Big men who have played 300 games

 

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

 

 

Comments

  1. How about the Late Great Living Legend himself: Captain Blood.

  2. 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.

  3. Ted Whitten wasn’t much under the 189 cut off point. He was six foot, that is what, 186?

    Glen1

  4. Shane John Backx says

    Jack was only 185cm or 6 ft 1, Ruckmen were very short in his time.

  5. Peter Carey (the Glenelg footballer, not the author).

  6. 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).

  7. Dave, you beat me to them both. Bloody Victorians and Vic-centritism (is that even close to a word?)

  8. charlie brown says

    Polly Farmer – 191 cms and East Perth/West Perth/Geelong

  9. charlie brown says

    I’ve also seen Ben Hart (300 games Crows) listed anywhere between 188 – 191 cms.

  10. 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.

  11. Graham Moss Claremont (253 games) & Essendon (89) …. 195cm

  12. Daniel Flesch says

    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)

  13. Daniel Flesch says

    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.

  14. Shane John Backx says

    Settle for half of his ability too Daniel!!

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