Almanac Teams: Saccharine Sixteen (1980- )

Adelaide’s David Marshall [Source: Author]
A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 16 jumper since 1980.
Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 16, mostly from 1980 onwards but I have made exceptions, such as Ross Oakley in Number 12.
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: Chris Bond (Carl) Phil Davis (Adel) Andrew McGovern (Syd)
CHB: Phillip Walsh (Rich) Mark Zanotti (Fitz) Brett Yorgey (Coll)
C: David Marshall (Adel) Terry Wallace (Rich) Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
CHF: Ian Low (Coll) Wayne Beddison (Ess) David Mundy (Freo)
FF: Randall Bone (Haw) Anthony Rocca (Syd) Brad Gotch (St.K)
Ruck: David Cloke (Rich) Anthony Harvey (St.K) Noel Lovell (Coll)
Interchange: Matthew Capuano (St.K), Clem Michael (Freo), Jason Mooney (Geel), Mark Richardson (Coll)
No players from Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, West Coast or the Western Bulldogs.
Games in Number 16 (Years played)
Chris Bond 18 (1991-1992)
Phil Davis 18 (2010-2011)
Andrew McGovern 20 (1992-1993)
Phillip Walsh 40 (1984-1986)
Mark Zanotti 57 (1993-1995)
Brett Yorgey 11 (1987)
David Marshall 26 (1991-1992)
Terry Wallace 11 (1987)
Scott Pendlebury 9 (2006)
Ian Low 11 (1980)
Wayne Beddison 10 (1983)
David Mundy 345 (2005- )
Randall Bone 18 (1995-1998)
Anthony Rocca 22 (1995-1996)
Brad Gotch 53 (1986-1993)
David Cloke 43 (1990-1991)
Anthony Harvey 4 (1994)
Noel Lovell 14 (1982-1984)
Matthew Capuano 25 (2001-2003)
Clem Michael 43 (1998-2000)
Jason Mooney 32 (1999-2001)
Mark Richardson 35 (1991-1995)
Chris Bond – Bond was a Best & Fairest winner at Richmond in 1994, playing 100 games at the Tigers before being traded to Fremantle where he was captain in 1999, his last season of football. Bond was a key player at Richmond, generally player a run-with role but also able to get his own ball. What is sometimes is forgotten is Bond started at Carlton and played 22 games between 1990-92. Bond struggled for games with similar players like Gleeson, Ratten, Heaver, Brown, De Lulio, Athorn and Arceri competition for similar spots.
Phil Davis – Davis was selected with Pick 10 by Adelaide in the 2008 Draft, recruited from North Adelaide. Davis debuted in 2010 and played 15 games, however due to injuries he only played three more in 2011. In August 2011 Davis was announced as the first player to sign with GWS, he would captain the new club from 2012-2019.
Andrew McGovern – McGovern was drafted with Pick 4 in 1991 by Sydney aged 24 from Claremont. McGovern was 177cm and a big-bodied midfielder who could play on-ball or Back Pocket. McGovern lasted just two years and 20 games before being delisted. McGovern had one year in the WAFL with Claremont before being drafted by Fremantle where he played 63 games in four years. He is the father of current players Jeremy and Mitch, and though almost 20cm smaller, has similar looks to Jeremy.
Phillip Walsh – Phillip Walsh was the VFL recruit of the year in 1983, he joined Collingwood as a 23 year old from country zone Hamilton. Walsh then found himself in the middle of the Collingwood and Richmond war of the 1980s. Twelve months after David Cloke and Geoff Raines joined Collingwood, a supposedly cashed up and carefree Richmond raided Collingwood and got their man. Walsh joined Richmond on big money but failed to reach the form of 1983 and had only three seasons at Richmond for 40 games including just 10 in 1986. Walsh was traded to Brisbane and in 1987 won a Best & Fairest, he played 60 games in four years for a total of 122 games. Walsh became a highly regarded coach, first as a fitness coach at Geelong between 1996-1999, assistant at Port Adelaide 2000-2008, West Coast 2008-2013, and Port Adelaide again in 2014 and then was appointed senior coach of Adelaide in 2015. Walsh coached the Crows for 12 games before passing away in the most tragic circumstances.
Mark Zanotti – Zanotti was an AFL cult figure known as the ‘Wildman of Borneo’. Zanotti started his career for West Coast playing in their inaugural match in 1987, 21 for the season and followed up with 15 the next year. However after 36 games in two seasons, Zanotti was traded to Brisbane after a fallout with Coach John Todd. Zanotti played 62 games in four seasons at Brisbane but was delisted after 1992. In 1993 Zanotti was drafted by Fitzroy aged 28 against the wishes of Fitzroy Board due to financial concerns. The $12,000 was raised by Robert Shaw and other Fitzroy coaching staff by selling raffle tickets at Vic Market, Footscray Market. Zanotti played 57 games in three seasons at Fitzroy. He was also lead singer of the band ‘Trial by Video’.
Brett Yorgey – Yorgey originally started at South Melbourne in the U19s and reserves but failed to play a game and left in 1982. Yorgey went and played in the WAFL having success as an onballer and came under the notice of Collingwood who recruited him at 26 years old. He played 11 games out of the last 12 in 1987 and kicked seven goals. Yorgey remained at Collingwood in 1988 but after not adding to his game tally he returned to Perth mid-1988. Yorgey went on to captain-coach Port Melbourne for three years from 1989.
David Marshall – Marshall was the oldest player on Adelaide’s list in 1991, turning 31 that year. Marshall starred in his debut game, he gathered 29 disposals and picked up two Brownlow votes. Marshall played 15 games and averaged 24 disposals per match. Marshall struggled with injury in 1992 and played just 11 games before he retired at the end of the season.
Terry Wallace – Wallace played 174 games for Hawthorn between 1978-1986, where he won three premierships and two Best & Fairest awards. In 1986 Wallace had a falling out with coach Allan Jeans and left to join Richmond. Wallace had a great start in yellow and black, a star in a shock win over Essendon with 34 disposals, three goals and three Brownlow votes. Wallace played 11 games, but his last was in Round 13. He missed the rest of the season with a back injury, after he’d averaged 25 disposals a game. Wallace left Richmond over a money issue: Richmond had none. He then had four years at Footscray for 69 games and two Best & Fairests. Wallace returned to Richmond as coach for 99 games between 2005-2009.
Scott Pendlebury – Pendlebury was somewhat considered a surprise Number 5 pick in 2005 draft. Pendlebury has strong basketball credentials, which not many people are aware of. While Dale Thomas starred early in his first few games, Pendlebury was not brought into the side until Round 10 and played nine games in a row that season averaging 13 disposals. The next year he wore Number 10, the number he has sported for a further 300 games, a premiership, Norm Smith Medal, captain since 2014, six-time All Australian and five-time Best & Fairest.
Ian Low – Low played 67 games for Footscray between 1975-1979, for 65 goals. Low joined Collingwood in 1980 aged 26 and played 11 games for 14 goals. He played the last 10 games of 1980 which included all finals. Low kicked four goals in his first game against St Kilda and then kicked four more in the Semi Final against Carlton. A quiet Grand Final with just two kicks turned out to be his last match before returning to Manuka. Low had one of the great big beards of the 1980 season.
Wayne Beddison – Beddison was recruited to Essendon from their country zone Dimboola aged 22 in 1983. In his first match Beddison took one of the marks of the year against Sydney and then in the return match in Round 12 he kicked six goals. Beddison finished the year with 10 games and 18 goals and played in the reserves premiership. Beddison though returned to Dimboola to play straight after the Grand Final. Despite constant calls from Kevin Sheedy, Beddison stayed on the farm near Dimboola and ended up a lentil farmer and exports them to 35 countries.
David Mundy – Mundy has being a star for Fremantle since debuting in 2005. He was captain of Fremantle in 2016, Best & Fairest in 2010 and All Australian in 2015. Mundy’s name brings bad memories for Richmond supporters; in 2015 he kicked a goal with 40 seconds to go to give Fremantle a four point victory against Richmond at the MCG. In 2017 against Richmond (again at the MCG) David Mundy marked with 21 seconds to go and kicked a goal after the siren to give Fremantle a two point win.
Randall Bone – Bone was a cult figure at Adelaide and Hawthorn, known for his big-boned stature (which went well with his surname). He played 12 games for 13 goals at Adelaide wearing Number 51 and had a good match against Hawthorn in the 1993 Elimination Final kicking 2 goals at a crucial time. Bone did not play a game in 1994 and was drafted by Hawthorn in 1995 where he played 16 games as backup forward/forward option.
Anthony Rocca – Rocca was drafted with pick 2 by Sydney in 1994 with Shannon Grant at Pick 3, (by 1998 Rocca, Grant and the previous year Number 1 pick Darren Gaspar had all left Sydney with none staying more than 3 years). This was deemed as a risky pick as Rocca was considered to be from a very close family in Melbourne and his brother Saverio was an emerging star player for Collingwood. Rocca did go to Sydney and played 22 games for 11 goals with a personal best 4 goals in his 6th game against Essendon. Rocca did not play in any finals in the Sydney’s 1996 Grand Final Campaign and after been named emergency in 1996 Grand Final, Rocca joined his older brother at Collingwood in a trade for Ben Wilson, Mark Orchard and draft selections. Rocca would add 220 games in 13 years at Collingwood.
Brad Gotch – Gotch at 165cm was the smallest player in the league for a period until Tony Liberatore debuted. Gotch started at Fitzroy and played 45 games in four years from his debut year in 1982, his first season consisted of 20 games and 38 goals. In 1986 Gotch joined St Kilda where he played 53 more games from 1986-1990. His best season was 1987 where he played 14 games for 24 goals including a bag of seven against former side Fitzroy. Gotch has coached Springvale, Williamstown (including the 2003 Premiership), Casey, South Adelaide and now West Adelaide as well as an assistant coach at Collingwood. His son Sebastian is a wicketkeeper for Victoria.
David Cloke – Cloke played 176 games for Richmond between 1974-1982, including the 1974 and 1980 Premierships and was captain for the 1982 Grand Final team. Cloke joined Collingwood in 1983, being one of the first trades in the Collingwood/Richmond wars. Cloke was more of ruck than forward at Collingwood and played 114 games from 1983-1989. In 1990 (aged 35) Cloke was the Number 1 Pick in 1990’s pre-season draft. Cloke had a good year as first ruck and played 21 games averaging 12 disposals. Cloke retired after the 1990 season but was convinced to have one more year and was re-drafted in with Pick 41. Cloke’s 1991 season was remarkable for his age, he received three Brownlow votes in Round 1 for his 29 disposal game and finished the year playing every match averaged 19 disposals and remarkably polled nine Brownlow votes in his final three games which the first two were in the ruck and his last game after struggling early against Justin Madden in the ruck, went forward to kick eight goals in a 15 point win.
Anthony Harvey – Harvey is the younger brother of Robert and played four games in 1994 with his best game being his last where he gathered 23 disposals. Harvey was delisted at end of the year aged 21 and went on to join Norwood in the SANFL for 122 games between 1995-2004. Harvey captained their 1997 Premiership with regular skipper Garry McIntosh unavailable. Harvey became captain full time from 1999-2001.
Noel Lovell – During Collingwood’s finals campaigns between 1979-1989, the Pies often had a player that had debut just before the finals. Players such as Mark Dreher in 1979, Stuart Atkin and Terry Domburg 1980, Ian McMullin, Ron McKeown and Darren Millane in 1984 and Brendan Tranter and Terry Hecker in 1989 are examples. Noel Lovell went one better, wearing Number 54 he debuted in the 1981 Preliminary Final. He totalled nine touches, and was named to start in the 1981 Grand Final on the bench – he garnered eight disposals in the big dance. Between 1982-1984 Lovell wore Number 16 and played 14 games, with his best being seven for 1982. Lovell is another name involved in the Collingwood/Richmond wars and played four games in two years for the Tigers.
Matthew Capuano – Capuano played the Round 9 match for St Kilda against Collingwood on the Saturday night in 2003, it was his sixth game for the year. As a ruck Capuano had a poor match with five disposals and just three hitouts. Three days later Capuano was not just dropped but sacked from St Kilda and his AFL career was over at age 27. Coach Grant Thomas had told Capuano his chances for the rest of the year would be limited and advised that in his best interests he would not be required. Capuano had averaged eight disposals in his six games for seven hit outs. In two and half seasons he played 25 games for the Saints after 82 games and two premierships in six seasons at North Melbourne.
Clem Michael – Michael is the son of champion Western Australian Stephen Michael, who many considered the best player in the WAFL not to play in the AFL. Clem was drafted to Fremantle in 1997 and made his debut in Round 1 in 1998. Michael showed promise as an undersized ruck/forward at 192cm, however at the end of the 2001 season he had to retire due to a knee injury that failed to heal.
Jason Mooney – Mooney is six years older than brother Cameron and was a similarly aggressive CHF, though at 191cm, he was slightly shorter. Jason started his career at Sydney where he played 97 games between 1992-1998 including the 1996 Grand Final. After his best season in 1998 where he played 21 games Mooney was traded to Geelong for Pick 8 in the draft. Mooney had an immediate impact with 15 games for 33 goals including a five goal haul. In 2000 he was joined by the younger Mooney, but they would not play together that season as Jason was injured after 12 games and was replaced by Cameron. The brothers would play three times together in 2001, however Jason would play his last game in Round 6 and with persistent knee issues he retired at the end of the season aged 28.
Mark Richardson – Richardson made his debut as an 18 year old in 1990. At 196cm he was much taller than his dad Wayne and uncle Max. Mark made his mark in Round 3 1991 when he kicked three goals then four more goals at Full Forward. After a couple of quiet games and a stint in the reserves, Richardson returned in Round 14 and kicked seven goals against Sydney then the next week kicked six against Adelaide. He finished the year with nine games and 23 goals (his most goals in a year). The next three years Richardson struggled with form and injuries playing just seven games for one goal. From 1995 Richardson wore Number 3 but mainly played as a defender or second ruckman. He played until 2002 and finished with 141 games and 83 goals, he was also named as emergency in the 2002 Grand Final.
Some of the forgotten Number 16s are: Simon Luhrs (Bris), Andrew Collins (Carl), Steven Pitt & Jason Wasley (Coll), Kepler Bradley (Ess), Joe Cormack (Fitz & WCE), David Hynes (Freo), Beau Dowler (Haw), Geoff Martin & Shane Morrison (Rich).
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Clearly remember watching that inaugural Crows game in 1991, how did Marshall not get the 3 votes!
Loved Zanotti, his Fitzroy years his best?
Pendles surely the greatest No.16 (and No.10) of all time.
Brett Yorgey, brother-in-law of David Rhys-Jones, was an intersting character who shared a few similar characteristics with his more famous relative. After vowing to put the c-nt back into Port Melbourne, he came down to Williamstown one day and made the mistake of giving Billy Swan (playing then with Willi) a little clip over the ears after Swanny had kicked a goal at the tennis club end. I suspect the Willi players were in waiting for Yorgey to do something coz they descended on him en-masse and the biggest brawl i have ever witnessed at a footy game took place. A dual premiership player from Willi and a very scary man, Wayne ‘Roo’ Muschialli, then proceeded to give Yorgey a damn good thrashing and Yorgey was last seen going down the race with a face resembling minced meat and I don’t think he ever played for Port again.
Thanks Luke
Zanetti was pretty fair at West Coast I think.
Pendles the greatest number 16 with a basketball background.
Thanks Wally great story, from what your hear Williamstown and Port Melbourne didn’t need much motivation against each other