Almanac Teams: Ridiculous or sublime? 29 (1980- )
A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 29 jumper since 1980.
Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 29, mostly from 1980 onwards but I have made exceptions, such as Phil Baker.
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: Dean Chiron (Melb) Matthew Pavlich (Freo) Easton Wood (WB)
CHB: Damian Drum (Geel) Geoff Miles (Coll) Greg Whittelsea (Haw)
C: Andrew Raines (Bris/GCS) Steven Greene (Haw) Joel Reynolds (Ess)
CHF: Sean Ralphsmith (Haw) Chris Grant (Foots) Alan Thorpe (Foots)
FF: Will Langford (Haw) Phil Baker (NM) Simon Minton-Connell (Carl)
Ruck: Rex Deeath (Geel) Russell Greene (St.K/Haw) Gary Wilson (Fitz)
Interchange: Fred Cook (Foots), Fabian Francis (Bris), Gary Moorcroft (Ess), James Thiessen (Adel)
No players from GWS, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Sydney or West Coast.
Games in Number 29 (Years played)
Dean Chiron 17 (1987-1989)
Matthew Pavlich 353 (2000-2016)
Easton Wood 28 (2009-2011)
Damian Drum 54 (1983-1989)
Geoff Miles 31 (1982-1984)
Greg Whittelsea 4 (1991)
Andrew Raines 67 at Brisbane (2010-2014) 6 at Gold Coast (2015)
Steven Greene 42 (2001-2005)
Joel Reynolds 29 (2003-2006)
Sean Ralphsmith 3 (1990)
Chris Grant 76 (1990-1993)
Alan Thorpe 8 (1994)
Will Langford 72 (2013-2018)
Phil Baker 97 at North Melbourne (1971-1975, 1977-1979) 9 at Geelong (1975)
Simon Minton-Connell 18 (1990-1991)
Rex Deeath 13 (1974-1975)
Russell Greene 79 at St Kilda (1976-1980) 184 at Hawthorn (1980-1989)
Gary Wilson 268 (1971-1984)
Fred Cook 33 (1967-1969)
Fabian Francis 22 (1993-1994)
Gary Moorcroft 83 (1998-2002)
James Thiessen 44 (1998-2000)
Dean Chiron – Chiron played 37 games for St Kilda, Footscray and Melbourne from 1983-1989. He started as a forward at St Kilda and kicked six goals against Sydney in 1984. Chiron played one game at Footscray, then joined Melbourne in 1987 and played eight out of the last nine games in 1987 when Melbourne hit their winning streak. The only game he missed was the Semi Final for suspension, however he regained his spot for the Preliminary Final. Chiron played as a very tight negating tagger at Melbourne. In Round 17, 1988 Chiron had the job on John Platten when Dermott Brereton coming back from six weeks suspension lined up Chiron at the opening bounce. While Chiron kept playing, he was well beaten by Platten and did not play another game for the year and just two in 1989. Chiron maintained his fitness and competed in ironman events in Australia and Hawaii.
Matthew Pavlich – As a Richmond supporter until recently it pains me to watch Pavlich play for Fremantle when he should have being a Tiger. In the 1999 Draft Richmond swapped Pick 7 and Steve McKee for Clinton King and Pick 3. Collingwood already had Pick 1 and chose Josh Fraser, Fremantle with Pick 2 went for Paul Hasleby and Richmond with Pick 3 went Aaron Fiora. Fiora had nice skills in his first couple of seasons but Pavlich had big wraps from reading Inside Football that year. Pavlich was everything you could build a team around, a leader, a player who could play in any key position or even run in the midfield. Pavlich played 353 games for 700 goals, won six Best & Fairests, was captain from 2007-2015 and an eight-time leading goalkicker. Pavlich was All Australian in 2002 his third year at Full Back, HFF in 2003, CHF in 2005, FF again in 2007 and interchange in 2006 and 2008.
Easton Wood – Easton is another Pomborneit junior premiership player to play in the AFL. Easton showed promise as very lively opening bowler and handy middle order bat. I had played a couple of games with him but last I had heard of him he was at Geelong Grammar on an athletics and/or cricket scholarship. His Dad was a NZ triple jump competitor in the Commonwealth games and his mother was a middle distance runner. Easton was tipped as a smokey in the 2007 Draft and was taken with Pick 43. Easton kept developing as a footballer and a leader over 188 games; he won a Best & Fairest and All Australian in 2015. In 2016 Wood was appointed Vice Captain and with Bob Murphy out injured early in the season, Easton captained the side for the rest of the year. This was a memorable season for the Bulldogs as Easton became their second ever premiership captain and one of a very few acting premiership captains. Easton, as you may have read in Luke Reynold’s Pomborneit updates, is back at Pomborneit Cricket Club playing a key role in their attempt for four premierships in a row.
Damian Drum – Drum played 63 games for Geelong from 1982-1989, having started his career in the Number 43 jumper. Drum was an injury prone player whose best year was in 1986 with 22 games. In 1989 Drum did not play in any regular season matches but was bought in for the first three finals before being ruled out for the Grand Final. After retiring at end of 1989, Drum coached Port Melbourne to a Grand final in 1993 and was then assistant coach of the Swans from 1994-1998. In 1999 Drum was appointed coach of Fremantle before being sacked in mid-2001 after 53 games for 13 wins. Drum moved into politics for the National Party in 2002 and represented the upper house in Victoria between 2002-2016 before becoming the Member for Murray from 2016 until his retirement from Politics this year.
Geoff Miles – Miles started his career at Collingwood in 1982, recruited from Ivanhoe aged 20. Miles’s best season was 1983 when he played 14 games but after eight games in 1984 he was delisted. Miles moved to Claremont and was part of the inaugural West Coast Eagles team in 1987. Miles was a regular for West Coast from 1987-1989 and missed only six games. Miles played ten games in 1990 but none in 1991 and was traded to Geelong in 1992. Miles played 20 games in 1992 but after struggling in the backline early in the season, was dropped after Round 10 and then recalled in Round 17. Miles kicked seven goals against Melbourne and then five goals against Richmond and West Coast in the next weeks. Miles kicked 25 goals in six weeks, but none in the last five and was delisted at season’s end with a total of 122 games. His son Teia played 12 games for Hawthorn.
Greg Whittelsea – Whittelsea was drafted by Richmond with Pick 56 in the first AFL draft in 1986 but never came over. In 1990 Whittelsea was drafted by Hawthorn with Pick 20 in the Preseason draft aged 26. Between 1986-1990 Whittelsea had established himself at Sturt with the 1988 Magarey medal, Best & Fairest 1987-1988, All Australian selection from the Bicentennial Carnival in 1988 and Sturt captain 1987-1990 in 234 games. When Whittelsea joined Hawthorn in 1991, Hawthorn was a still a strong force and won the premiership. Whittelsea had minimal impact in his four games, he did not play in 1992 and was delisted at the end of the year. In 1993 he joined Glenelg for two seasons and 17 games.
Andrew Raines – Andrew is the son of Geoff and was picked by Geoff’s first club Richmond with Pick 76 in the 2003 Draft. Andrew debuted in 2004 and had a breakout year in 2006 in the Back Pocket where he was runner up in the Rising Star and Best & Fairest. Andrew’s looks and the way he moved running through the centre was very reminiscent of his father. He played every game in 2007 but with injuries and a dip in form he played only five games in 2008-2009 and was traded to Brisbane. Raines was a regular for Brisbane in his first four seasons mainly as a tagger but after four games in 2014 he was delisted. Raines was rookie listed by Gold Coast in 2015 and played six games for the Suns including four at Carrara which was one of four home grounds of his Dad’s career. Andrew finished with 129 games in total.
Steven Greene – Steven was picked by Hawthorn as a Father Son in 2000 and wore his dad Russell’s Number 29 for 42 games in five seasons. Steven had immediate impact at Hawthorn, he played 11 games in 2001 including the last nine. Greene received a Rising Star nomination in the last round and was one of Hawthorn’s best in the Elimination Final with two goals and 17 disposals. Greene played 13 games in 2002 but not to the same impact as 2001 and from then on was in and out of the team between 2003-2005; he played a further 18 games before he was delisted. After football Greene went into the clothing business with good friend Chris Judd.
Joel Reynolds – Reynolds was drafted by Essendon with Pick 31 in the 2001 Draft. Joel was the grandson of Essendon legend Dick Reynolds who fortunately got to see his grandson make his debut in 2002 wearing Number 40 before passing away in September 2002. Joel was 17 when he debuted and was able to play either end or midfield. His best year was 2003 with 14 games but after that played just four games in 2004-2005 and then 11 games in 2006 before being delisted. Joel was rookie listed by Geelong in 2007 but did not play a game.
Sean Ralphsmith – Ralphsmith started his career in 1988 with the all conquering Hawthorn side wearing Number 45. He debuted in Round 21 and kicked three goals. Ralphsmith was dropped for Round 22 with Richard Loveridge coming back in from injury. His next game was in 1990, the first of three games in a row wearing Number 29. In 1991 Ralphsmith was traded to St Kilda where he played 30 games in four seasons including two finals. One legend is that on an end of season trip in Miami, Ralphsmith and Jason Dunstall were arrested by the local police (I think for being drunk in public), the police called Allan Jeans who was back at the hotel and when Jeans came to bail them out he allegedly said ‘If they make a run for it, don’t shoot the fat one.’ Sean’s son Hugo made his debut at Richmond last year.
Chris Grant – Grant was selected with Pick 105 in 1988 Draft and it is fair to say he was a steal. Grant debuted as a 17 year old in Round 1, 1990 playing Full Forward; he kicked two goals. Grant kicked 51 goals for the year including six against Brisbane. After a quieter 1991, Grant bounced back to form in 1992 with 50 goals from CHF in a side that made the Preliminary Final. In 1994 Grant moved from 29 to Ted Whitten’s Number 3 and became a champion of the Bulldogs in 341 games for 554 games. Capable of playing either end,his career was marked by the captaincy from 2000-2004, three time All Australian honours and two Best & Fairests. Sadly he is probably best remembered for having gained the most Brownlow votes in 1997 but ruled ineligible for a controversial suspension. Grant is now a Director of the Western Bulldogs and his daughter Isabella plays for the women’s team.
Alan Thorpe – Thorpe was originally on Fitzroy’s list in 1991 but never played a game and went back to Tatura. In 1992 he was drafted by Sydney and played three games aged 23. Thorpe was delisted at the end of 1992 and in 1993 played two games for Footscray’s reserves, impressing them enough to get drafted mid-season. Thorpe wore number 42 and played four games late in the year. In 1994 Thorpe played eight of the first 10 games and kicked 19 goals including nine in two weeks, but he was delisted at the end of the season. Carlton drafted Thorpe in 1995 but did not play a game. Thorpe has since been a panellist on the popular Marngrook Footy Show.
Will Langford – Will is the son of Chris but was smaller at 187cm compared to Chris 195cm and had blond locks. Will played as utility, able to play either end or play a midfield tagging role. Will debuted in 2013 for just one game before a breakout year in 2014 of 19 games which included the 2014 Premiership in which he kicked three goals including a great dribble from the boundary. Will was dropped during the finals in 2015 and after being regular in 2016-2017 he played just six games in 2018 and was delisted.
Phil Baker – One of my really early memories/flashbacks as a child in football is Phil Baker. Not visually but hearing the name, as I was five when he retired. ‘Long bombs to Snake’ was the Gameplan for North Melbourne in the 1970s and with that gameplan Baker took speccies and kicked goals. Baker was recruited from Albury in 1971 and played 58 games between 1971-1975 before crossing to Geelong mid 1975 for nine games. Baker returned to North Melbourne in 1977 and kicked 35 from 21 games but enhanced his reputation with six goals in the drawn Grand Final and three in the replay. Baker kicked six goals in 1978 Grand Final, not good enough as Hawthorn defeated North Melbourne. After four games in 1979 Baker retired aged 27 with 106 games for 125 goals.
Simon Minton-Connell – Minton Connell was recruited from North Hobart as Pick 38 in the 1986 Draft and was the nephew of Peter Hudson. Minton-Connell debuted in 1989 wearing Number 53 and played one game for one disposal. Game two was Round 2, 1990 in Number 29 and he kicked seven goals in what was a six-goal loss to Collingwood. After getting injured in Round 3 Simon did not return until Round 16 and in Round 18 he kicked eight against Footscray. Simon played eight games for 26 goals in 1990; he continued to show promise despite injuries. At the end of the 1991 season Simon was traded to Sydney for Greg Williams and draft picks. In a very poor Sydney side Minton-Connell was a bright spot at Full Forward, he played 46 games in three years for 60, 41 and 68 goals with his best haul nine goals against Fitzroy in 1994. In 1995 Simon requested a trade to his uncle’s club Hawthorn, which was strange request as he was a Full Forward and Hawthorn had Jason Dunstall. After two seasons, 22 games for 26 goals with a best of eight at Hawthorn, Simon then went to Western Bulldogs in 1997 who emerged as very good team and he played 17 games for 43 goals but he missed their finals campaign. In 1998 Minton-Connell lost form and played just eight games for 10 goals, finishing up his career with 112 games for 305 goals.
Rex Deeath – Before my time, but gets in with a great name. Rex was recruited from Geelong West and played 13 games in two years and was a member of the 1975 Reserves Premiership team. Looking on AFL tables Rex must have being named on the bench in his first four games as he had two games with two disposals and two games with zero disposals.
Russell Greene – Greene started his career at St Kilda in 1974 aged 16 and played 120 games until Round 8 in 1980. The following week he was selected for St Kilda on the Thursday night and was told he was on Doug Hawkins, when he returned home from training he had a phone call from Don Scott and on the Friday was swapped to Hawthorn for Tony King and Mark Scott. Russell Greene lined up for Hawthorn on the Saturday and when he arrived he parked his car near good friend and North Melbourne opponent Stephen Icke who asked him if he was at the wrong game. Greene ended up playing 304 games, won three premiership, captained Victoria, and won VFLPA MVP in 1984 and VFL Team of the year in 1983-1984.
Gary Wilson – Wilson was a champion rover for Fitzroy over 268 games with 452 goals from 1971-1984. Captain from 1981-1984, Wilson won five Best & Fairests, was two-time All Australian and represented Victoria 12 times. In 1987 aged 33 and three years after retirement, Wilson was then a specialist coach at Fitzroy. Still fit, he was asked to consider a comeback mid-year with Fitzroy who were suffering financial problems; he was named as an emergency when they played West Coast in Round 13.
Fred Cook – Cook was recruited to Footscray from Footscray Tech Old Boys and made his debut aged 20 in 1967. Cook played 33 games and kicked two goals as a CHB from 1967-1969. Midway through 1969 Cook (along with six other players) was dropped from the seniors for attending a family BBQ at former coach Charlie Sutton’s house which club secretary Jack Collins thought would be a drunken night. After two weeks in the reserves Cook received an offer to join VFA club Yarraville where he played 29 games and won the 1970 Liston Medal. Yarraville was in Division 2 and Cook transferred to Port Melbourne in Division 1. Cook suffered a heart attack in a practice match in 1972 but made a comeback later in the year and was played at Full Forward from then on. Cook played 253 games from 1971-1984 at Port Melbourne for 1210 goals and 18 games for 72 goals at Moorabbin, giving him 300 VFA games for 1346 goals which is a VFA record. Cook won six premierships, kicked 10 goals in the 1974 Grand Final, and won the goalkicking five times with a best of 140 in 1982.
Fabian Francis – Francis debuted for Melbourne in 1991 aged 17 but played just one match as he did not enjoy Melbourne life. Originally from Darwin, he was convinced to join Brisbane in 1993. Francis played nine games in 1993 and 13 in the 1994 season before being delisted. Francis returned to Port Adelaide in the SANFL in 1996 where he played prior to being drafted. Francis was runner up in the 1996 Magarey Medal and was offered a place on the Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFL list where he played 86 games from 1997-2001. Francis had a pay dispute with Port Adelaide and quit the club with a promise that Fremantle would draft him in the Preseason Draft. However Fremantle were advised days prior they were over the salary cap so Francis could not be picked. Francis was told he would be the next season however he wrecked his knee playing for South Fremantle and he retired that year. Francis’s stepson is Number 1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis.
Gary Moorcroft – Moorcroft was a fan favourite of the Bombers for his short and stocky, yet explosive frame. Moorcroft won the 1994 Morrish Medal and was selected with Pick 45 in the 1994 draft. Given Number 46 he played one game in 1995 and none in 1996 and was delisted. He was then picked up on the rookie list. After 11 games in 1997 Moorcroft was placed back on the main list and given Number 29. Moorcroft was a regular from then on and was a member of the 2000 premiership side, he played 95 games for Essendon before going to Melbourne for three games in 2003. Moorcroft is best remembered for his Mark of the Year in 2001 over Brad Johnson in the goal square.
James Thiessen – Thiessen debuted for Richmond in 1993 aged 19 where he played seven games across the wing. Thieseen was delisted at the end of the year and went to Norwood where he spent the next four years, including the 1997 Premiership and a Fos Williams Medal. Thiessen came under the notice of Adelaide who drafted him with Pick 33. Thiessen played 24 games in 1998 and became a premiership player, he kicked one goal in the Grand Final with 17 disposals. After 18 games in 1999 Thiessen played just two games in 2000 and was delisted before a return to Norwood.
Forgotten Number 29s are James Sellar (Adel), Michael Gallagher (Carl), Brett Gloury & Matthew Lokan (Coll), Nick Walsh (Ess) Ramsay Bogunovich (Geel), Taylor Hine (GCS) Chris Lamb (Melb), Brett Mahoney & Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (Rich), Michael Rix (St.K), Pat Foy (Syd), Peter Higgins (WCE), Scott Allen (Foots)
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.
One-off financial contribution – CLICK HERE.
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE.
Leave a Comment