Almanac Teams: Plenty more of 24 (1980- )

 

 

 

A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 24 jumper since 1980.

 

 

Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 24, mostly from 1980 onwards but I have made exceptions, such as Bryan Cousins.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

FB:           Andy Goodwin (Rich)              Danny Frawley (St.K)                          Russell Jeffrey (St.K)

 

CHB:       Andrew Ireland (Coll)              Trent Croad (Haw/Freo/Haw)          Marcus Picken (Bris)

 

C:             Michael Frost (St.K)                 Graham Gellie (St.K)                           Jim Plunkett (Carl)

 

CHF:       Stephen Copping (Ess)            Daryl Sutton (Rich)                              Bryan Cousins (Geel)

 

FF:           Gary Tredrea (Coll)                  Peter Knights (Haw)                            Liam Jurrah (Melb)

 

Ruck:       Mark Blake (Geel)                    Steven Clifton (GWS)                           Aaron Lord (Geel)

 

Interchange: Bill Barrot (Rich/St.K/Carl), Bob Beecroft (Fitz), Barry Brooks (St.K), Stephen Taubert (Syd)

 

No players from Adelaide, Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, West Coast or the Western Bulldogs.

 

 

Games in Number 24 (Years played)

Andy Goodwin 53 (1988-1991)

Danny Frawley 68 (1985-1987)

Russell Jeffrey 27 (1990-1991)

Andrew Ireland 110 (1975-1980)

Trent Croad 184 at Hawthorn (1998-2001, 2004-2008) 38 at Fremantle (2002-2003)

Marcus Picken 25 (1998-2001)

Michael Frost 11 (1994)

Graham Gellie 32 (1978-1983)

Jim Plunkett 10 (1999-2000)

Steven Copping 42 (1982-1984)

Darryl Sutton 4 (1982)

Bryan Cousins 67 (1975-1979)

Gary Tredrea 19 (1970-1972)

Peter Knights 264 (1969-1985)

Liam Jurrah 27 (2010-2012)

Mark Blake 99 (2005-2010)

Steven Clifton 5 (2012)

Aaron Lord 27 (1994, 2002-2003)

Bill Barrot 120 at Richmond (1961-1970) 2 at St Kilda (1971) 12 at Carlton (1971)

Bob Beecroft 96 (1976-1980)

Barry Brooks 10 (2003-2007)

Stephen Taubert 44 (1982-1984)

 

 

Andy Goodwin – Goodwin started his VFL/AFL career as mature recruit from Wandin aged 24. Goodwin was a popular player for the Richmond faithful known for his physicality and being a bit ‘mad’. Goodwin often played as an under-sized CHB at 188cm, but was perhaps best known for starting scraps with likes of Roger Merrett and Gary Ablett. Goodwin was not as skilled as others but was very competitive and was a menacing figure that helped a young Richmond side. His best seasons were 1990 and 1991 where he played 31 games. Goodwin was delisted after 1991 under new coach Allan Jeans and was then drafted by Melbourne where he played another 17 games; his career total was 73 games.

 

 

Danny Frawley – Frawley started his career in Number 49 and played 19 games. Frawley moved to his coach’s Number 24 in 1985 and wore the number for every game (66) between 1985-1987 before he moved to Number 2. Frawley was appointed captain of St Kilda from 1987 until 1995 over 177 games, and led the Saints to finals campaigns in 1991 and 1992. Frawley finished with 240 games and won the 1988 Best & Fairest. Frawley became an assistant coach at Collingwood and then coach of Richmond between 2000-2004; his best result was a preliminary final in 2001. Frawley had a successful media career before his tragic passing in 2019.

 

 

Russell Jeffrey – Jeffrey had three stints at St Kilda after having initially played U19s and reserves at Geelong. Jeffrey wore Number 36 for St Kilda in his first game in 1987. Jeffrey’s one game in Round 14 was enough to qualify him as a St Kilda player for the next season as he was still playing at Jerilderie (who won the 1987 premiership). Jeffrey represented the NT in 1988 prior to the start of the season. He showed promise in 1988 over 14 games for St Kilda but returned to Jerilderie for 1989. St Kilda convinced Jeffrey to return and he played every game in 1990 and also appeared for Victoria B in 1990. In 1991 Jeffrey struggled with injury and played just five games before being traded to Brisbane where he played eight games in 1992 before he retired to play in the NT,  he was later inducted into the NT football hall of fame.

 

 

Andrew Ireland – Ireland was born in England and made his debut for Collingwood in 1975. He was a regular member of the side until his shock retirement in 1980 aged 27. Ireland played in the 1977, 1979 and 1980 Grand Finals and was among Collingwood’s best in 1977 and 1979 Grand Finals and represented Victoria in 1978. Ireland moved to Queensland in 1981 and while still playing became involved in football administration in the QAFL as a selector then State Director of Coaching and ultimately as General Manager of the QAFL. Ireland later became CEO of the Brisbane Bears/Lions from 1990 to 2001 and oversaw their first finals appearance, premiership and the merger. He then moved to south to be head of football at Sydney from 2003, involved in premierships in 2005 and 2012. Ireland also played in a premiership in Queensland with Mayne under Mick Nolan as coach.

 

 

Trent Croad – Croad was picked by Hawthorn with Pick 3 in the 1997 Draft and made his debut in 1998; he played 17 games for the season. Croad blossomed in 1998 and was picked in the Victorian side and was good enough to play either end of the ground. His best effort at Hawthorn netted six goals in 2000, the year he kicked 33 goals. In 2001 Croad’s form had plateaued and he famously kicked a point in a close preliminary final loss to Essendon. The big surprise was that Hawthorn offered Croad up for trade at the conclusion of 2001 for Pick 1 which turned out to be Luke Hodge. Croad kicked 42 goals in his first season at Fremantle in 2002 but after 2003 requested a trade back to Hawthorn which was for Pick 10 (Ryley Dunn). On his return to Hawthorn he mainly played CHB, earned All Australian selection and played his last game in 2008’s Premiership as he broke his foot in the second quarter.

 

 

Marcus Picken – Picken is the son of Collingwood champion Billy and older brother of Liam. Marcus was passed up by Collingwood and instead taken by Brisbane with Pick 57 in the 1997 Draft. Picken debuted in 1998 and played seven games for the year, he was in and out of the Lions side in 1999 and 2000 but did play in a semi final. In 2001 Picken missed Round 1 but then played the next eight games before he suffered a stress fracture of the foot which ruled him out for the season. Picken was traded to the Western Bulldogs in 2002 with Shannon Rusca but did not play a game.

 

 

Michael Frost – Frost started his career at Footscray in 1992 and showed some promise on the wing/HBF, he played seven games late in the season including two finals where he kicked two goals. Frost played six games in 1993 and was considered a somewhat surprise delisting at the end of the year. While Frost deserved another chance as he was just 23, another surprise was that he was taken with Pick 8 in the National draft by St Kilda, ahead of Rowan Warfe at 9, Brad Johnson at 11, Chris Scott at 12, Adam Simpson at 14 and Fraser Gehrig at 16. This was a complete left-of-field pick by St Kilda that failed badly as Frost played just 11 games, was dropped several times during the season and was delisted at the end of year after 24 career games. He won the JJ Liston Medal in 1998 with 32 votes, a record vote count.

 

 

Graham Gellie – Gellie started his career in 1978 as a 23 year old recruit from Redan. Gellie had a great start to his career, he won the Best & Fairest in his first year. Gellie unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury in the 1979 preseason and missed all of 1979 and 1980, played three games in 1981, missed all of 1982 and ran out in nine games in 1983 before his retirement. Gellie stayed as an assistant coach at St Kilda and after Round 4 in 1983 Tony Jewell was sacked as coach and Gellie was appointed caretaker coach aged 29. St Kilda won five games for the season. Darrel Baldock was meant to coach in 1985 but ended up not taking up the position; Gellie remained for 1985 and 1986 before Baldock was appointed coach in 1987. Gellie spent some time at Geelong in the early-1990s as an assistant coach.

 

 

Jim Plunkett – Plunkett was drafted by the Western Bulldogs in 1996 and debuted in 1999, he played 10 games in two seasons before he was delisted. Plunkett was rookie listed by Carlton and developed a cult following for his red hear, small stature and tenacious ability. In 2001 he played every game from Round 12 including two finals; in the elimination final he was one of the best on ground with 34 touches and two goals. Plunkett played 18 games in 2002 but only four in 2003 and was delisted with total of 47 games.  Plunkett’s other claim to fame is he was in the ‘Aveagoodweekend, Mr Walker’ aeroguard advertisement with Max Walker.

 

 

Stephen Copping – Copping was drafted with Pick 20 in the 1981 draft from Glenelg. He made his debut in 1982 aged and played every game for 45 goals including four in an elimination final. In 1983 Copping played 18 games for 42 goals including two bags of six and bag of seven but was injured in Round 20 and did not return until the 1983 Grand Final. In 1984 Copping played only one game before he returned to Glenelg. In 1985 Copping kicked 83 goals, he played a total of 246 games for 460 goals at Glenelg and is a member of the Glenelg Hall of Fame.

 

 

Darryl Sutton – Sutton started his career at North Melbourne in 1973, he played seven games for the season and was capable of playing forward or back. Sutton returned to Glenorchy due to health reasons in 1974 but returned to the Kangaroos in 1976. He spent most of the year in the reserves before he played his second game of the year in Round 22. Sutton kept his spot for the finals and kicked five goals in the preliminary final and also took a few high marks. Sutton played in the 1977 Premiership and was a regular between 1977-1980 but played for Swan Districts in 1981. Richmond with open chequebook signed Sutton for $90,000 but injuries limited him to four games in 1982 and two in 1983 before Sutton went to Sydney mid-year for 14 games. Sutton returned to Tasmania in 1984 after 111 VFL/AFL games and 95 goals.

 

 

Bryan Cousins – Cousins started his career aged 16 at Perth and came to Geelong in 1975 as a rover. Cousins spent five years at Geelong over 67 games for 46 goals with a best haul of four goals. Cousins returned to Perth in 1980-1987 and ended up playing 240 games for Perth for 309 goals. Cousins lost the Sandover Medal on countback to John Ironmonger in 1983 but was awarded one retrospectively in 1997. Bryan’s son Ben was drafted as a father-son pick by West Coast. The younger Cousins became a Rising Star winner, Brownlow Medallist and premiership player. Bryan was also a successful harness racing trainer.

 

 

Gary Tredrea – Tredrea joined Collingwood from Reservoir as a small half forward at 175cm (compared to Warren’s 194cm). Gary had three years at Collingwood, played 19 games for six goals with a best return of three goals. Gary moved to South Australia to play for Port Adelaide from 1973-1976 and 1978-1979 and had one season at West Adelaide in 1977 for total of 71 games before retiring due to a knee injury. Gary’s move to Port Adelaide was profitable for the club 30 years later as his son Warren was a premiership captain for Port Adelaide in the AFL.

 

 

Peter Knights – Knights was a champion for Hawthorn who is recognised as one of the best high flyers ever in the VFL/AFL, who could player either end of the ground. Knights played 264 games for 201 goals, with personal best of nine goals in his 257th game. Knights is three-time premiership player and won Mark of the Year three times. In 1976 Knights missed seven games due to injury but still finished second in the Brownlow by three votes. Knights played in the 1985 Preliminary Final but was dropped for the Grand Final, he played in the reserves grand final where he kicked five goals. Knights was appointed the inaugural coach of the Brisbane Bears from 1987 until mid-1989 and then Hawthorn from 1994-1995.

 

 

Liam Jurrah – Jurrah joined Melbourne in 2009 as Number 1 pick in the Preseason Draft. Jurrah was the first Indigenous person from a remote community in Central Australian to have played senior football in the VFL/AFL.  Before playing for Melbourne Jurrah had never experienced city life, swum in the ocean… he had to then lived his entire life in remote communities. Jurrah wore Number 48 in his first year and played nine games for 20 goals, his year included three bags of four goals and a Rising Star nomination. He played eight games in 2010 and won Mark of the Year, then had his best year in 2011 (18 games for 40 goals). Jurrah played one game in 2012 but unfortunately did not play again.

 

 

Mark Blake – Blake was drafted in 2003 as a father son pick. Mark’s dad Rod was champion ruck for Geelong over 176 games. Blake debuted in 2005 and played three games for the year. In 2007 he played 22 games but after a poor preliminary final performance was dropped for Steven King. Blake played every game in 2008 and backed up the next year with 21 games and a premiership. After playing 20 games in 2010 Blake struggled with injuries and did not play another game; he finished up with 99 games, one game off a potential father son pick criteria.

 

 

Steven Clifton – Clifton was the Number 1 pick in the 2011 rookie draft aged 24. Clifton played five games in 2012 but was delisted at the end of year. Clifton won the JJ Liston trophy for North Ballarat in 2010 just over a  year prior to joining GWS and backed it up in 2013 – the year after he left the Giants.

 

 

Aaron Lord – Lord started with Geelong in 1994 and made his debut in Round 5 with seven disposals. Lord’s second game was sensational; he was named emergency for the semi-final but with late withdrawals to Couch, Bairstow and G.Hocking, was bought in. Lord had 24 disposals and kicked one goal but was left out for the big three midfielders the next week. Lord moved to Number 4 and played 20 games the next year and was a member of the 1995 Grand Final side. Lord was traded to Hawthorn in 1997 for five seasons and 93 games. Lord returned to Geelong in 2002 for two more seasons and returned to his original Number 24, he played another 25 games before he was delisted with a total of 150 games for 185 goals.

 

 

Bill Barrot – Barrot was a champion for Richmond for 120 games between 1961-1970. Barrot played in the 1967 and 1969 Premierships and is thought that if the Norm Smith Medal had existed in 1967 he would have won it…he may even have done the same in 1969 when he kicked three goals. After nine games in 1970, Barrot was traded to St Kilda in 1971 aged 27 in a swap for Ian Stewart. Barrot still wore Number 24 at St Kilda and played the first two rounds but was then traded to Carlton where he wore Number 24 as well and debut in Round 9 and played 12 games. Barrot later played at Oakleigh and West Torrens.

 

 

Bob Beecroft – Beecroft was a ruck/forward for Swan Districts from 1970-1975. Beecroft joined Fitzroy in 1976 and at 191cm was maybe too small for the ruck; he played 13 games for 17 goals in his first year at the Roys. Beecroft kicked 59, 65, 87 and 63 in 1977-1980 before he moved to Woodville in 1981 aged 28. Beecroft played 96 games for Fitzroy for 291 goals and kicked ten goals in a game twice. Beecroft played 86 games for 219 goals at Woodville before he left to play for Encounter Bay. Beecroft is a member of Swan Districts Hall Of fame and Team of the Century.

 

 

Barry Brooks – Brooks holds the unique honour of being recruited from Grassy on King Island. Brooks was drafted by Port Adelaide with Pick 15 but was traded to St Kilda the next year. Brooks was a ruck under a coach that in Grant Thomas that was not too keen on rucks. Brooks played 10 games over four years with his best perhaps his only game in 2006 where he kicked three goals along with 15 disposals.

 

 

Steven Taubert – Taubert was maybe a ‘journey’ footballer, he played 123 games in 11 years at three clubs and at 193cm was back-up ruck/key position player. Taubert started at Richmond in 1974, he played 15 games for the Tigers in three years. Taubert moved to Essendon in 1977 and played a further 64 games in five years. Taubert then moved to Sydney for 44 games in three seasons with his best season his last in 1984 where he played 21 games and got 15 Brownlow votes to finish fourth in the Brownlow. He then decided after a career best season to retire aged 30. Taubert was Sydney ruck coach from 1999-2017.

 

 

Forgotten Number 24s are: Andrew Payze (Adel), Llane Spaandermann (Bris), Jamie Dunlop (Carl), Kent Butcher (Coll), John Williams (Ess), Max Duffy (Freo), Hamish Simpson (Geel), Simon Cox (Haw), Des O’Dwyer (Melb), Steven Hickey (NM), Damian Squire (PA), Graeme Robertson (Rich) and Graham Jones (Syd).

 

 

 

 

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