Big men who have played 300 games
October 10, 2016 by 14 Comments
by David Fordyce
Sam Newman often says how very few big men have played 300 games. There are in fact 27, at Sam’s height of 189cm and higher, who have played 300 games, however only four of them were playing in the mid-1960s. Sam was the third player of his height to reach 300 games after John Nicholls and Len Thompson.
Here in career order are the big men who have played 300 games.
| Years | Height | Games Player Team | 300th game |
| 1957-1974 | 189 | 328 John Nicholls CA | 1973, Rd 9 |
| 1964-1980 | 189 | 300 Sam Newman GE | 1980, Semi-final |
| 1965-1980 | 200 | 301 Len Thompson CW/SY/FI | 1980, Rd 13 |
| 1965-1982 | 191 | 300 Barry Breen SK | 1982, Rd 16 |
| 1967-1981 | 190 | 302 Don Scott HW | 1981, Rd 20 |
| 1967-1984 | 197 | 329 Gary Dempsey WB/NM | 1982, Elim final |
| 1969-1985 | 193 | 328 Barry Round WB/SY | 1983, Rd 21 |
| 1969-1986 | 193 | 366 Bernie Quinlan WB/FI | 1983, Rd 20 |
| 1970-1984 | 190 | 300 Kelvin Moore HW | 1984, Rd 22 |
| 1974-1991 | 196 | 333 David Cloke RI/CW | 1990, Rd 10 |
| 1974-1992 | 198 | 378 Simon Madden ES | |
| 1980-1996 | 206 | 332 Justin Madden ES/CA | |
| 1983-1997 | 193 | 303 Chris Langford HW | |
| 1983-2002 | 205 | 324 Paul Salmon ES/HW | |
| 1985-2001 | 194 | 312 Stephen Silvagni CA | |
| 1986-2002 | 194 | 321 Stewart Loewe SK | |
| 1987-1996 | 195 | 313 Roger Merrett ES/BB | |
| 1988-2002 | 190 | 300 Mick Martyn NM/CA | |
| 1988-2004 | 193 | 306 Alastair Lynch FI/BB/BL | |
| 1990-2007 | 193 | 341 Chris Grant WB | |
| 1993-2008 | 193 | 306 David Neitz ME | |
| 1993-2015 | 198 | 400 Dustin Fletcher ES | |
| 1995-2009 | 190 | 303 Michael OLoughlin SY | |
| 1999-2015 | 191 | 372 Adam Goodes SY | |
| 2000-2016 | 192 | 353 Matthew Pavlich FR | |
| 2001-2016 | 193 | 319 Nick Riewoldt SK | |
| 2001-2016 | 197 | 316 Drew Petrie NM |
Players have got bigger since 1980 and there are now 11 players 189cm and bigger in the top 25 games played (in bold above). That top 25 in games played extends to John Nicholls on 328 games.
Corey Enright comes in 23rd on 332 games.
Thanks to Paul Jeffs at AFL tables, see http://afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/highs.html
How about the Late Great Living Legend himself: Captain Blood.
He was only the games record holder for 20 or 30 years and played in the era of the 18 round home & away season and the final four.
RESPECT.
Ted Whitten wasn’t much under the 189 cut off point. He was six foot, that is what, 186?
Glen1
Jack was only 185cm or 6 ft 1, Ruckmen were very short in his time.
Peter Carey (the Glenelg footballer, not the author).
Yep, as Mike suggests the SANFL games record holder Peter Carey played a lazy 448 games for Glenelg in the ’70s and ’80s and 19 games for SA and stands at 194cm. Mick Redden from North Adelaide (via Orroroo) isn’t far behind with 378 club and 11 state games mostly in the ’80s (not sure of height but he’d be comfortably over 189).
Dave, you beat me to them both. Bloody Victorians and Vic-centritism (is that even close to a word?)
Polly Farmer – 191 cms and East Perth/West Perth/Geelong
I’ve also seen Ben Hart (300 games Crows) listed anywhere between 188 – 191 cms.
Jack was a ruckman, which makes him a big man of his time. Besides, he was huge — barrel chested, giant hands, and a heart as big as the MCG.
Graham Moss Claremont (253 games) & Essendon (89) …. 195cm
Glen! said “Ted Whitten wasn’t much under the 189 cut off point. He was six foot, that is what, 186?”
Actually six foot = 72 inches , multiplied by 2.54 = 182.88 cms ; still a bit under 186 cms. let alone 189.
(Though at an insignificant 170 cm myself i’d settle for the great E.J.’s height , lol)
And Mr. The Wrap, i am not at all sure Captain Blood’s heart was as big as the MCG.
I believe it was only the size of the Punt Road Oval.
Settle for half of his ability too Daniel!!