Almanac Teams: One career game

 

 

 

Backing up from last week’s theme on one game player for a club. This week I have gone with one career gamers.

 

Naturally enough this is a hard team to pick so have based from 1980 again and tried to have gone with players that may have a story behind them. Unlike the one game at a club team I have not listed all the players.

 

 

FB:       Neil Brindley (Coll)                     Roger Delaney (Fitz)                   Paul Earley (Melb)

 

CHB:   Marc Lock (GCS)                          Tim Walsh (WB)                          Paul Mifka (WCE)

 

C:         Hamish Brayshaw (WCE)          John Riley (Foots)                       Kevin Hughes (NM)

 

CHF:    Daniel Archer (ST.K)                   Danny Roach (Coll)                     Sean King (WCE)

 

FF:        Darren Bradshaw (Bris)             Luke Lowden (Adel)                    Stephen Richardson (Ess)

 

Ruck:    Jason Millar (Bris)                       Aaron Black (WCE)                    Clayton Lamb (Adel)

 

Interchange: Nick Jewell (Rich), Enrico Misso (St.K), Tony Pastore (Rich), Gerard Toohey (Geel)

 

Sub: Alistair Lord (Ess)

 

 

 

Neil Brindley – Number 39

Round 1, 1987, aged 19

8 disposals in a 91 Point Loss

Brindley was Collingwood’s Under 19 Best & Fairest in 1986 and was one of seven debutants for Collingwood on Round 1, 1987 which included future premiership players Gavin Brown, Michael Christian, Gavin Crosisca and Craig Starcevich. Brindley was one of five changes the following week.

 

 

Roger Delaney – Number 4

Round 1, 1990, aged 24

4 disposals in a 81 point loss

Delaney was Pick 23 for Fitzroy in the 1989 Draft. Delaney had played for SA in the 1989 State of Origin match against Victoria, being named at full back on either Jason Dunstall or Tony Lockett. Delaney injured his ankle in Round 1 and did not play another game before he returned to Port Adelaide. Delaney played 208 games for Port Adelaide and played in six premierships and is a member of Port Adelaide’s Hall of Fame.

 

 

Paul Earley – Number 56

Round 22, 1984, aged 20

9 disposals, 1 goal in a 28 point loss

Earley was the first player recruited from Ireland to play a VFL/AFL game, and made his debut in the Final Round of the 1984 season. Earley returned to Ireland at the end of season to play for Roscommon. Earley would play for Ireland against Australia in the 1987 International Rules Series and coached Ireland in 2013 and 2014 series.

 

 

Marc Lock – Number 1

Round 2, 2011, aged 19

8 disposals in a 119 point loss

Lock debut in Gold Coast inaugural match against Carlton but would be dropped the following week and did not add to his game tally and was delisted at the end of the season. Lock was Gold Coast captain in the 2009 TAC Cup and 2010 VFL seasons. He also won the Best & Fairest in 2009 and played in the 2013 VFL premiership for Box Hill.

 

 

Tim Walsh – Number 26

Round 8, 2005, aged 20

3 disposals, 1 goal in a 18 point win

Tim is the son of Geoff Walsh who was a prominent football administrator at North Melbourne and Collingwood. Tim was Pick 4 in the 2002 draft and was considered an exciting versatile tall at 196cm. Walsh spent five years at the Western Bulldogs before he was delisted at the end of the 2007 season.

 

 

Paul Mifka – Number 37

Round 22, 1987, aged 22

14 disposals in a 88 point win

Mifka was in the inaugural West Coast squad in 1987 and had to wait until the final game of the season to make his debut and play his sole VFL/AFL game. Mifka was also drafted by Brisbane in 1990 but did not play a game. He played 283 games for West Perth including the 1995 and 1999 premierships.

 

 

Hamish Brayshaw – Number 22

Round 17, 2020, aged 22

5 disposals in a 15 point win

Brayshaw was originally selected with Pick 68 in 2017, then delisted at end of 2019 and then placed on the rookie list. Hamish is younger than brother Angus and older than Andrew. Hamish was delisted at end of 2020 and signed for West Coast’s WAFL team where he was named captain in 2021.

 

 

John Riley – Number 26

Round 1, 1984, aged 25

8 disposals in a 39 point win

Riley was recruited from North Adelaide. When he debuted in Round 1 for Footscray he had not been granted a clearance from North Adelaide and they were successful in preventing him from playing more games with the Dogs. Riley played 250 games with North Adelaide including the 1987 premiership. Riley is a trained scientist now and has worked in Canada and Washington and is now Chief of the Weapons and Combat Systems Divisions of DSTO.

 

 

Kevin Hughes – Number 48

Round 1, 1988, aged 25

15 disposals in a 82 point loss

Hughes was recruited from Williamstown and was one of four omissions after North Melbourne’s big Round 1 loss. Hughes injured his knee in the reserves a few weeks later and returned to Willy in 1989.

 

 

Daniel Archer – Number 42

Round 2, 2011, aged 19

8 disposals in a draw

Archer is one of only 13 footballers who have played one game for one draw. Archer kicked one point at the 33 minute mark in the last quarter to bring the Saints within one point. Archer was dropped the following week for Rhys Stanley and was delisted at the end of 2012.

 

 

Danny Roach – Number 30

Round 4, 2001, aged 19

1 tackle in a 15 point loss

Roach had the misfortune of being involved in a Richmond/Collingwood trade where neither club did well. Collingwood traded Pick 3 and Clinton King to Richmond for Pick 7 and Steve McKee in 1999. With Pick 3 Richmond drafted Aaron Fiora ahead of Matthew Pavlich at Pick 4. Roach was drafted with Pick 7 ahead of Joel Corey at Pick 8 and key position players Luke McPharlin at 10 and Darren Glass at 11.

 

 

Sean King – Number 34

Round 22, 1987, aged 23

21 disposals, 2 goals in a 88 point win

King, like Mifka, was from West Perth and had to wait until Round 22 to make his debut. Despite having a very good game King was delisted at the end of the year. King played 60 games for West Perth from 1986 to 1989.

 

 

Darren Bradshaw – Number 37

Round 15, 2002, aged 21

3 disposals in a 63 point win

Darren at 185cm was 6cm smaller than brother Daniel. Darren though came into the side when his brother was out injured. Darren was delisted at the end of 2002 and played for West Adelaide in 2003 where he kicked 88 goals and won the Ken Farmer Medal.

 

 

Luke Lowden – Number 30

Round 12, 2014, aged 23

12 disposals, 3 goals in a 44 point win

Lowden was drafted in 2008 and was at Hawthorn from 2009-2014, he also (like Marc Lock) played in the 2013 premiership for Box Hill. Lowden was 206cm and got his opportunity for his first game due to an injury to David Hale. At the conclusion of the 2014 season he was traded to Adelaide, but he did not add to his game tally in two seasons at West Lakes.

 

 

Stephen Richardson – Number 38

Round 20, 1983, aged 24

16 disposals, 2 goals in a 17 point win

Stephen is the twin brother of Collingwood, Essendon, and Brisbane player Mike. He came in for Peter Bradbury who was injured and was replaced by him the following week. Richardson was a member of the 1983 Reserves Premiership side before he moved to Swan Districts where he played 92 games from 1984-1986 and 1993. Richardson played 55 games for Norwood from 1987-1989 and 41 games at East Perth from 1990-1992.

 

 

Jason Millar – Number 39

Round 2, 1991, aged 20

8 disposals, 6 hit outs in a 46 point loss

Brisbane had the bye in Round 1 and Millar was one of four debutants for the following round. Millar had a memorable night after the game that ended up in a Brisbane hospital. He was driving back from Carrara to Brisbane at 3:15am in Peter Worsfold’s car and failed to stop at a random breath test and then sped away from police of speeds up to 160km/h. Millar crashed into a wall and trying to run away from police he jumped a concrete barrier and fell nine metres – which broke his jaw and wrist. He missed the remainder of the 1991 season and though remained on Brisbane’s list until 1993 he failed to play another game. Millar played 71 games for Norwood from 1994 to 1999.

 

 

Aaron Black – Number 47

Round 2, 2022, aged 29

15 disposals, 1 goal in a 15 point loss

Black was a Covid-19 top up player for West Coast in 2022 and was one of 13 players bought in for Round 2 due to injury and restrictions. He debuted for West Perth in 2010 and has played over 250 games, won the Sandover Medal in 2014, was a premiership player in 2013 and 2022, Best & Fairest in 2015 and 2018 and has been captain since 2018.

 

 

Clayton Lamb – Number 6

Round 5, 1991, aged 26

12 disposals, 1 goal in a 65 point loss

Lamb came in for Andrew Jarman who was injured and who replaced him the following week. Lamb played 175 games for West Adelaide from 1981-1989 and 87 games for Glenelg from 1990-1993; he ended up with 262 games and 334 goals. Lamb captained West Adelaide in 1989.

 

 

Nick Jewell – Number 39

Round 19, 1997, aged 19

5 disposals in a 43 point loss

Nick is the son of Richmond premiership player and coach Tony. Jewell was a member of the Richmond VFL premiership in 1987 and kicked one goal. He was delisted at the end of the 1997 season, and he was also an opening batsman for Victoria in 62 Shield matches from 2002-2010 and made 4,014 runs at average of 38.

 

 

Enrico Misso – Number 50

Round 13, 1985, aged 20

11 disposals, 8 hit outs in a 32 point loss.

Misso started his career at Essendon and was the first player of Sri Lankan origin to play in the VFL/AFL. Misso was a cult figure especially with the Coodabeen Champions and got his chance when Allan Sidebottom missed due to injury. Misso though had to make way for Sidebottom the following week.

 

 

Tony Pastore – Number 25

Round 6 1987 – Aged 21

6 Disposals in a 41 point loss

Pastore played 189 games for Williamstown from 1985-1986 and 1988-1997, which included premierships in 1986 and 1990 the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground in a Grand Final in 1986. Pastore was captain in 1996-1997.

 

 

Gerard Toohey – Number 56

Round 13, 1985, aged 18

9 disposals in a 6 point win

Gerard is the brother of Bernard who he replaced in the side as Bernard was suspended. Bernard replaced Gerard the week after and he left to play for West Torrens and then West Adelaide in the SANFL.

 

 

Alistair Lord – Number 28

Round 8, 2022, aged 18

0 disposals as he did not come on to the ground as medical sub in 27 point win.

Lord was Pick 46 in 2021 Draft recruited from Norwood as 181cm midfielder. Lord is no relation to the Geelong Brownlow Medallist Alistair Lord.

 

 

There are eight coaches who have coached one game in total. Six of them were in 2022 due to Covid-19 protocols, they are Nathan Bassett for Port Adelaide, Scott Burns for Adelaide, Blake Caracella for Essendon, Ashley Hansen at Carlton, Brendon Lade at St Kilda and Adem Yze at Melbourne. Tony Franklin coached Sydney in 1984 with Ricky Quade unavailable due to illness. John Blakey coached Brisbane in 2005 due to Leigh Matthews’ unavailability after his mother passed away.

 

 

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?

And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE.