RedmanWasHere
Rarely in kitchens at parties.
- Aug 23, 2010
- 28,142
- 32,871
- AFL Club
- Essendon
- Other Teams
- Exers, Gryffindor, Rich+Ess AFLW, Tassie
-
LIVE: GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions - 7:30PM Sat
Squiggle tips Lions at 65% chance -- What's your tip? -- Team line-ups »
-
Weekly Prize - Join Any Time - Tip Semi Finals
The Golden Ticket - MCG and Marvel Medallion Club tickets and Corporate Box tickets at the Gabba, MCG and Marvel.
Round FW1 Winner: TBA!
-
AFLW 2024 - Round 3 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Discussion Unusual short playing careers
- Thread starter GrahamClayton
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Moderator
- #77
Every single player who has ever played in the VFL/AFL has a Wikipedia page.
Braeden Campbell doesn't, and he's played just as many games as the mighty Relton Roberts.
- Moderator
- #79
To be fair they are a bit slow on adding the new rookies. Everyone pre-2021 should be on there.
He does have a page, but indeed there are a few 2021 debutants (e.g. Tanner Bruhn, James Rowe) who don't have one yet.
2020 AFL draft - Wikipedia
Braeden Campbell - Wikipedia
Wollermann 9 games for essendon
Would be intereseted to see a 30s picture of him (big?)
as only one trove is from Horsham in 1946
Would be intereseted to see a 30s picture of him (big?)
as only one trove is from Horsham in 1946
This should be him in a Dimboola 1930 team photo: Stawell, Premiers of Wimmera football League: Dimboola, Runners Up - Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954) - 4 Oct 1930
He doesn't look all that big to me! Very solid, but no bigger all-round than any of the others along the back row.
Australian Football - the same old essendon
According to the game's records he was:
102 kg at that height does seem rather heavy!
I'm sure a lot of people already know about Malcolm Greenslade and Mick Nunan. Both star South Australian footballerts who were called up for National Service back in 1971 (when that was still a thing), posted to Victoria, and so decided to try their luck with Richmond. Greenslade played 2 games, one against St Kilda, where he did this:
and one game against South Melbourne, where he kicked 6 goals.
Mick Nunan also played the game against South, and kicked 3 goals.
Both returned to SA after their National Service stints and and continued their stellar local careers. Nunan later became Fitzroy's last 'appointed' coach (he quit when the Brisbane Bears merger was announced, and assistant Alan McConnell took over for the rest of the year).
Interestingly, there were quite a few VFL players called up for National service (including Kevin Sheedy, Carl Ditterich and Royce Hart), but most were able to use club 'influence' to stay in Melbourne and continue playing the VFL. Very few actually served in Vietnam. Hart was the only one I know of who got posted interstate - to SA. He trained with Glenelg during the week and got a flight back to Melbourne to play each week (he still won the B&F that year - he was good - and Richmond won the flag).
Anyway, after the VFL GF, he was back in Adelaide, and Glenelg worked a fiddle to get him to play in the SANFL Grand Final (which was NOT popular). Glenelg got thrashed by Sturt and BOG with 9 goals for Sturt was - Malcolm Greenslade. (Mick Nunan was also in the Sturt Premiership side).
and one game against South Melbourne, where he kicked 6 goals.
Mick Nunan also played the game against South, and kicked 3 goals.
Both returned to SA after their National Service stints and and continued their stellar local careers. Nunan later became Fitzroy's last 'appointed' coach (he quit when the Brisbane Bears merger was announced, and assistant Alan McConnell took over for the rest of the year).
Interestingly, there were quite a few VFL players called up for National service (including Kevin Sheedy, Carl Ditterich and Royce Hart), but most were able to use club 'influence' to stay in Melbourne and continue playing the VFL. Very few actually served in Vietnam. Hart was the only one I know of who got posted interstate - to SA. He trained with Glenelg during the week and got a flight back to Melbourne to play each week (he still won the B&F that year - he was good - and Richmond won the flag).
Anyway, after the VFL GF, he was back in Adelaide, and Glenelg worked a fiddle to get him to play in the SANFL Grand Final (which was NOT popular). Glenelg got thrashed by Sturt and BOG with 9 goals for Sturt was - Malcolm Greenslade. (Mick Nunan was also in the Sturt Premiership side).
and Brenton Miels
I'm sure a lot of people already know about Malcolm Greenslade and Mick Nunan. Both star South Australian footballerts who were called up for National Service back in 1971 (when that was still a thing), posted to Victoria, and so decided to try their luck with Richmond. Greenslade played 2 games, one against St Kilda, where he did this:
and one game against South Melbourne, where he kicked 6 goals.
Mick Nunan also played the game against South, and kicked 3 goals.
Both returned to SA after their National Service stints and and continued their stellar local careers. Nunan later became Fitzroy's last 'appointed' coach (he quit when the Brisbane Bears merger was announced, and assistant Alan McConnell took over for the rest of the year).
Interestingly, there were quite a few VFL players called up for National service (including Kevin Sheedy, Carl Ditterich and Royce Hart), but most were able to use club 'influence' to stay in Melbourne and continue playing the VFL. Very few actually served in Vietnam. Hart was the only one I know of who got posted interstate - to SA. He trained with Glenelg during the week and got a flight back to Melbourne to play each week (he still won the B&F that year - he was good - and Richmond won the flag).
Anyway, after the VFL GF, he was back in Adelaide, and Glenelg worked a fiddle to get him to play in the SANFL Grand Final (which was NOT popular). Glenelg got thrashed by Sturt and BOG with 9 goals for Sturt was - Malcolm Greenslade. (Mick Nunan was also in the Sturt Premiership side).
Jack Oatey, the famous coach of those Sturt players, did something similar a few decades earlier, playing 5 games for South Melbourne in 1944 (while on WWII service): AFL Tables - Jack Oatey - Stats - Statistics
Jack Sheedy was at sth melbourne at the same time as Oatey
Last edited:
Gil Langley (away from SA on WW2 service) played four games with Essendon in 1943
australianfootball.com
Australian Football - Gil Langley - Player Bio
Not really short, but unusual. Pat Odea in the 1890s played 70 odd games then went to the US. It's unusual because it was him who is the reason for most punting rules in modern gridiron
There were quite a few other well-known footballers from South Australia and Western Australia who played a few games in the VFL during World War II when stationed in Melbourne. Jack Cockburn, who won a Magarey Medal and was a leading player in South Adelaide’s most successful era since 1900, played ten times for Essendon in 1943 and 1944, including the former season’s losing Grand Final. Laurie Cahill, uncle of coaching great John, played seven games for Richmond in 1943, including the winning Grand Final, and triple Claremont premiership star Johnny Compton played three games for Melbourne in 1944. Earlier, West Perth star wingman Stan “Pops” Heal played eight games for Melbourne, including their Grand Final win, in 1941, Marcel “Nugget” Hilsz, a WANFL star with Perth, and future Norwood premiership player Neville Way each played eight games for St. Kilda in 1942, whilst Doug Oliphant, WANFL leading goalkicker as far back as 1931, played seven times for Fitzroy in 1942 when transferred to Melbourne. (Haydn Bunton senior’s two 1942 games with Fitzroy, whom he had left in 1937 after winning three Brownlows, were also due to being stationed in Melbourne.)
Possibly the most famous one-game player in VFL/AFL history, however, was Colin Churchett, who played one remarkable game for South Melbourne in 1944. That was of course the Round 13 game against Geelong at the Junction Oval, where the Swans won by the amazing scoreline of 8-30 (78) to 8-8 (56) — the biggest win with equal goals in VFL/AFL history. Churchett had previously played several games with the South Melbourne Reserves, kicking five goals against Hawthorn in one of them, before his solitary senior appearance at the age of eighteen. In that Geelong game on a very windy day, Churchett did not kick a goal, and I cannot find any records of behinds kicked. Churchett would leave Victoria in the following week, but upon his return to South Australia would become the SANFL’s leading full forward, and the only man to kick 100 goals between 1945 and 1968.
I have never seen a comprehensive list of interstate players (including any from states other than South Australia and Western Australia) who played in the VFL on war service — does anyone know where this might be found as I would be very interested to have such?
Last edited:
GreyCrow
Make me an Admin!
- Mar 21, 2016
- 79,529
- 129,076
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- Sturt, White Sox
Would you include Nashos? I believe Mick Nunan played on National Service . I thought so
His solitary VFL senior game came while he was on National Service training in Melbourne. The previous week he had played in the Richmond reserves side while fellow Sturt footballer and conscript, Malcolm Greenslade, played in the senior side. The next week they both played in the seniors. Both then returned to the SANFL.
[?]FOR A FORWARD! - [?] Win By Record Number of Minors - Record (Emerald Hill, Vic. : 1881 - 1954) - 5 Aug 1944
"A game of wasted effort" aptly describes South's win over Geelong at Kilda last Saturday, the Red and [?] winning by the almost incredible ...
trove.nla.gov.au
Thanks! I was looking for details of this remarkable game! I sometimes joke that the two most notable games ever played at the Junction Oval wereView attachment 1875039
[?]FOR A FORWARD! - [?] Win By Record Number of Minors - Record (Emerald Hill, Vic. : 1881 - 1954) - 5 Aug 1944
"A game of wasted effort" aptly describes South's win over Geelong at Kilda last Saturday, the Red and [?] winning by the almost incredible ...
View attachment 1875040
Five behinds from five shots is remarkable given that, when back at Glenelg, Churchett became renowned for his accurate kicking. I wonder if that was five behinds from five actual kicks??
- Jan 5, 2004
- 1,825
- 2,921
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
- Other Teams
- collingwood vfl
I've long wondered what happened with Marc Lock. He was captain of the suns before their AFL debut and appeared to be a good player.
He just seemed to disappear until I saw him playing for Box Hill several years later. It certainly wasn't his fault they got annihilated in his only game at the top level.
GrahamClayton
Debutant
- Feb 1, 2015
- 96
- 183
- AFL Club
- Geelong
- Thread starter
- #94
Nick Gill played 16 games for Adelaide between 2007-2009, but what was unusual was that he spent seasons at Melbourne (2001) and North Melbourne (2003) without playing a game.
Josh Thurgood played 13 games for Hawthorn between 2005 and 2007, and never featured in a winning team.
Todd Elton's 10 games for Richmond were spread over 6 seasons (2012-2017), and only once did he play back-to-back games (R22 & R23 in 2016).
Andrew Hooper played 7 games for the Western Bulldogs between 2010 and 2012, and became the first player to make their debut in a finals match in 25 years.
Laurence Angwin played 4 games for Carlton in between 2003 and 2004, and was sacked after turning up at training after taking some ecstacy.
Tony Southcombe played in the first 13 games for Carlton in 1977, managing to play against all 11 other VFL clubs in those 13 games before retiring mid-season and returning home to Ballarat.
Brad Gwilliam played 4 games for West Coast between 1990 & 1991, and 4 games for Richmond in 1992. His career ended with an unusual injury - playing against Adelaide at Football Park, he collided with a goal post and severely damaged a knee, ending his career.
Josh Thurgood played 13 games for Hawthorn between 2005 and 2007, and never featured in a winning team.
Todd Elton's 10 games for Richmond were spread over 6 seasons (2012-2017), and only once did he play back-to-back games (R22 & R23 in 2016).
Andrew Hooper played 7 games for the Western Bulldogs between 2010 and 2012, and became the first player to make their debut in a finals match in 25 years.
Laurence Angwin played 4 games for Carlton in between 2003 and 2004, and was sacked after turning up at training after taking some ecstacy.
Tony Southcombe played in the first 13 games for Carlton in 1977, managing to play against all 11 other VFL clubs in those 13 games before retiring mid-season and returning home to Ballarat.
Brad Gwilliam played 4 games for West Coast between 1990 & 1991, and 4 games for Richmond in 1992. His career ended with an unusual injury - playing against Adelaide at Football Park, he collided with a goal post and severely damaged a knee, ending his career.
Melesso had a very odd career even apart from that, and it’s not odd inasmuch as Peter Curtain debuted in the last match at the Junction Oval (and played only two games), while Matthew Ahmat and Ian Kidgell (who played just three senior games) both debuted in the last game played at Windy Hill.
Melesso began as a South Melbourne local but did not play a senior game in 1982 although The Age says he was still on the Swans’ list. Like Paul Morwood and Silvio Foschini, he did not want to move to Sydney, but won an easier clearance to St. Kilda, where he played his first game in the second round on Easter Monday. Charges of poaching were dismissed, but Melesso could not establish himself in the Saints’ senior team, playing seven games over three seasons, only the last two of which were consecutive. He did not play in a winning team until his last game with St. Kilda, after which he was injured and did not play another senior game at Moorabbin.
Melesso was still injured in March 1986, but by 1987 he was established with a triumphant Claremont team under Gerard Neesham, where he played a significant role in a 21–1–1 1987 season that was the best in the WA(N)FL for 41 years. I could not find any information on how he got to Claremont with the newspapers available, but West Coast drafted Melesso after the 1988 season when they were rebuilding after the retirement of Ross Glendinning. He would play two games with the Eagles in 1989 and four in late 1990 before he was diagnosed with cancer and his career ended — continuing with Claremont when not required by the AFL.
Overall, Melesso played fourteen VFL games over ten seasons — or six seasons where he played a single game — for three different clubs!
phlogiston
All Australian
- Sep 10, 2019
- 644
- 1,943
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Do you have any more info on what rules he influenced in gridiron?
They changed the rules regarding drop-kick goals because of him, but there's also more regarding where players can Punt from and a few others
Brief outline on odea here...
Pat O'Dea - The First Australian to Play American Football — The Football Odyssey
Over the past couple of decades, the game of American football has seen a stark increase in the amount of Australian rules football players who transitioned to the gridiron game as punters, as the Aussie rules game puts a great deal of emphasizes on punting on the run that makes for a good foundatio
www.thefootballodyssey.com
Colin Dobson's one and only game for Richmond was the last game at Punt Rd.
