Almanac Teams: The other 27 club (1980- )

 

 

 

 

A team of more obscure/lesser known players to wear the Number 27 jumper since 1980.

 

 

Here’s my second team of players to wear the Number 27, mostly from 1980 onwards but I have made exceptions, such as Peter McKenna.

 

 

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:         Graeme Allan (Coll)                  John Baird (NM)                               Tom Harley (PA)

 

CHB:     Des English (Carl)                     Matthew Spangher (Syd/Haw)       Sean Wight (Melb)

 

C:           Joel Garner (PA)                        Maurice Rioli (Rich)                         Sanford Wheeler (Syd)

 

CHF:     Barry Breen (St.K)                     Stevan Jackson (WCE)                     Sam Lloyd (Rich)

 

FF:         Jamie Cooper (Fitz)                  Peter McKenna (Carl)                       Ricky O’Loughlin (Adel)

 

Ruck:    Matthew Rendell (Bris)            Dean Greig (St.K)                               Mark McGough (Coll)

 

Interchange: Jason Blake (St.K), Jeff Gieschen (Foots), Keith Miller (St.K), Luke O’Sullivan (Carl)

 

No players from Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast or GWS.

 

 

Games in Number 27 (Years played)

Graeme Allan 22 (1983-1986)

John Baird 32 (2003-2005)

Tom Harley 1 (1998)

Des English 104 (1980-1986)

Matthew Spangher 6 at Sydney (2011) 24 at Hawthorn (2013-2016)

Sean Wight 150 (1985-1995)

Joel Garner 4 (2019)

Maurice Rioli 33 (1986-1987)

Sanford Wheeler 41 (1990-1994)

Barry Breen 37 (1966-1967)

Stevan Jackson 38 (1989-1991)

Sam Lloyd 49 (2015-2019)

Jamie Cooper 16 (1986-1987)

Peter McKenna 11 (1977)

Ricky O’Loughlin 9 (2000-2001)

Matthew Rendell 13 (1992)

Dean Greig 33 (1991-1994)

Mark McGough 37 (2002-2004)

Jason Blake 206 (2001-2013)

Jeff Gieschen 22 (1975-1978)

Keith Miller 50 (1940-1942, 1946)

Luke O’Sullivan 52 (1990-1997)

 

 

Graeme Allan – Allan started his career at Fitzroy in 1975 and played 87 games in six seasons before transferring to Collingwood in 1981. Allan wore Number 33 in 1981-1982 and played in the 1981 Grand Final. In 1983 Allan changed to Number 27 to allow new recruit David Cloke to wear Number 33. Allan played 54 games at Collingwood before retiring after one game in 1986 to become football manager alongside Leigh Matthews for the 1990 Premiership and then followed ‘Lethal’ to Brisbane and three premierships. After that he went on to GWS and St Kilda. Allan’s time as a player is best known for an incident in 1984 at the Western Oval. With Collingwood up by one point very late in the last quarter, Allan received a free kick in the back pocket and tried to pass to Greg Phillips in the other pocket, this kick was intercepted by Simon Beasley who kicked truly to give the Bulldogs a five point win.

 

 

John Baird – Baird was recruited from Box Hill onto North Melbourne’s rookie list in 2002 having won the Norm Goss Medal for Best on Ground in 2001 VFL Grand Final. In his first two seasons Baird was a regular in the North Melbourne backline, he played 34 games, but over the next two seasons he played 12 games with just four in 2005. Baird went to Port Adelaide’s SANFL side initially after the AFL and in 2007 joined Port Melbourne where he played 206 games and captained the 2011 Premiership side.

 

 

Tom Harley – Harley was on the inaugural list for Port Adelaide in 1997. Harley spent the majority of the season with Norwood’s reserves and in 1998 he debuted for Port Adelaide in Round 14 against Geelong where he had one kick and a goal. Little did anyone know then that Harley would go on and be a two time AFL premiership captain – for his opponents, no less. Harley was traded for Pick 37 to Geelong in the 1998 AFL draft. Harley wore Number 37 in his first three seasons for Geelong – he also debuted for his new club in Round 14. Once Harley was in the team he stayed in, and played 197 games for Geelong from 1999-2009, was appointed captain in 2007, All Australian in 2008 and was Premiership skipper 2007 & 2009. After a stint at Channel 7 he became General Manager of Football at Sydney and in 2019 their CEO.

 

 

Des English – English was recruited to Carlton from their zone in Eaglehawk. English debuted aged 22 in 1980, he played 12 games. English was a regular in Carlton’s backline from 1980-1986 for 104 games that included the 1981-1982 Premierships. English played for Victoria in 1983 and made the VFL team of the year. English’s last game was the losing 1986 Grand Final to Hawthorn. A few weeks later English was diagnosed with leukaemia and his AFL career was over at age 30. Carlton dedicated their season and flag in 1987 to Des English and Peter Motley. Though English never played another game, he did make a full recovery.

 

 

Matthew Spangher – Spangher was a football journeyman and cult figure in nine seasons and 56 games. Spangher was drafted by West Coast in 2005 with Pick 4 and made his debut against Sydney in Round 4 2008. He played 26 games in three seasons at West Coast with 11 games in 2009 his best, mainly playing as a defender. At the end of 2010 he was delisted and drafted by Sydney where he played one game in Round 16 and then the last five games of the season – including both of Sydney’s finals. Spangher also played up forward and kicked a goal every game including three in the last round. Spangher was delisted again in 2012 after not playing a game that season. Hawthorn drafted him in 2013; he played four games including a final. The star of Spangher rose in 2014, he played 15 games as a defender and a key role in the Hawks’ Premiership. Cult status was further assured with a Facebook page that compared his likeness to Jesus. Spangher only played five games after that premiership and retired in 2016. He is set to join the 2022 Bulldogs coaching group.

 

 

Sean Wight – Wight was born in Glasgow and was spotted by Ron Barassi in 1982 playing Gaelic Football. Wight is considered to be the first player to play AFL from Ireland. Wight made his debut in 1985 aged 21 and played five games for seven goals including two bags of three. After six games in 1986, Wight blossomed as a footballer, he played 21 games in 1987 while Melbourne made the finals for the first time in 23 years. Wight made the VFL team of the year in 1987 and was joined by fellow Irishman, Jim Stynes, in the seniors. He played every game including the Grand Final in 1988. Wight injured his knee in 1990 and with loss of form on top he played just 28 games in four years. Wight regained form in 1994 and played every game and 21 games in 1995 before announcing his shock retirement at the end of the year. Wight served as a Melbourne director but resigned after Neil Balme was sacked and sadly passed away from cancer in 2011.

 

 

Joel Garner – Garner was born in Barbados in 1952 and at 203cm had the nickname Big Bird. Garner played 58 tests for the West Indies from 1977-1987 and took 259 wickets with a best of 6/56. He was then drafted by Port Adelaide with Pick 60 in the 2017 draft where he played four games (all in 2019) before being delisted at end of 2021 – not a bad effort for a man of almost 70!

 

 

Maurice Rioli – Rioli was a champion for South Fremantle and Richmond. He started his career at St Marys in the NTFL. Rioli played 168 games for South Fremantle from 1975-1981 and 1988-1990. Rioli joined Richmond in 1982 aged 24 and played 118 games until 1987. Rioli won two Best & Fairests at Richmond in 1982-1983 and was a runner up in the 1983 Brownlow Medal. He earlier won a premiership with South Fremantle in 1980. Remarkably Rioli won the Simpson Medal in 1980-1981 for Best on Ground in the WAFL Grand Final and then won the Norm Smith Medal in 1982. Rioli was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2016. Post football Rioli was a Member of Parliament in the NT from 1992-2001. Rioli had seven brothers who apparently were all very good footballers but only Willie was drafted by Hawthorn – he did not play a game. Maurice’s nephews in Willie (born 1995), Dean and Cyril all played while his great nephew Daniel and son Maurice Jnr are currently at Richmond.  In 1986 Rioli was courted by Sydney and had signed with the Swans, however he had to be let go because of salary cap issues. Essendon and South Fremantle tried to get him to play too, but Rioli eventually stayed at Richmond and played his first game of the year in Round 9. However Number 17 had being handed to Michael Lockman as Richmond thought they had lost Rioli so Rioli wore 27. Weirdly Lockman was traded to Collingwood midyear. In 1987 Rioli stayed in Number 27 while Craig Smith wore Number 17, and after the struggles of 1986, Rioli played his best game in 1987 in front of Perth crowd in West Coast’s debut game. Despite Richmond’s loss after having a six goal lead at three-quarter time, Rioli had 37 disposals and kicked two goals in a superb effort. Rioli finished fourth in the Best & Fairest and moved back to Perth at the end of the season. He unfortunately passed away in 2010.

 

 

Sanford Wheeler – Wheeler started his career at Sydney in 1989 as Matthew Wheeler but changed his name later to his birth name Sanford, as Matthew was his middle name. Wheeler was born in California and moved to Sydney at the five years old. Wheeler was the first African-American player to play in the AFL. Wheeler debuted in 1989 wearing Number 48 for two games before he moved to Number 27 in 1990. He played 43 games in six seasons with the best 12 in 1993, sadly he only managed to sing the song six times. In 1993 Wheeler suffered a serious knee injury in Round 17 and played only seven games in 1994 before being delisted. Wheeler moved back to California in 2000 to work for Merrill Lynch but passed away suddenly in 2020 aged 49.

 

 

Barry Breen – Barry Breen wore four numbers for St Kilda. In 1965 he played four games in Number 41, 37 games in Number 27 from 1966-1967, 101 games in Number 17 from 1968-72 and then took over Number 4 from Darrel Baldock and played 158 games from 1973-1984. In total Breen played 300 games for 308 goals as HFF/CHF. Number 27 Breen is the most famous version; as an 18 year old in game 25 for the Saints, Breen had a snap at goal from approx. 30 metres on a slight angle with only minutes to go that gave St Kilda a one point win. Breen’s contribution that day was 17 kicks, which provided 0.4 to the score. Breen was the first player at St Kilda to play 300 games, he captained the club in 1979 and won the goal kicking in 1970 with 35 goals. Breen was also General Manager of the Swans for a short time in the 1980s as well as a television commentator for Broadcom in 1987.

 

 

Stevan Jackson – Jackson was West Coast’s first pick as a pre-draft selection in 1988 ahead of Don Pyke, Peter Sumich, Craig Turley and Scott Watters. Jackson stood at 190cm and a big-boned 102kg and in his first game as a 19 year old he kicked six goals against Brisbane. Jackson kicked five against Geelong later in the year and kicked 38 goals from 16 games while fellow debutant Peter Sumich kicked 45 from 19. Despite a disappointing 1989 West Coast looked like they had found two key forwards for the future. However Jackson’s work ethic and body frame did not fit new coach Mick Malthouse and he struggled for form. Jackson played 15 games in 1990 for 20 goals but was recalled for West Coast last two finals and kicked three goals in each match. In 1991 Jackson played seven games for 10 goals and was traded with Todd Breman for Trent Nichols and Pick 16 from Richmond. Jackson played 19 games in 1992 for 29 goals but then only two games in 1993 before he injured his knee, missed the second half of the season and all of 1994. Richmond’s wining ways and the form of Matthew Richardson, Brendon Gale and Stuart Edwards meant Jackson played in the seconds. When Richo injured his knee and Edwards lost form, Jackson was delisted instead of being recalled for discipline reasons.

 

 

Sam Lloyd – Lloyd was drafted as a mature aged recruit with Pick 66 in the 2013 draft. Lloyd had being recruited from Frankston and previously Deniliquin where he had kicked 100 goals. Lloyd wore Number 42 in his first game when he debuted aged 24 against Collingwood and showed his goal sense with three goals. After eight games in 2014, Lloyd moved to Number 27 in 2015 and played 12 games for 13 goals, being omitted three times including the finals. Despite Richmond having a bad year in 2016 Lloyd played 22 games for 35 goals and kicked three goals five times. His most well known goal is the one after the siren from 50 metres against Sydney which snapped a six-game losing streak. Lloyd struggled for games in 2017, he played just eight due to Richmond’s much improved form. He won the Norm Goss Medal for best player in the 2017 VFL Grand Final. Lloyd showed good form in the midfield in 2018 but still struggled for games despite an average of 16 disposals a game. Lloyd then moved to the Bulldogs in 2019 and played 32 games in two seasons; he led the goal kicking with 38 goals in 2019.

 

 

Jamie Cooper –Cooper was a fringe player for Fitzroy over 26 games from 1984-1987, he wore 46 in his first two seasons, before he moved to 27 in 1986 – his best season with 13 games. Cooper though is now best known for his artwork for the AFL, cricket, European soccer clubs and Major League Baseball. Cooper has painted team of the century prints for many of the original twelve Victorian clubs, including incorporating himself holding the banner in Fitzroy’s, he has also painted several premiership photos, famous players and the Indigenous Team of the Century. In 2008 he completed an uncommissioned dream scene of major league baseball team the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies were so impressed they hung it in their foyer and purchased it outright. Cooper has also being commissioned by major soccer clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid to do similar prints.

 

 

Peter McKenna – McKenna debuted as an 18 year old for Collingwood in 1965 in Number 15 before he went to Number 6 in 1966. McKenna became a regular in 1968 and kicked 98 goals in 1969, 143 in 1970, 134 in 1971, 130 in 1972 and 86 in 1973. He played 180 games for 838 goals at Collingwood from 1965-1975, won the Coleman Medal in 1972-1973, Copeland trophy in 1970 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. McKenna was so popular he released a song in 1971 and hosted ‘Hey Hey Its Saturday’ before being replaced by an ostrich puppet. McKenna kicked 69 goals in 1974 but in 1975 after 11 games he had 26 goals before he was dropped for Round 12. He then sustained a nasty kidney injury in the reserves and missed the rest of the year. In 1976 McKenna played 17 games for Devonport for 79 goals and returned to the mainland hoping to be picked up again by Collingwood. Collingwood were not that interested and McKenna signed with rivals Carlton, where he played 11 games for 36 goals. His best effort was six goals against Melbourne, while in his only game against Collingwood he kicked thre in a 102 point loss. McKenna then went to play in the VFA with Geelong West, Port Melbourne and Northcote before having a long career at Channel 7 as a commentator where he formed a great chemistry with Sandy Roberts and Don Scott especially in the Army Reserve Cup matches on a Sunday.

 

 

Ricky O’Loughlin – Ricky is two years younger than his brother Michael and was 183cm as opposed to Michael’s 189cm. Ricky was drafted with Pick 51 in the 1999 draft by Adelaide and debuted in Round 5, 2000 against Brisbane. He failed to get a disposal and was dropped until Round 11. O’Loughlin played a further six games for the year and kicked two goals. In 2001 O’Loughlin played just two games and did not kick a goal. Ricky was delisted after 2001 and was placed on Sydney’s rookie list in 2002 but did not play a game.

 

 

Matthew Rendell – Rendell was recruited to Fitzroy in 1981 aged 21 from West Torrens. At 200cm Rendell was very mobile as he could play ruck/forward. In his first year Rendell kicked 45 goals, sharing ruck duties with Ron Alexander in his last year and the forward line with 1981 Brownlow medallist Bernie Quinlan. Rendell played 164 games for Fitzroy for 101 goals; he was captain from 1985-1987 and Best & Fairest in 1982-1983. In 1984 Rendell kicked only nine goals from 12 games with eight of them in one match against North Melbourne, where he also added 27 hit outs. Amazingly at the time, before that Round 13 match North Melbourne was first and Fitzroy third. Fitzroy won 34.16.220 to North 10.10.70, with Fitzroy kicking 21.8 to 2.7 after half time. Rendell retired after only four games in 1991, however his old coach Robert Walls convinced him to join Brisbane for one more year in 1992 as Brisbane somehow did not have any rucks. Rendell made his debut for Brisbane in Round 11 (Brisbane ruck for the first 10 games was Daryl White at 189cm), and played 13 games. He generally played very good football at the Bears, and totalled 21 disposals in his first game. Rendell finished with 13 games and seven goals and later worked as an assistant coach at St Kilda and a recruiter at Adelaide and Collingwood.

 

 

Dean Greig – Greig joined St Kilda from Camberwell as Pick 43 in the 1991 Pre Season draft. Greig was a ball magnet which was evident on debut in Round 21 against Carlton where he collected 39 disposals and two Brownlow votes. Greig kept his spot for the last four games of the season including an Elimination Final – he got 20 or more disposals in each game. Greig played 16 games in 1992 at an average of 20 disposals a game. However in 1993-1994 Greig’s input dropped; hamstring injuries in 1993 reduced him to seven games and two suspensions in 1994 including a box on with Gavin Brown (Brown got two weeks, Greig four), reduced Greig to five games. Greig was delisted at the end of the season and perhaps surprisingly considering his career start was not given a second chance.

 

 

Mark McGough – McGough was drafted with Pick 43 in 2001 by Collingwood. McGough debuted as a 17 year old still at school in Round 4 against Hawthorn with 22 disposals, two goals and two Brownlow votes. In his second game in the wet on ANZAC Day McGough was Best on Ground with 24 disposals, three Brownlow votes and the ANZAC Medal. McGough missed only two games until Round 22 but his form slipped and he was dropped; he did not return to the side for finals. In 2003 McGough struggled as he lacked a yard of pace and had a reputation as just a wet weather player, he only played eight games with 20 disposals his best. McGough’s first game in 2004 was ANZAC Day for 29 disposals, two goals and two Brownlow votes and very nearly a second ANZAC Medal. The next week McGough got a career best 33 touches against Port Adelaide and two more Brownlow votes. However McGough’s form slipped and he was dropped after Round 13 and not recalled until Round 20 where he struggled in the last three games and was delisted aged 20 after 37 games. McGough was drafted with Pick 49 in 2004 by St Kilda but struggled to play 12 games in two seasons, his AFL career was over at the end of 2006.

 

 

Jason Blake – Blake was picked up by St Kilda with Pick 24 in the 1999 Draft and debuted in 2000 wearing number 39 before he moved to 27 in 2001. He played 219 games all up as both a small and tall defender and during the Grant Thomas years of ‘not tall’ rucks he played as a mobile ruck. Blake was a member of the 2009-2010 Grand Final sides but is best remembered for his 210^th game against Gold Coast in 2012. In this game he had 21 disposals and kicked one goal and polled his first Brownlow votes (two). Blake held the record for most games without a Brownlow vote, next in line was Ross Henshaw with 167. In his last game in Round 23, 2012 he polled one more Brownlow vote after another 21 disposal and one goal game against Fremantle.

 

 

Jeff Gieschen – Gieschen debuted at Footscray in 1972 in Number 42 having been recruited from the Bulldogs zone in Maffra. In 1973 Gieschen wore 27 and played 24 games at Footscray in five years with nine his most in 1976. In 1979 Gieschen returned to Maffra to coach for several seasons before coaching Wodonga in 1986; they won two premierships under his charge. Jeff then coached West Perth from 1992-1994 and took them to a Grand Final in 1993. He then joined Geelong as an assistant coach from 1995-1996. Gieschen moved to Richmond in 1997 as reserves coach and led them to a flag. When Robert Walls was sacked with five rounds to go, Gieschen was appointed coach and won four out of last five including victories over finalists North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. Richmond ‘unleashed the Giesch’ and appointed him coach in 1998. 1998 was a strange year Richmond won 12 lost 10, never at any stage lost two in a row and beat the two Grand Finalists Adelaide (in Adelaide) and North Melbourne but still finished in dreaded ninth. In 1999 Richmond struggled and Gieschen resigned with a very good record for a Richmond coach at the time: 49 games for 25 wins. Gieschen was then AFL umpires manager from 2000-2013.

 

 

Keith Miller – Miller really didn’t fit the criteria from 1980…I could have put in some other 27s like Nick Maxwell, Zach Merrett or Matthew Burton’s younger, smaller and largely unknown brother Jay but I went with the ultimate ‘boys own hero’ Keith Miller AM. Miller debuted in 1940 for St Kilda aged 20, and was capable of playing full back or full forward. In 1941 he kicked 28 goals from 16 games including eight against North Melbourne. War service restricted him to two games in 1942 – Miller served as a pilot in Europe during World War 2 between 1943-1945. Miller returned for 16 games in 1946 and seven goals but that is when his career in cricket took over. Miller is regarded as Australia’s greatest ever all-rounder. Miller made his Test debut in March 1946 prior to start of the 1946 AFL season and played 55 tests for Australia. His last test was in 1956 and he finished up with 2958 runs at an average of almost 37 including seven hundreds and also took 170 wickets at almost 23 average with best bowling 7/60. Millers ability at cricket and football and his exceptional war service made him one of the most loved and admired public figures of his day – and he was dashingly good looking to boot, with rumours of him taking out Princess Margaret on the 1948 Invincibles tour and meeting his team mates in a dinner suit while they were getting ready for the days play ahead (Miller was not playing that day).

 

 

Luke O’Sullivan – O’Sullivan started his career as a 20 year in 1988, he wore Number 41 in Round 20 for one game. O’Sullivan was a dangerous half forward with good pace and strength hence the nickname ‘Rhino’. He also struggled for games due to injuries. O’Sullivan had just come off his best year in 1992, 14 games for 21 goals when in a preseason match at Waverley the turf gave way and O’Sullivan wrecked his knee. He missed all of 1993 and played just two games in 1994. Carlton’s strong form in 1995-1996 meant O’Sullivan played just seven games and had 47 games in nine seasons. In 1997 he played his 50^th game in the infamous Round 3 ‘M&Ms’ jersey. O’Sullivan played 15 games in 1997 (his best season total) before retirement at age 29 with 62 games and 58 goals.

 

 

 

Forgotten Number 27s include: Paul Payne (Carl) Kevin Worthington and Nick Maxwell (Coll), Zach Merrett (Ess), Dale Fleming & Dean Lupson (Fitz), Justin Bollenhagen (Freo), Michael Coad (GC), Todd Ridley and Tyrone Vickery (Haw), Tom Gillies (Melb), Brett Eddy (PA), Robert Semmens (Rich) Luke Beveridge (St.K) Trevor Mustey (Syd)

 

 

 

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