Weirdest Football Career

[BurnedScones]

Who has had the strangest football career? Whether it's a player that's taken an unusual path to the sport, has statistical anomalies, played for a bunch of different teams or anything otherwise noteworthy?

Not necessarily the weirdest player, just the weirdest career.

I'd nominate Sam Reid (GWS). Drafted in 2007 by the Bulldogs, went to GWS, delisted, became an assistant coach, redrafted, delisted, then redrafted again. Took 10 years to reach 50 games.

 

[Cincinnatus]

David Mackay will play 200 AFL games.

Baffling.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Nobody can beat Israel Folau

Wtf even was that? Did that actually happen?

 

[parsons nose]

There was once a chap from Bendigo, Southcombe?? Played a season with Carlton in the early 80s, just to prove to his mates he was good enough, then promptly retired. Could have had a successful career in the vfl, had he had the desire.

 

[masai]

Adam Huskes (sp).

 

[Sylvia Saint]

Jeremy McGovern

Rookie listed by WCE. 3 full years without a senior game. Miraculously he was promoted and then became and overnight sensation.

 

[ManOfClay]

Tom Boyd. The ultimate rollercoaster.


Pick 1
Homesick and trade home
Million dollar deal
Club imposed suspension
Premiership and dominant grand final
Mental health absence

All in 50 odd games

 

[tigs2010]

David Mackay will play 200 AFL games.

Baffling.

Harsh. Nearly a premiership player.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Who has had the strangest football career? Whether it's a player that's taken an unusual path to the sport, has statistical anomalies, played for a bunch of different teams or anything otherwise noteworthy?

Not necessarily the weirdest player, just the weirdest career.

I'd nominate Sam Reid (GWS). Drafted in 2007 by the Bulldogs, went to GWS, delisted, became an assistant coach, redrafted, delisted, then redrafted again. Took 10 years to reach 50 games.

And an insulin dependent type 1 diabetic.

 

[saintkildaman]

Dan Currie hung around for years..

 

[astro1212]

Chad Fletcher.

Played football. Died. Came back from the dead. Played again.

 

[Cincinnatus]

Harsh. Nearly a premiership player.

There have been superstars with no flags and some utter spuds who have won a flag.

Dont believe me? Just wait 10 mins and Macpotata, Adz or Perthboy will start a thread "Who are the worst premiership winning players of all time?"

 

[Post padding]

Darren Bartsch

Drafted to four AFL clubs but never played a senior game

 

[Tony Harrison]

Podsiadly.
Recruited at 28 years of age to become a premiership player and notch over 100 games and nearly 200 goals at 2 clubs.

 

[Pack Specialist]

Mark Jackson

Vs.

Warrick Capper

Flip a coin.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Darren Bartsch

Drafted to four AFL clubs but never played a senior game

Had to look him up. Must have interviewed well. Poor follow through though. To save others the trouble

 

[Damon_3388]

Darren Bartsch

Drafted to four AFL clubs but never played a senior game

And this...

 

[TedDougChris]

There have been superstars with no flags and some utter spuds who have won a flag.

Dont believe me? Just wait 10 mins and Macpotata, Adz or Perthboy will start a thread "Who are the worst premiership winning players of all time?"

Same person aren’t they ???

 

[Damon_3388]

Had to look him up. Must have interviewed well. Poor follow through though. To save others the trouble

I think back in those days, you used to get drafted without actually nominating or interviewing, and then it was up to the club to convince you to come across. They were just going off what you did in the state leagues, or juniors. Plenty of guys got drafted and never ended up going to their VFL/AFL club.

 

[Tony Harrison]

Had to look him up. Must have interviewed well. Poor follow through though. To save others the trouble

View attachment 515256

Commuting to Melbourne on the weekends

 

[Post padding]

I think back in those days, you used to get drafted without actually nominating or interviewing, and then it was up to the club to convince you to come across. They were just going off what you did in the state leagues, or juniors. Plenty of guys got drafted and never ended up going to their VFL/AFL club.

In one of his interviews later in life, he didn’t say he never asked to be drafted and said the best thing the AFL did was make the kids nominate for the draft. Saved a lot of wasted draft selections

 

[BG__]

Menegola is a current player that comes to mind. Drafted by the Hawks in the 2011 rookie draft and didn't get a game. Then drafted by freo in the 2012 rookie draft, was on the list a few years and didnt get a game. Got cut and spent a year in the WAFL. Drafted by the Cats late in the 2015 national draft. Then did his knee in the preseason and missed most of the year. Finally made his debut late 2016 and been a regular ever since and been a pretty good player.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Sean Dempster - 5 Grand Finals within his first 100 games.

Also holds the club record for Sydney for the highest number of AFL games played (200) without a premiership after the point of playing in his first premiership with that club.

As a player, was a bit part player at the Swans, was traded basically as steak knives with Schneider in 2007 odd (Swans received massive unders as it was for those players at the time, let alone after factoring in how good both players became). Meandered at St Kilda for a couple of years, and then became an All Australian calibre backman for the end of his career, seemingly out of nowhere.

His retirement at the start of a season due to concussion after missing selection in Round 1 was a bit strange too.

 

[hairy biker]

Billy James.

Won a country GF week before the VFL GF, selected by Richmond, never having played for the club, kicked the sealing goal for the Tigers first premiership.
1 game, 1 premiership.
Never played VFL again.

The story was his career with Richmond ended because he went home and shot himself in the foot in a hunting accident.
Not quite true as explained here;
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-11/legendary-grand-final-story-shot-down-as-myth

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Podsiadly.
Recruited at 28 years of age to become a premiership player and notch over 100 games and nearly 200 goals at 2 clubs.

Having been previously delisted by both Collingwood and Essendon nearly a decade earlier.