiership.
John Barnes
12 Games Essendon 1987-1990
144 Games Geelong 1992-1999
46 Games Essendon 2000-2001
Premiership player 2000
Barnes was originally from Essendon country zone before he moved to Cobram but as Essendon had him listed, he was still to bound to them and played 12 games in five years. Barnes was traded to Geelong at the end of 1991 for Sean Denham and played in three grand finals. Barnes was delisted at the end of 1999 and drafted by Essendon with pick 59 in the 1999 National Draft at the end of 30. Barnes played every game except one in 2000 and had fifteen disposals in the 2000 premiership. Barnes played in another grand final in 2001.
Ben Brown
130 Games North Melbourne 2014-2020
45 Games Melbourne 2021-2024
Premiership player 2021
Brown was Pick 47 in the 2013 National Draft and would debut the next year. Brown led North Melbourne goalkicking from 2016-2019. After a contract dispute at the end of 2020 where he wanted more years, he requested a trade to Melbourne. Brown was 28 when traded to Melbourne along with Pick 28 in exchange for Picks 26 and 33. Brown played thirteen games in 2021 and kicked three goals from ten disposals in the 2021 premiership. After injuries interrupted his 2023 and 2024, Brown retired at the end of the year.
Peter Bell
2 Games Fremantle 1995
123 Games North Melbourne 1996-2000
Premiership player 1996 and 1999
161 Games Fremantle 2001-2008
Bell was an inaugural Docker in 1995 and played in the very first match kicking two goals. Bell was dropped after Round 1 and would only play one more game, ironically against Richmond. Bell was delisted at the end of 1995 and drafted with Pick 15 by North Melbourne in 1995 Preseason Draft. Bell played 23 games in the 1996 season, kicking one goal and having sixteen disposals, and in the 1999 premiership he kicked four goals and had 31 disposals. Bell would request a trade back to Fremantle at the end of 2000 aged 24 where he captained the club from 2002-2006 and won three Best and Fairest to go with his Best and Fairest at North Melbourne.
Darren Jolly
48 Games Melbourne 2001-2004
118 Games Sydney 2005-2009
Premiership player 2005
71 Games Collingwood 2010-2013
Premiership player 2010
Jolly qualifies in this team twice; at Sydney in 2005 in his first year and in 2010 at Collingwood in his first year. Jolly was drafted by Melbourne with Pick 31 in 2001 Rookie Draft. After 48 games in four years, with his best year in 2003 with nineteen games, Jolly was traded to Sydney for Pick 15. Jolly played 24 games in 2005 and had ten disposals and one goal in the 2005 premiership victory. Jolly played in the 2006 Grand Final and at the end of 2009, aged 28, he requested a trade back to Victoria. Collingwood traded Pick 14 and 46 for Jolly. In the 2010 premiership Jolly had identical stats in both Grand Finals 14 disposals and one goal. Like his time in Sydney, Jolly followed up his premiership with an appearance in the 2011 Grand Final.
Tom Mitchell
65 Games Sydney 2012-2016
106 Games Hawthorn 2017-2022
36 Games Collingwood 2023-2025
Premiership player 2023
Mitchell was drafted by Sydney as a Father Son selection with Pick 21 in the 2011 draft. Mitchell was at Sydney but did not paly a game when they won the premiership in 2012, was an emergency in 2014 and he played in the 2016 Grand Final where he had 26 disposals and kicked two goals. Mitchell was traded to Hawthorn in 2017 for Picks 14 and 52. Mitchell would win the Brownlow Medal in 2018. With Hawthorn focusing on youth, Mitchell aged 29 was traded to Collingwood in a trade that also involved Geelong and draft picks. Mitchell played every game in 2023 and had 24 disposals in Collingwood’s premiership.
Luke Ball
142 Games St Kilda 2003-2009
81 Games Collingwood 2010-2014
Premiership player 2010
Ball was drafted by St Kilda with Pick 2 in the 2001 draft but would not join and debut until 2003. Ball would captain St Kilda in 2006-2007 and play in the 2009 Grand Final. Ball would have a falling out with St Kilda after 17 games for the year over a lack of game time and midfield time. After trade talks failed, Ball went through the National Draft where he was picked up with Pick 30 by Collingwood. Ball played 24 games in 2010 and played in the 2010 Grand Final, ironically against St Kilda where he had 13 disposals in the Grand Final and 25 disposals in the replay. Ball would then play in the 2011 Grand Final where he kicked a goal.
Matt Clape
29 Games West Coast 1992-1994
58 Games Carlton 1995-1998
Premiership player 1995
Clape was a West Australian zone selection for West Coast where he had 29 games in three seasons with 1993 his best season with fourteen games, though he was an emergency in the 1992 Grand Final. Carlton drafted Clape who was 25 at the time with Pick 13 in 1995 Pre-season Draft. Clape played 23 games in 1995 and had 19 disposals in the 1995 Premiership.
Ben McEvoy
91 Games St Kilda 2008-2013
161 Games Hawthorn 2014-2022
Premiership player 2014 and 2015
McEvoy was drafted with Pick 9 in the 2007 draft and made his debut in 2008. McEvoy was emergency in the first Grand Final of 2010 before coming in for Michael Gardiner in the replay. McEvoy was 24 when he was traded for Shane Savage and Pick 18 to St Kilda. McEvoy had 15 disposals in the 2014 Premiership and 9 disposals and a goal in the 2015 Premiership. McEvoy would captain Hawthorn in 2021-2022.
Glenn Manton
21 Games Essendon 1992-1994
157 Games Carlton 1995-2003
Premiership player 1995
Manton was originally from Essendon zone where he came up through the Under 19s. Manton played 21 games before he was delisted at the end of 1994 at the aged of 21. Manton was drafted by Carlton with Pick 27 in the 1995 Preseason Draft. Manton played twelve of the last thirteen games of the 1995 season and had six disposals in the 1995 Premiership. Manton would play in the 1999 Grand Final.
Toby Nankervis
12 Games Sydney 2014-2016
168 Games Richmond 2017-
Premiership player 2017, 2019 and 2020
Nankervis was drafted with Pick 35 by Sydney in 2013. Nankervis played seven games in 2016 and was emergency in the 2016 Grand Final. Nankervis was 22 when he was traded to Richmond for Pick 46 and he would become the first ruck there. Nankervis had 18 disposals in the 2017 premiership, 17 disposals in 2019 and 8 disposals in 2020. Nankervis has been Richmond captain since 2022.
Jonathan Simpkin
4 Games Geelong 2011-2012
33 Games Hawthorn 2013-2015
Premiership player 2013
4 Games Essendon 2016
Simpkin was initially drafted by Sydney in 2006 with Pick 16 in the Rookie Draft. After being delisted he returned to Colac and was then rookie listed by Geelong in 2011 with Pick 56. Simpkin joined Hawthorn at the end of 2012 as a delisted free agent. Simpkin played fourteen games in 2013 and was the sub in the 2013 premiership having six disposals. Simpkin would be a top up player for Essendon in 2016 when Essendon had several players suspended for the year.
Steven Armstrong
43 Games Melbourne 2002-2005
36 Games West Coast 2006-2008
Premiership Player 2006
Armstrong was Pick 25 in 2001 draft and had career best season in 2003 with eighteen games. Armstrong was delisted at the end of 2005 at the age of 21 before he was picked up with Pick 15 in 2006 Rookie Draft. Armstrong played ten games in 2006 and would have eight disposals and kick one goal in the 2006 premiership.
Mario Bortolotto
14 Games Geelong 1979-1980
30 Games Carlton 1981-1983
Premiership player 1981 and 1982
Bortolotto was delisted by Geelong at the end of 1980 at the age of 23. Bortolotto would receive a lifeline by Carlton and played eleven games in 1981 including the premiership where he did not have a disposal as he sat on the bench for most of the day. In 1982 Bortolotto had seven disposals in the premiership as he performed a blanketing job on David Cloke.
Billy Frampton
3 Games Port Adelaide 2018-2019
21 Games Adelaide 2020-2022
52 Games Collingwood 2023-
Premiership player 2023
Frampton was drafted with Pick 84 in 2014 by Port Adelaide but had to wait until 2018 before he would debut. Frampton would be traded to Adelaide for a fourth round pick in 2020. Frampton moved to Collingwood aged 26 in 2022 for a future third round pick. Frampton played as a defensive forward on Harris Andrews in the 2023 premiership and had two disposals.
Paul Harding
11 Games Hawthorn 1987-1988
62 Games St Kilda 1989-1991
43 Games West Coast 1992-1994
Premiership player 1992
Harding joined Hawthorn from East Fremantle having been signed prior to the West Coast Eagles joining. Harding was traded to St Kilda along with Robert Handley and Peter Russo for Pick 1 at the end of 1988. Harding was 28 when he requested a trade back to Western Australia. West Coast traded Pick 12 to St Kilda for Harding. Harding played sixteen games in 1992 and had ten disposals.
Peter Welsh
79 Games Hawthorn 1973-1979
48 Games Richmond 1980-1984
Premiership player 1980
Welsh was delisted after not playing a game in 1979 at Hawthorn. Welsh would be 26 when he joined Richmond and prior to the finals had played only four games . Welsh played Round 22 on the bench in the Reserves but was selected for the Seniors the next week for a tagging role on small Carlton players. Welsh played all three finals and had seventeen disposals in the 1980 premiership. Welsh played in the 1982 Grand Final.
David Parkin
94 Games Hawthorn 1977-1980
120 Games Carlton 1981-1985
Premiership coach 1981 and 1982
69 Games Fitzroy 1986-1988
235 Games Carlton 1991-2000
Parkin coached Hawthorn to a premiership in his second year in 1978, however after not making the finals in 1979 and 1980 he was approached by Carlton who had just sacked Peter Jones as coach after going out in straight sets of the 1980 finals. Parkin coached Carlton to the 1981 and 1982 premierships before swapping jobs with Robert Walls at the end of 1985. Parkin had three years at Fitzroy and two years as an umpire’s advisor before Carlton approached him again to coach. After a Grand Final’s appearance in 1993 he won another premiership in 1995 before another Grand Final in 1999.
Stuart Dew, Josh Mahoney, Tyson Stengle and James Thiessen with Malcolm Blight as coach.
All played in a premiership in their first year at a new club, however they had at least one year out of the AFL between clubs. Dew travelled overseas after retiring in 2006 before Hawthorn drafted him in 2007 for the 2008 season where he won a premiership aged 29. Mahoney was delisted by the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2000 and played for the Bendigo Bombers between 2001-2003 before Port Adelaide drafted the 25 year old Mahoney with Pick 12 in the Preseason Draft. Stengle was delisted at the end of 2020 by Adelaide due to discipline issues before Geelong drafted him as a delisted free agent aged 23. Stengle would get All Australian and premiership in his first year at Geelong. Thiessen was delisted at the end of 1994 and joined Norwood between 1995-1997 before Adelaide drafted him aged 23 at the end of 1997 where he won a premiership in 1998.
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Before 1980, Stan Alves left Melbourne as a player at the end of 1976, to play in a premiership for North Melbourne in 1977.
In another pre 1980 scenario, Brent Crosswell left Carlton during the 1975 season, to play in a premiership team for North Melbourne, also in 1975. Therefore, strictly speaking, he qualifies because he changed clubs to join a team that win a premiership in that same year.
Mitch Morton left Richmond to join Sydney in 2012.
Grumpy Mick got the Mal Michael trade very wrong.
Cheers Stephen they are great ones.
Thanks Brendan, Mitch Morton was a good one I forgot
Thanks Luke, I remeber you loved Mal Michael before he played a game
Stephen Rae is another player from pre 1980. He played 55 games for St Kilda from 1969-1973. He debuted at age 17 and played in St Kilda’s 1971 Grand Final team.
In a situation similar to Brent Crosswell, he played 2 games for St Kilda in 1973 and he then crossed to Richmond during the 1973 season. Rae played in Richmond’s premiership side in 1973. He wanted to join his friend, Ian Stewart at Richmond.
Paul Sarah played 128 games for Geelong from 1972-1980. He played 2 games for Geelong in 1980 and then he joined Richmond during the 1980 season, where he played 11 games in 1980. Sarah played 37 games for Richmond from 1980-1983. He didn’t play for Richmond in the 1980 premiership side but obviously Richmond still won the flag in 1980.