BY – JACKSON CLARK
The term ‘intelligent footballer’ may appear to be an oxymoron, but contrary to popular belief not all AFL players conform to the perception that they are simpletons. To label someone as intelligent is probably too broad a statement. Obviously there are differing opinions on what it is exactly that makes a person intelligent – see Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory – and judging someone based on their ENTER score or tertiary qualifications would be inaccurate. Achieving a high ENTER score requires much more than smarts. Other factors such as time management and the individual’s dedication to studies are major factors in determining how students go in their final year of schooling. A high score is likely to correlate well with someone that has a driven personality, which incidentally is also a prerequisite for being successful in the AFL. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to describe the footballers mentioned in this article as ‘educated’, however it is clear that the players are far from pea-brains.
It is an unshakeable myth that the majority of footballers at the top level possess low intelligence. This view is often held by people with little to no involvement with football clubs, either locally or professionally. However this is simply not the case and for every Wayne Carey or Warwick Capper that graces the field, there are those that go against the trend of the stereotypical ‘dumb footballer’. Arguably the most notable academic is former Carlton ruckman Mike Fitzpatrick. It is not a figure of speech when Fitzpatrick is introduced as a Rhodes Scholar. Shortly after transferring to Carlton in 1975, Fitzpatrick was offered a prestigious Rhodes scholarship to study politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University in England. He would return to Australia to forge a successful playing career with the Blues and is now the current chairman of the AFL and has been a commissioner since 2003. Fitzpatrick is one of the lucky people in life that are gifted in more than one area. Dr Matthew Liptak is another that fits into that category. Liptak was a more than capable footballer with the Adelaide Crows during the 90s but it was his achievements off the field that comes as a surprise to many. Liptak completed a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery at Flinders University in 1996, while also taking out the Crows’ Club Champion award – an extraordinary achievement. While Liptak’s playing days are over, he continues to practice as an orthopaedic surgeon in his hometown of Adelaide.
With the demands that are placed on current-day AFL footballers, it is increasingly harder for these full-time athletes to concentrate on their studies and other interests outside of football. However, many do make use of their limited time away from their clubs to prepare for a career after football. Geelong premiership player Harry Taylor is an interesting character. He is an avid military buff, a student of history and made a decision not to nominate for the draft as an 18-year-old in order to concentrate on his university studies as a physiotherapist. Another player who opted against nominating for the draft in order to focus on his studies was Fremantle midfielder Matt de Boer. After achieving high marks in his final year of school, the Docker is studying law, which is the same degree chosen by players such as Melbourne forward Chris Dawes and Richmond big man Ty Vickery. Western Bulldogs’ former ruck combination of Will Minson and Ben Hudson were perhaps the most intelligent ruck duo in the competition. Minson speaks fluent German and studies civil engineering while Hudson, who is currently at Collingwood, is a qualified physiotherapist. Another Bulldogs player Ayce Cordy is studying medicine, which is something former Geelong midfielder Simon Hogan is interested in pursuing after receiving a 98.20 ENTER score.
Ex West Coast player Tom Swift finished in the top 40 students in Western Australia with an entrance score in the high 98s and opted on retiring from the AFL to focus on becoming a doctor. Similarly, Demons utility Stefan Martin scored an amazing 99.75 to finish in the top 40 Victorian students and is studying a science/law double degree. Not only do Luke Ball and Chris Judd have a PhD in football smarts, both were high achievers in the classroom. Ball scored a 98.80 while attending Xavier College while Judd scored 96.20 at Caulfield Grammar. Coincidently, both players were high draft picks in the same year with Ball being selected by the Saints at selection two and Judd coming immediately after with selection three from the Eagles. Other footballers show their intelligence in different ways. Robert Murphy comes across as an articulate person in his self-penned newspaper columns, as does Tiger Daniel Jackson in the articles that he has written.
The aforementioned players are amongst many running around in the AFL that have achieved high scores in year 12 or have dedicated plenty of their time to further studies outside of the game. It must be a tough ask to juggle full-time professional sport with higher education and this article is proof that footballers are not just one-trick ponies.
Twitter – @JClark182
About Jackson Clark
Born and bred in Darwin, Northern Territory, I am a young, aspiring football writer that lives and breathes the game of Australian Football. I'm also a keen player and coach.
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Mordy Bromberg!
St Kilda veteran, judge of the Federal Court of Australia.
Judge of the County Court of Victoria, Mark Gamble, played 35 games for St Kilda from 1986-88.
Since this article was written, Highest Enter Scores (ATAR) by AFL players, not mentioned in this article:
Justin Clarke (Brisbane) 99.95, Riley O’Brien (Adelaide) 99.75, Oscar McDonald (Melbourne) 99.3, Bailey Banfield (Fremantle) 98.75, Max King (St Kilda) 97.8, Ben King (Gold Coast) 96.35.
In today’s AFL News, Sam Davidson, 23, was drafted by the Western Bulldogs in last November’s AFL Draft. He has completed five years of medicine at Monash School of Medicine and only has one year left to finish his degree.
This article got me thinking about doing a team where the players had achieved well academically, got an academic job after their football career, which required a very well regarded university degree or has a surname or nickname that implies intelligence like bright, smart, brain, doc, Rhode for Rhodes Scholar, or a well regarded degree like Law.
Here is the Intelligent VFL/AFL Team:
B: Mordy Bromberg (St K/Judge Federal Court of Aust), Nigel Smart (Adel/SMART), Peter Rhode (Carl/Melb/RHODEs Scholar)
HB: John Law (North Melbourne/Law as a surname), Oscar McDonald (Melb/Carl/99.30),Shadeau Brain (Bris L/BRAIN)
C: Simon Hogan (Geelong/ATAR score of 98.20), Bailey Banfield (Frem/ATAR 98.75), Matthew Liptak (Adel/Orthopaedic Surgeon)
HF: Darrel BalDOCk (St Kilda/nickname DOC), Brendon Gale (Rich/Lawyer Mallesons), Ken Judge (Haw/JUDGE)
F: Allen Aylett (North Melbourne/Dentist), Nick Holland (Haw/Lawyer/Science Degree), Terry Bright (Geelong/BRIGHT)
R: Mike Fitzpatrick (Carl/Rhodes Scholar), Chris Judd (WC/Carlton/ATAR score of 96.20), Luke Ball (St K/Coll/ATAR 98.80)
Interchange: Ben King (Gold Coast/ATAR 96.35), Max King (St K/ATAR 97.80), Justin Clarke (Bris/ATAR 99.75), Mark Gamble (St K/Judge County Court of Victoria)
Coach: Alastair Clarkson (Haw/NM/regarded as a coaching GENIUS)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against the best team of all time from the University Football Club that played in the then VFL, combined with the best of the other players who have completed University degrees).
The match will be played at the University of Melbourne Main Oval.
Let’s hope for a good game of football which will be a learning experience and it will help to have a football brain!
Maybe, one team will be taught a lesson!
No room for a ‘Spud’ Dullard or two? Adrian and/or son Tony?
That’s right. There’s no room for either of the ‘Spud’ Dullards, Adrian or Tony.
However, there is room for Nick Wilton, who played 13 games for Hawthorn from 1978-81. He tried to combine studying medicine with playing VFL football. However, he ended giving up football when in his 5th year, he was advised by the Dean of Medicine that he would have to give up football if he wanted to continue and he made the decision to retire from the VFL.
Wilton will now be an emergency for the Intelligent VFL/AFL team. Being a doctor, he will be good for an emergency!
Wilton once remarked that during his time at Hawthorn, the half forward line read:
HF: Dermott Brereton, Nick Wilton, Gary Ablett Sr.
Wilton now works as a radiologist in Melbourne.
The club doctor for this Intelligent VFL/AFL team is Bruce Reid (3 games Hawthorn 1966-67/Senior Medical Officer Essendon 1982-2018).
Could we maybe Include former Richmond ruck Mike Green, 146 games, 83 goals, as an emergency?
He played in four premiership victories; 1967, 1969, 1973 & 1974. He is in Richmond’s team of the century, also was added to their Hall of Fame in 2004.
Green debuted for Richmond in 1966, his last season was 1975. His football career was interrupted by taking off 1972 to focus on his legal career. For many years he ran ‘Greens List’ one of Victoria’s largest Barrister Clerks service.
Glen!
Yes, good pick up Glen.
In fact, Mike Green will go straight to centre half forward, replacing Nick Holland. Holland will now go to the interchange bench.
Mike Green’s brother-in-LAW, Brian Sierakowski, is a lawyer who played in St Kilda’s 1966 premiership side. Sierakowski will replace Shadeau Brain on the half back flank.
Brain will be now be an emergency with Nick Wilton.
John WISE, who played 23 games for Collingwood from 1975-77, will also be an emergency for this Intelligent VFL/AFL team, because of his surname.
Firstly, I meant to type that Mike Green will go straight to full forward, not centre half forward, with Nick Holland demoted to the interchange bench.
Entertainment (for the match between the Intelligent VFL/AFL team and the composite of the best of all time University Team from the then VFL, combined with the best other players with University degrees) will be provided by The Heartbeats (big band), formerly The Heartstrings, and later the Jazz Medics, which was a band made up of medical doctors.
Other entertainment will be the songs “I Fought the Law”, by The Clash and “Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)”, by Robert Palmer.
Transport will be provided by The Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Here is the amended Intelligent VFL/AFL team:
B: Mordy Bromberg (St K/Judge Federal Court of Aust), Nigel Smart (Adel/SMART), Peter Rhode (Carl/Melb/RHODEs Scolar)
HB: John Law (North Melbourne/surname of Law), Oscar McDonald (Melb/Carl/99.30), Brian Sierakowski (St K/Lawyer)
C: Simon Hogan (Geelong/ATAR score of 98.20), Bailey Banfield (Fremantle/ATAR 98.75), Matthew Liptak (Adel/Orthopaedic Surgeon)
HF: Darrel BalDOCk (St K/nickname The Doc), Brendon Gale (Rich/Lawyer Mallesons), Ken Judge (Hew/JUDGE)
F: Allen Aylett (North Melbourne/Dentist), Mike Green (Rich/Lawyer/Ran ‘Greens List’j, Terry Bright (Geel/BRIGHT)
R: Mike Fitzpatrick (Carl/Rhodes Scholar), Chris Judd (WC/Carl/ATAR score of 96.20), Luke Ball (St K/Coll/ATAR 98.80)
Interchange: Nick Holland (Haw/Lawyer/Science Degree), Ben King (Gold Coast ATAR 96.35), Max King (St K/ATAR 97.80), Justin Clarke (Bris/ATAR 99.75)
Emergencies: John WIse (Coll/WISE), Nick Wilton (Haw/Radiologist), Shadeau Brain (Bris/BRAIN)
If any players on these teams misbehave on the field, they will get a taste of their own MEDICINE!
Cecil Rhodes would be up in arms – Peter Rohde only fits as a dyslexic mathematician not as an English professor.
Roy Park (Uni/MelbSyd/Doctor) has now been included in the amended Intelligent VFL/AFL Team, as an Emergency. Who better than a doctor for an emergency!
Gerard Healy (Melb/Syd/Physiotherapist) has now been included in the centre. Bailey Banfield has now been demoted to the interchange bench and Justin Clarke has been omitted. Clarke will now be one of the emergencies.
Although Healy may not have actually worked as a Physiotherapist, the fact that he is a trained Physiotherapist is good enough.
The selectors have decided to include Brett HEADY (West Coast) into the team, as heady play means he has an intelligent playing style.
For team balance, Brendan Gale was omitted and there were also some positional changes.
This is the amended VFL/AFL Intelligent Team:
B: Mordy Bromberg (St K/Judge Federal Court of Aust), Nigel SMART (Adel), Peter RHODE (Carl/Melb/RHODEs Scholar)
HB: John LAW (North Melbourne/Surname of LAW), Oscar McDonald (Melb/Carl 99.30), Brian Sierakowski (St K/Lawyer)
C: Simon Hogan (Geelong ATAR score 98.20), Gerard Healy (Melb/Syd/Physiotherapist), Luke Ball (St K/Coll/ATAR 98.80)
HF: Brett HEADY (West Coast/Surname Heady), Darrel BalDOCk (St K/nickname The Doc), Ken JUDGE (Haw/Bris B)
F: Matthew Liptak (Adel/Orthopaedic Surgeon), Michael Green (Rich/Lawyer Ran Greens List), Terry BRIGHT (Geel)
R: Mike Fitzpatrick (Carlton/Rhodes Scholar), Chris Judd (West Coast/Carl/ATAR Score 96.20), Allen Aylett (NM/Dentist)
Interchange: Brendan Gale (Rich/Lawyer Mallesons), Nick Holland (Haw/Lawyer/Science Degree), Ben King (GC/ATAR 96.35), Max King (St K/ATAR 97.80)
Sub: Bailey Banfield (Frem/ATAR 98.75)
Emergencies: John WISE (Coll), Nick Wilton (Haw/Radiologist), Justin Clarke (Bris/ATAR 99.75), Shadeau BRAIN (Bris L)
Following the 3rd gamer Sam Davidson’s 31 possessions and 10 marks for the Western Bulldogs in their win last night against Carlton, it got me thinking about all the players in the AFL currently, who are currently studying for degrees.
As previously mentioned, Sam Davidson has only 1 year to go for his Medical degree, and he is put it on hold, to concentrate on football.
This is a non-exhaustive list of current AFL players who are currently studying for degrees:
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Bailey Banfield (Fremantle)
Sam Switkowski (Fremantle)
Tom Berry (Gold Coast)
Sam Collins (Gold Coast)
Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
Zak Evans (Gold Coast)
Toby Greene (GWS)
Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
Applied Finance (post-graduate degree)
Lachie Keeffe (GWS)
Accounting
George Hewitt (Carlton)
Nic Martin (Essendon, also studying finance)
Finance
Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
Dylan Moore (Hawthorn)
Ned Reeves (Hawthorn)
Jacob Koschitzke (Richmond)
Rhylee West (Western Bulldogs, also studying banking)
Sports Management
Brodie Kemp (Carlton, also studying business)
Josh Battle (Hawthorn)
Thomson Dow (Richmond)
Hugo Ralphsmith (Richmond, also studying business)
Corey Warner (Sydney, bachelor of sports business)
Real Estate
Leo Lombard (Gold Coast)
Ben Long (Gold Coast)
Josh Fahey (GWS)
Sam Butler (Hawthorn)
Psychology
Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
Charlie Ballard (Gold Coast)
Charlie Spargo (Melbourne)
Taj Woewodin (Melbourne, psychological science)
Health science
Leek Aleer (GWS, also studying fitness)
Fitness
Ryan Angwin (GWS)
Callum Brown (GWS)
Aaron Cadman (GWS)
Harry Rowston (GWS)
Grad. cert. sports coaching
Nic Martin (Essendon)
Mason Redman (Essendon)
Sports/exercise science
Harry Morrison (Hawthorn)
Nick Coffield (Western Bulldogs)
Masters of high performance
Mason Wood (St Kilda)
Osteopathy
Jarrod Berry (Brisbane)
James Blanck (Hawthorn)
Chiropractic
Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast, bachelor of science)
Nutritional Science
Luke Kennedy (Western Bulldogs)
Medicine
Sam Davidson (Western Bulldogs)
Science
Anthony Caminiti (St Kilda, current focus is engineering maths)
Bailey Scott (North Melb, majoring in astrophysics)
Engineering
Liam Stocker (St Kilda, current focus is steel structures and mathematical modelling)
Project Management
Kyle Langford (Essendon)
Construction
Kieren Briggs (GWS)
Callan Ward (GWS)
Hayden McLean (Sydney, construction management)
Agriculture
Lachie Ash (GWS)
Angus McLennan (St Kilda)
Jack Henderson (Melbourne)
Teaching/education
Harris Andrews (Brisbane)
Nathan O’Driscoll (Fremantle)
Elliott Himmelberg (Gold Coast)
Ben Jepson (Gold Coast)
Jacob Wehr (GWS)
Mitch Lewis (Hawthorn)
Noah Mraz (Hawthorn)
Harry Cunningham (Sydney)
Harvey Gallagher (Western Bulldogs)
Judd Busslinger (Western Bulldogs)
Law
Orazio Fantasia (Carlton, focus on business law)
Finn Maguinness (Hawthorn, also studying commerce)
Josh Ward (Hawthorn, also studying commerce)
International Relations/Politics
Tom Green (GWS)
Philosophy
Tom Barrass (Hawthorn)
Communications
Tom Doedee (Brisbane)
George Wardlaw (North Melbourne, majoring in journalism)
Design
Ryan Gardner (Western Bulldogs)
Reilly O’Brien (Adelaide)
Bachelor of Medical Science
MBA
Master of Public Health
Master of Neuroscience at King’s College, London
Therefore, this is the current AFL Student Team:
B: Liam Stocker (Carl/St K), Harris Andrews (Brisbane), Tom Barrass (WC/Haw)
HB: Sam Collins (Gold Coast), Josh Battle (St K/Hawthorn), Mason Redman (Ess)
C: Mason Wood (NM/St K), Tom Green (Great West Syd), Callan Ward (WB/GWS)
HF: Callum Brown (Great WS), Kyle Langford (Essendon), Nic Martin (Essendon)
F: Toby Greene (Great WS), Aaron Cadman (Great WS), Mitch Lewis (Hawthorn)
R: Reilly O’Brien (Adelaide), Patrick Cripps (c) Carlton), Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
Interchange: Luke Kennedy (GWS/Carl/WB), Bailey Banfield (Fremantle), George Wardlaw (NM), Jarrod Berry (Bris)
Sub: Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
Emergencies: Charlie Spargo (Melb), Dylan Moore (Haw), Lachie Keeffe (Coll/GWS), Sam Davidson (WB)
This team will play an exhibition match against the amended VFL/AFL Intelligent team, named in the above comment.
The match will be played at the University of Melbourne Oval.
The game will be a learning experience for both teams.
Let’s hope for a good game of football and the result will be purely academic!
Enjoying this thread. No doubt there are many, many more. Medicos alone. One from Melbourne during the 50s?
No doubt there are many, many school teachers yet to be included.
Ta Anon. It doesn’t seem many are studying Humanities.
I recall doing my Bachelor of Arts, (BA), last century. Footscray’s Robert Groenewegen was in some of my classes. He was doing a BA in Urban Studies. If my old memory is correct he went into Town Planning. His teammate, another Braybrook boy, Brian Wilson was there at the same time. His field of studies was Physical Education.
Bounce’s Andrew Gaze was there around the same time, though my memory of him is scant.
Glen!