Almanac Teams: The Balme(y) Iles; Obscure 36s (1980- )

 

 

Geelong’s Robert Neal [Source: Author]

 

A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 36 jumper since 1980.

 

 

Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 36, mostly from 1980 onwards but I have made exceptions, such as Glynn Hewitt in the Number 19 side.

 

 

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:        Robert Hickmott (Melb)               Matt Maguire (Bris)                         Sam Iles (GCS)

 

CHB:     Jason Cripps (St.K)                       Craig Balme (Rich)                          Paul Starbuck (Syd)

 

C:           Matthew Hannebery (Foots)        Josh Kennedy (Haw)                      Robert Neal (St.K)

 

CHF:     Dustin Martin (Rich)                    Martin Heffernan (Bris)                 Peter Maynard (Melb)

 

FF:         Jim Silvestro (Syd)                       David Cameron (Geel)                   Stephen Williams (Bris)

 

Ruck:    Joel Tippett (NM)                           Brayden Sier (Coll)                         Jose Romero (NM/WB)

 

Interchange: Josh Honey (Carl), Quenton Leach (Freo), Kevin O’Keefe (Fitz), James Stewart (GWS)

 

No players from Adelaide, Essendon, Port Adelaide or West Coast.

 

 

 

 

Games in Number 36 (Years played)

Robert Hickmott 2 (1990)

Matt Maguire 71 (2010-2015)

Sam Iles 26 (2011-2012)

Jason Cripps 11 (1996)

Craig Balme 3 (1983)

Paul Starbuck 1 (1990)

Matthew Hannebery 32 (1986-1990)

Josh Kennedy 3 (2008)

Robert Neal 16 (1987)

Dustin Martin 21 (2010)

Martin Heffernan 2 (1993)

Peter Maynard 8 (1980-1981)

Jim Silvestro 8 (1988)

David Cameron 41 (1986-1990)

Stephen Williams 4 (1987)

Joel Tippett 7 (2014-2015)

Brayden Sier 28 (2016-2021)

Jose Romero 58 at North Melbourne (1988-1992) 105 at Footscray/Western Bulldogs (1996-2001)

Josh Honey 6 (2020- )

Quenton Leach 56 (1995-1998)

Kevin O’Keefe 1 (1982)

James Stewart 18 (2013-2016)

 

 

 

Robert Hickmott – Hickmott was recruited originally from Wangaratta Rovers to Essendon in 1988 but did not play a game. Hickmott was selected by Melbourne in the 1990 Preseason Draft. He debuted in Round 12 and played in Round 13. Hickmott stayed on the list until the end of 1991 but did not play another game. Once football finished Hickmott joined his dad at Murray Bridge as an assistant trainer. He also worked for other trainers at Caulfield and joined Lloyd Williams at his stable in 2001; he was appointed head trainer for Lloyd Williams in 2009. Amongst Hickmott’s training wins are two Melbourne Cups in 2012 with Green Moon and 2016 with Almandin.

 

 

Matt Maguire – Maguire played 99 games for St Kilda from 2002 to 2008. A regular player for the Saints who suffered a couple of horrific injuries – including a broken leg in 2006 and stress fractures in the foot which restricted him to 14 games between 2007-2008 and miss the whole of 2009 – he was delisted at the end of 2009. Maguire was also the recipient of a Barry Hall tap in the stomach in the 2005 Preliminary Final, after which Hall was cleared to play in the following week’s Grand Final. Maguire was drafted with Pick 91 in the 2009 National Draft by Brisbane and was able to regain fitness and confidence he retired due to concussion in 2015 aged 30.

 

 

Sam Iles – Iles initially started his career at Collingwood after being drafted with Pick 2 in the 2006 Preseason Draft. Iles played seven games for Collingwood between 2006-2007 but was delisted after 2008. He was then selected by Gold Coast with Pick 3 in the 2009 Rookie Draft and played for Gold Coast’s VFL side in 2010. After 16 games in 2011 and 10 in 2012 (with none after Round 14) Iles was delisted after 2012 and returned to Box Hill Hawks where he played in a premiership.

 

 

Jason Cripps – Cripps was drafted with Pick 35 in 1995 and debuted in Round 3, 1996. Cripps played 11 games in 1996 and moved to Number 18 for 1997 where he played 23 games including the 1997 Grand Final. In Round 7, 1998 Cripps tore his hamstring off the bone and with more injury setbacks did not play another game until Round 15, 2001. In his comeback game Cripps scored a goal with his first kick back but only played two games for the season. He played 20 games in 2002 but was delisted at the end of the year at age of 25 after 60 games. Cripps has been Port Adelaide’s list manager since 2012.

 

 

Craig Balme – Craig is the younger brother of Neil (by nine years) who came from Subiaco to play for Richmond’s U19s. Craig debuted in Round 3, 1983 aged 22 and played his only three games in Rounds 3, 4 and 5 with a best of nine disposals. He then played with Norwood in 1984 where his brother Neil was coach; he had a successful career at the Redlegs with 254 games between 1984-1995, including a premiership in 1984.

 

 

Paul Starbuck – Starbuck started at Carlton U19s in 1984 from Castlemaine and played five years of U19s and reserves without a senior game. Starbuck did play a night match quarter final in 1984 and reserves premiership in 1987. He played at Castlemaine in 1989 and was then drafted by former reserves coach Col Kinnear in the 1990 Preseason Draft. Starbuck played in Round 12 against Fitzroy aged 23 and gathered 11 disposals in a 45 point loss. In 2002 Starbuck featured in the reality TV show ‘The Club’ on Channel 7 and would play a couple of games in an injury-interrupted season with the Hammerheads.

 

 

Matthew Hannebery – Matthew is the father of current Saint Daniel and brother of Collingwood and Essendon player Mark. Matthew joined Footscray in 1986 from Old Xaverians and debuted aged 21 in 1986 when he played two games. In five seasons Matthew played 32 games; his best season was 1989 with 13 games, all from Round 8 to 21, his best game came in Round 20 with 30 disposals. Matthew coached Old Xaverians from 1993-1994 and in 1995 was captain of their premiership team. Brother Mark played 62 games while son Daniel has played over 200 for Sydney and St Kilda.

 

 

Josh Kennedy – Josh comes from a family of football royalty: his grandfather John Kennedy Snr is in the Australian Football Hall of Fame as a Legend and four-time Hawthorn premiership coach and his dad is John Jnr played 241 games for Hawthorn and in four premierships. On his mother’s side he is the nephew of Peter Russo and cousin of Luke Ball. Josh was drafted by Hawthorn with Pick 40 in the 2006 Draft and debuted for Hawthorn in Round 9, 2008 when he played three games in a row. In 2009 Kennedy played ten games for the year but at the end of the season he was advised opportunities would be limited as Hawthorn had players like Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis who were all very similar. Kennedy was traded to Sydney for Pick 39 and since then his career has flourished. Kennedy was a premiership player in 2012, captain from 2017-2021, Gary Ayres Medallist in 2016, three time Best & Fairest winner and three time All Australian in his 250+ games at the Swans.

 

 

Robert Neal – Commonly known as ‘Scratcher’, Neal is one of the many redheads like Neville Bruns, Damian Bourke and Barry Stoneham who played for Geelong in the 1980s. Neal was recruited to Geelong from Wynyard and debuted in 1974 aged 17. He played for Geelong for 1974-1986 wearing the Number 35 in 200 games for the Cats. Neal’s best season was in 1976 where he polled 23 Brownlow votes. In 1987 aged 30 Neal was traded to St Kilda and wore the Number 36 there for the last 16 games of the year. In 1987 Neal regained his Number 35 with David Grant’s move to a lower number, however due to injuries Neal only played four more games and retired with 220 to his name.

 

 

Dustin Martin – Dusty, like Paul Starbuck, came from Castlemaine. He was selected with Pick 3 in the 2009 AFL Draft. He debuted in Round 1, 2010 wearing the Number 36. Dusty played 21 games for 11 goals at an of average 20 disposals a game. Martin had to wait until his ninth game before a win and he perhaps could have won the Rising Star award in 2010 if it was not for a fine for his involvement in a melee. In 2011 Martin first wore the famous Number 4 and has gone on to become one of the game’s greats in 250+ games, three premierships, the only player to win three Norm Smith Medallists, a Brownlow Medal, two Best & Fairests, four times All Australian and three time winner of the Gary Ayres Medal.

 

 

Martin Heffernan – Heffernan started his career at Geelong, he played three games in 1992 at age 19 having come from Terang. Heffernan was delisted at the end of 1992 and chosen by Brisbane with Pick 3 in the 1993 Preseason Draft. He played two games for Brisbane in 1993 (Round 12 and 19) but was delisted at the end of the year with five games in total. Post football Heffernan became a PGA professional golfer; his best result (that I can see) was 53rd in a WA PGA event.

 

 

Peter Maynard – Maynard joined Melbourne aged 20 in 1980 from their zone Shepparton and played Rounds 17-19; he gathered 20 disposals in his first two games. In 1981 Maynard came into the side in Round 5 and got 23 disposals in Rounds 5 and 6 but only played three games that year, he finished his time at Melbourne with eight games and one goal. Maynard played for Glenelg from 1982-1990 over 196 games and then 21 games for West Torrens in 1991. Peter is the father of current Collingwood back Brayden and Corey, who played two games for Melbourne in 2017-2018.

 

 

Jim Silvestro – Jim was a cult figure at Sydney when he debuted for the Swans in Round 3, 1988 aged 24. Jim was drafted from Traralgon with Pick 19 in the 1987 Draft and at 173cm was a small forward/rover who stood out with his helmet. Silvestro played eight games for seven goals with his best game against West Coast in Round 12 where the Swans won and Jim kicked four. He only played two more games in Rounds 13 and 22 before he was delisted.

 

 

David Cameron – Cameron joined Geelong from their country zone Echuca and debuted in 1986 aged 22. In Cameron’s ninth game against North Melbourne in 1987, he kicked eight goals in a 97 point win and then followed up with 13 goals in three of the next four weeks. Cameron played 13 games in 1988 and in 1989 played the first five games for six goals but did not play another game in the home and away season with similar mid-sized forwards in Ablett, Exell and Lindner picked ahead of him. After a thrashing in the qualifying final, Cameron was recalled for the semi and would play the remaining finals including the famous 1989 Grand Final. Cameron kicked six goals in the finals series which included two goals (including the last goal) in the grand final. After six games for 14 goals with a best bag of five in 1990, Cameron was traded to Brisbane with Shane Hamilton for Pick 1 in 1990 draft which was used on Stephen Hooper. He played 15 games for 26 goals at Brisbane with a single bag of six but left at the end of the year with total of 56 games.

 

 

Stephen Williams – Stephen is the younger brother of Mark and was drafted by Brisbane with Pick 40 in 1986. Stephen debuted aged 25 in Round 3 against St Kilda and was selected with his brother Mark. Stephen played just four games for two goal; two of those games were with Mark. Stephen re-joined Port Adelaide where he played from 1979-1986 and 1988-1995 for 268 games and six premierships. He took over the reins at Port Adelaide’s SANFL side when John Cahill became Power’s coach from 1996-2003 and won three premierships.

 

 

Joel Tippett – Joel is 18 months younger than brother Kurt and at 197cm was 5cm shorter. Joel was originally rookie listed by Brisbane twice in 2007 & 2009 but did not play a game. He was also rookied by Gold Coast in 2011 and played two games, he debuted in Round 22. Tippett played for West Adelaide in 2012 and 2013 and was taken by North Melbourne with Pick 8 in the 2014 Rookie Draft. He played for games in 2014 and three in 2015 before he was delisted at the end of 2016 with nine career games.

 

 

Phill Inn (aka Brayden Sier) – Sier was a big bodied midfielder at 191cm tall who was drafted with Pick 32 in 2015. Sier debuted in Round 15 of 2018 and stayed in for the remaining 12 games which included all four Pies finals. His best game was in the Qualifying Final with 26 disposals and he had 21 disposals in the  2018 Grand Final. Sier struggled with injury for the rest of his career; he played just 16 games in the next three seasons. Sier is best remembered for an incident in 2019 where when injured he played a local basketball game under the nom-de-guerre ‘Phill Inn’.

 

 

Jose Romero – Romero is the first AFL footballer born in Chile; he came to Australia when he was seven. Romero made his debut in 1988 aged 17 and played the last two games of the season. He wore Number 36 from 1988-1992 and changed to Number 1 in 1993-1994. Romero was a semi regular for North over 89 games but left after he was dropped for the 1994 Preliminary Final. Romero wore Number 11 in 1995 at the Bulldogs before he moved back to Number 36 from 1996. Romero won the Best & Fairest in 1996 and was an important midfield cog under Terry Wallace; he mainly played tagging roles with his other ‘amigos’ Tony Liberatore and Paul Dimattina. Romero finished with 211 games, 89 at the Kangaroos and 122 at the Bulldogs.

 

 

Josh Honey – Honey was drafted by Carlton with Pick 3 in the 2020 Rookie Draft. Josh’s dad is Neil who won a bronze medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in the pole vault; his mother Diane represented Australia 17 times in netball and is now an assistant coach at the Melbourne Vixens, the club his sister plays for. Josh’s uncle is Gary Honey who won a silver medal in the long jump at the 1984 Olympics. Honey made his debut in 2020 for one game and since played five games in 2021 for six goals.

 

 

Quenton Leach – Leach was an original Docker, he played 56 games in four years including 19 in Fremantle’s first year, 1995. His time in football is best remembered for a goal after the siren from 30m out against Brisbane in 1997 to give Fremantle a five-point win. Leach sadly passed away from cancer in 2020 aged 47.

 

 

Kevin O’Keefe – O’Keefe like Martin Heffernan was originally from Terang. He debuted for Fitzroy in 1973, and played 92 games in Number 11 until 1979. O’Keefe played at East Perth in 1980-1981 before he returned to Fitzroy in 1982 aged 29, this time in Number 36. He played just one game in 1982. He is sadly best remembered for an unfortunate collision in 1975 with Footscray’s Neil Sachse which left the latter a quadriplegic.

 

 

James Stewart – Stewart is the son of former Collingwood and Richmond tall Craig and was eligible to play for Collingwood as a Father-Son since Craig played 115 games there, but James declined. He was selected with Pick 27 by GWS in the 2012 Draft and played one game in 2013. Stewart’s best year was 2015, he played 13 games for 15 goals but after just one game in 2016 he was traded to Essendon where he has since played 54 games.

 

 

Some of the forgotten Number 36s are Brodie Martin (Adel), Michael Garvey (Carl), Andrew Tarpey (Coll), Tyson Slattery (Ess) Wayne Lamb (Fitz), Tom Ruggles (Geel), Derick Wanganeen (Haw), Grant Williams (Melb), Stephen Carter (NM), Jarrod Silvester (Rich), Geoff Fidler (St.K), Mark Whitzell (Syd), Callum Wilson (WCE) and Brad Lynch (WB).

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. Craig Balme is also remembered by many of us for his goal square ‘dust-up’ with Port’s Tim Evans during the national anthem ahead of the 1984 grand final. Good times!

  2. Malcolm Ashwood says

    Great to see Craig Balme and Peter Maynard mentioned ( please fix re Craig Balme a vital member of
    Norwood’s History Makers 1984 premiership side coming from 5th spot at the end of the minor round not 94 )

  3. Thanks for the kind words Greg & Malcolm, apologies for the typo on 94 instead of 84

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