Almanac Teams: Sons who never played a game
This side is based on sons of VFL/AFL Players who never played a senior game.
Please note some of the positions in the side are based on the father’s position.
Names are from post-draft (1986) due to difficulties hunting down sons who played reserves or U19 pre-draft. As always, I am still interested to hear of any other players in the comments though!
FB: Lachlan Langford (Haw) Dillon O’Reilly (Freo) Ben Silvagni (Carl)
CHB: Joel Crocker (NM) Tom Wallis (Ess) Darren Fraser (Coll/PA)
C: Jackson Edwards (Adel) Brayden Shaw (Coll) Matthew Greig (Rich)
CHF: Simon Hart (Rich) David Walls (Carl) Tom Hird (Ess)
FF: Adam Donohue (Geel) Oscar Brownless (Geel) Ben Jarman (Adel)
Ruck: Doug Scott (Haw) Nick Raines (Bris) Trent Burgoyne (PA)
Interchange: Harry Dear (Adel), Matthew Dickson (Carl), Jayden Foster (Carl), Taj Schofield (PA)
Others: Ryan Ablett (Haw), Stuart Annand (St.K), Jordan Barham (PA), Marcus Barham (Coll), Tom Curran (NM), Frankie Dimattina (Coll) Ernie Hug (Coll), Jordan Lockyer (Syd), Chris Mulcair (Carl), Dylan Orval (Adel), Ben Richmond (Coll), Tom Temay (Carl), Darren Walsh (Carl)
Lachlan Langford
Pick 53, 2014 Rookie Draft, Hawthorn
Father – Chris Langford 303 games Hawthorn (1983-1997)
Lachlan is listed as a 189cm half forward. Chris was four time premiership player, two-time All Australian and Hawthorn captain. Brother Will played 72 games for Hawthorn and was a 2014 Premiership player.
Dillon O’Reilly
Pick 11, 2019 Mid-Season Draft, Fremantle
Father – Stephen O’Reilly 146 games Geelong, Fremantle and Carlton (1993-2000)
Dillon is 194cm who could play either end. Stephen won the 1996 Best & Fairest at Fremantle.
Ben Silvagni
Pick 70, 2018 National Draft, Carlton
Father – Stephen Silvagni 312 Carlton (1985-2001)
Ben is 196cm tall defender who is on Collingwood’s VFL list now. Stephen is a two-time premiership player, five-time All Australian and Full Back in the VFL/AFL Team of the Century in 1996. Eldest son Jack has played over 100 games at Carlton since 2016.
Joel Crocker
Pick 69, 2018 National Draft, North Melbourne
Father – Darren Crocker 165 games North Melbourne (1985-1998)
Joel is 188cm half back/forward. Darren is a 1996 Premiership player, has been stand in coach for North Melbourne’s senior men’s side in 2009 and 2015-2016 over six games in total and is currently their AFLW coach.
Tom Wallis
Pick 54, 2016 Rookie Draft, Essendon
Father – Dean Wallis 127 games Essendon (1987-2001)
Tom is 182cm who has been played as a midfielder. Dean is two-time premiership player.
Darren Fraser
Pick 42, 1992 Mid-Season Draft, Collingwood and Pick 57, 1997 National Draft, Port Adelaide
Father – Ken Fraser 198 games Essendon (1958-1968)
Darren is 180cm midfielder/defender who was at Collingwood from 1992-1993 and on Essendon’s supplementary list from 1994-1997. Sadly, Darren did his knee in the first preseason game in 1998. Ken is a two-time premiership player and premiership captain in 1965. Eldest son Mark played 110 games for Collingwood and Essendon and was also an AFL umpire.
Jackson Edwards
Pick 41, 2017 Rookie Draft, Adelaide
Father – Tyson Edwards 321 games Adelaide (1995-2010)
Jackson is 185cm midfielder/forward. Tyson is a two-time premiership player. Second son Luke was drafted by West Coast and has played 16 games since 2021.
Brayden Shaw
Pick 32, 2003 National Draft, Collingwood
Father – Tony Shaw 313 games Collingwood (1978-1994)
Brayden is a 180cm midfielder. Tony was premiership captain and Norm Smith Medallist in 1990 and also coached Collingwood from 1996-1999.
Matthew Greig
Pick 68, 1998 National Draft, Richmond
Father – Keith Greig 294 games North Melbourne (1974-1985)
Matthew is 187cm wing who was not picked up by his dad’s side in North Melbourne, but instead played for Richmond’s reserves premiership in 1997 prior to being drafted. Keith is a 1975 Premiership player and Brownlow Medallist in 1973-1974. Keith was captain 1976-1979 but missed the 1977 Premiership due to injury.
Simon Hart
Pick 56, 2001 Rookie Draft, Richmond
Father – Royce Hart 187 games Richmond (1967-1977)
Simon is 178cm small forward. Royce is a four-time premiership player, including twice as captain. He is also CHF in the VFL/AFL Team of the Century and coached Footscray from 1980-1982.
David Walls
Father-Son, 1995 National Draft, Carlton (no picks were used on F/S selection then)
Father – Robert Walls 259 games Carlton and Fitzroy (1967-1980)
David is 192cm tall forward and is currently Fremantle’s list manager. Robert won three premierships as a player at Carlton and coached them to one more. Robert also coached Fitzroy, Brisbane Bears and Richmond.
Tom Hird
Category B Rookie Selection, 2019, Essendon
Father – James Hird 253 games Essendon (1992-2007)
Tom is a 182cm forward. James is two-time premiership player including 2000 as captain and a Norm Smith Medallist. James is also a Brownlow Medallist and five time All Australian and coached Essendon from 2011-2013 and 2015.
Adam Donohue
Pick 60, 2007 National Draft, Geelong
Father – Larry Donohue 105 games Geelong (1973-1980)
Adam is a 182cm wing/defender. Larry won the Coleman Medal in 1978 with 95 goals.
Oscar Brownless
Pick 74, 2018 National Draft, Geelong
Father – Bill Brownless 198 games Geelong (1996-2007)
Oscar is a 188cm forward/wing. Bill was All Australian in 1991 and played in four grand finals.
Ben Jarman
Pick 43, 2017 Rookie Draft, Adelaide
Father – Darren Jarman 230 games Hawthorn and Adelaide (1991-2001)
Ben is a 174cm small forward. Darren played in one premiership at Hawthorn and two at Adelaide and is a three-time All Australian.
Doug Scott
Pick 7, 2003 Rookie Draft, Hawthorn
Father – Don Scott 302 games Hawthorn (1967-1981)
Doug is a 193cm tall defender. Don is a three-time premiership player – two of them as captain.
Nick Raines
Pick 66, 2001 Rookie Draft, Brisbane
Father – Geoff Raines 254 games Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon and Brisbane (1976-1989)
Nick is a 178cm midfielder. Geoff is a 1980 Premiership player. Younger brother Andrew played 129 games for Richmond, Brisbane, and Gold Coast.
Trent Burgoyne
Pick 22, 2019 Rookie Draft, Port Adelaide
Father – Peter Burgoyne 240 games Port Adelaide (1997-2009)
Trent is a 177cm midfielder/forward. Peter is 2004 Premiership player. Younger brother Jase has played 10 games since 2022.
Harry Dear
Pick 58, 2015 National Draft, Adelaide
Father – Paul Dear 123 games Hawthorn (1987-1996)
Harry is 197cm forward/ruck like his father. Paul was a premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist in 1991.
Matthew Dickson
Pick 78, 1991 National Draft, Carlton
Father – Des Dickson 73 games Hawthorn (1962-1966)
Matthew is a 196cm tall forward. Des was a ruck at Hawthorn who was cult figure and had the nickname ‘Delicate Des’ due to the fact he was not on the delicate side.
Jayden Foster
Pick 63, 2014 National Draft, Carlton
Father – Peter Foster 170 games Fitzroy and Footscray (1980-1993)
Jayden is a 194cm tall forward and played for the Footscray VFL team in 2017. Peter won the Best & Fairest at Footscray in 1990.
Taj Schofield
Pick 37, 2020 Rookie Draft, Port Adelaide
Father – Jarrod Schofield 206 games West Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle 1993-2006
Taj is a 179cm midfielder/half forward. Jarrod is a 2004 Premiership player for Port Adelaide.
Ryan Ablett
Pick 8, 2000 Rookie Draft, Hawthorn
Father – Geoff Ablett 229 games Hawthorn, Richmond and St Kilda (1973-1985)
Ryan is a 190cm midfielder. Geoff is a premiership player at Hawthorn in 1976 and 1978 and won the Grand Final Sprint four times.
Stuart Annand
Pick 105, 1989 National Draft, St Kilda
Father – Baden-Powell ‘Bud’ Annand 106 games St Kilda (1956-1962)
Stuart is a 192cm tall defender. Bud was a ruck for St Kilda.
Jordan Barham
Pick 12, 2002 Rookie Draft, Port Adelaide and Pick 18, 2003 Rookie Draft, St Kilda
Marcus Barham
Pick 77, 1996 National Draft, Collingwood and Pick 87, 1998 Rookie Draft, Collingwood
Father – Bill Barham 12 games Melbourne (1972-1974)
Jordan is a 194cm half forward while Marcus a 185cm small defender. Bill was a forward who kicked two bags of four goals.
Tom Curran
Pick 40, 2011 National Draft, North Melbourne
Father – Peter Curran 123 games Hawthorn and Brisbane (1983-1992)
Tom is a 195cm tall forward. Peter is a premiership player in 1986 and 1989 at Hawthorn.
Frankie Dimattina Jnr
Pick 71, 1998 Rookie Draft, Collingwood
Father – Frank Dimattina 56 games Richmond and North Melbourne (1964-1970)
Frankie is 175cm midfielder. Frank was first rover at Richmond before an injury allowed Kevin Bartlett to take that spot. Brothers Paul (131 games for Footscray/the Western Bulldogs) and Andrew (28 games for Collingwood) also played.
Ernie Hug Jnr
Pick 112, 1989 National Draft, Collingwood, Pick 3 1991 Mid-season Draft, Sydney and Pick 28, 1992 Pre-Season Draft, Hawthorn
Father – Ernie Hug Snr 74 games Collingwood and South Melbourne (1963-1971)
Ernie Jnr is 193cm tall defender. Ernie Snr was ruck who tragically died in a farming accident aged 34.
Jordan Lockyer
Pick 43, 2011 National Draft, Sydney
Father – Andrew Lockyer 78 games West Coast Eagles (1987-1992)
Jordan is a 191cm half back/tall defender. Andrew was an original Eagle who played in the 1991 Grand Final.
Chris Mulcair
Pick 110, 1988 National Draft, Carlton
Father – Barry Mulcair 20 games Carlton (1970-1971)
Chris is a 196cm ruckman. Barry is a 1970 premiership player.
Dylan Orval
Pick 23, 2011 Rookie Draft, Adelaide
Father – Mark Orval 7 games Collingwood (1987-1988)
Dylan is a 191cm tall forward. Mark kicked four goals in Round 22, 1987.
Ben Richmond
Pick 53, 2012 Rookie Draft, Collingwood
Father – John Richmond 18 games Richmond (1961-1964)
Ben is a 196cm tall defender/forward. John was a HFF who won the William Leitch Medal as best and fairest in the TANFL/TFL in 1967.
Tom Temay
Pick 35, 2012 National Draft, Carlton
Father – Paul Temay 52 games St Kilda (1980-1986)
Tom is a 179cm midfielder. Paul was a 185cm defender/tagger.
Darren Walsh
Father-Son, 1992 National Draft, Carlton
Father – Brian Walsh 115 games Carlton and Essendon (1970-1978)
Darren is a 181cm half forward. Brian was 179cm and Carlton’s leading goalkicker in 1973 with 60 goals.
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Ta Rodney, there’s a few interesting blood lines among these names.
You’ve done a team where the father has played senior football, the son has also been on the playing list but not got a game in the firsts? I’m wondering about brothers where one has played seniors though not the other(s). One pair of siblings comes to mind; are you aware of any/many?
Glen!
Hi Rodney, a couple of things about Larry Donohue.
Larry won the VFL goalkicking in 1976 with 105 goals. He brought up his ton in Geelong’s elimination final victory over Footscray.
In 1978 he kicked 95 goals, a fair way behind Footscray’s Kelvin Templeton who kicked 118 for the season.
Glen!
Thanks Rodney,
As i recall Brayden Shaw – son of Tony was in the same draft as Heath -son of Ray. I thought he might make it.
Thanks Glen, good pick up.
I should have known that Larry kicked 100 as was on the sign of his pub at Winchelsea when driving through, “Have a beer with the man who kicked a ton” or something similar.
I have the brothers team coming next week. Hope I have who you are thinking of.
Thanks Dan
Brayden was Pick 32, Heath was Pick 48 in same draft
Rodney, the sign said “Have one, with the man who kicked a ton”.
Smokie- The Winchelsea Hotel!!
Such a fascinating team Rodney. I had high hopes for Brayden Shaw, so disappointing he couldn’t crack it for at least 1 game.
Thanks Smokie for that.
I think Brayden had several injury issues. At the time he was thought higher than Heath
Ben Stewart, son of Ian Stewart(St K/Rich), played for St Kilda Reserves in 1992 and was on St Kilda’s list, but he never played a senior game.