VFL/AFL Taxonomy

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Aug 23, 2010
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Not sure if there's a thread dedicated to this but I have been wondering about every single family connection in VFL/AFL history.

E.g. Abletts/Tucks and Kennedy's/Ball's/Russo's.

Former Fitzroy player Michael Reeves is the uncle of Geelong's Josh Caddy, Reeves is the son of former North Melbourne player John Reeves which, therefore, makes John the grandfather of Josh.

Former Fitzroy and Collingwood player Jim Sharp is the great-grandfather of Collingwood's Paul Seedsman.

Carlton's Matthew Watson is the nephew of former Essendon premiership ruckman Steven Alessio.

Geelong's Cameron Guthrie is the son of former Essendon player Andrew Merryweather.

Whether they're first cousins, uncles, second cousins whatever.

Throw out every single connection on here.

Also, if any player's related to a non VFL/AFL player of the past, post it here.

GO!
 
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worbod

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What do you mean by "non VFL/AFL player of the past"?
Are you referring to players from the WAFL, SANFL, Tassie FL, etc?
 
Aug 23, 2010
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What do you mean by "non VFL/AFL player of the past"?
Are you referring to players from the WAFL, SANFL, Tassie FL, etc?


Not just that but also those in other sports, movies etc etc etc.
 

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Feb 18, 2003
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This could take a while.

The Daniher family tree.

We'll start with the man set to debut this week in the NAB Cup, Joe Daniher. Like brother Darcy before him, he is the son of Anthony Daniher, a veteran of over 200 games with South Melbourne, Sydney and Essendon.

Anthony is the 3rd of the Daniher brothers to play at the highest level.

Eldest brother Terry played over 300 games with South Melbourne and Essendon. 2nd brother Neale would manage 86 games, and become the poster boy for horrific knee injuries. Baby brother Chris would also pass 100 games, all at Essendon.

They had a cousin Mick Daniher, who was a team-mate of Anthony's with the Swans and now sits in the high ranks of football development in NSW, as he has done for a generatipn.
 
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Gary O'Donnell's sister Shelley played in the Australian netball team for about 10 years and was the first captain of the Melbourne Kestrels.


Good find mate.

Think they're related to former Geelong forward Cliff Rankin or something.

Edit: They're Cliff's great-grandkids.
 
Aug 23, 2010
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This could take a while.

The Daniher family tree.

We'll start with the man set to debut this week in the NAB Cup, Joe Daniher. Like brother Darcy before him, he is the son of Anthony Daniher, a veteran of over 200 games with South Melbourne, Sydney and Essendon.

Anthony is the 3rd of the Daniher brothers to play at the highest level.

Eldest brother Terry played over 300 games with South Melbourne and Essendon. 2nd brother Neale would manage 86 games, and become the poster boy for horrific knee injuries. Baby brother Chris would also pass 100 games, all at Essendon.

They had a cousin Mick Daniher, who was a team-mate of Anthony's with the Swans and now sits in the high ranks of football development in NSW, as he has done for a generatipn.


The Daniher's are Essendon royalty.

Weren't the matriarch and patriarch Edna and Jim?
 
Aug 23, 2010
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Yep.

The Daniher sisters all played high level of netball in NSW too. The breeding in Ungarie was something else.


I guess the Daniher's were Ungarie for success.
 
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Footscray defender Liam Picken is the son of former Collingwood high-flyer Billy Picken.

Carlton forward Andrew Collins is the nephew of multi clubber Peter Francis.

Eastern Ranges staff member Anthony Parkin is the son of David Parkin.
 
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The Kennedy's, Ball's and Russo's could rival the Tuck's and Ablett's in terms of quality names.

Let's start with John Kennedy Sr.

His son is John Kennedy Jr and son-in-law is Peter Russo.

His grandson is Josh P Kennedy.

Matthew Ball, Luke Ball and Josh P Kennedy are also the grandsons of Felix Russo which also makes them the nephews of Peter Russo.

Luke and Matthew are the sons of Ray Ball who is married to Jenny Ball who is a daughter of Felix Russo and a sister of Peter Russo.

That makes Peter Russo the uncle of Luke and Matthew Ball as well as Josh P Kennedy as I have mentioned above.

Her sister Bernadette's married to John Kennedy Jr which makes Bernadette not only the daughter-in-law of John Kennedy Sr but also the mother of Josh P Kennedy.

That also makes Bernadette the daughter-in-law of Felix Russo and the brother-in-law of Peter Russo.

This is very complicated and mind boggling.

If only there was a way of expressing this simplistically.
 

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Brett Deledio's the son of Carlton 1 game Wayne Deledio.

Marcus Drum is the nephew of Damian Drum.

Garry and Steven Hocking are brothers.

Andrew, Phil and Jim Krakouer are brothers and the younger Andrew's the son of Jim.

Jonathan Brown's the son of Brian Brown which makes him not only the cousin of Liam Picken but the nephew of Billy Picken who's the father of Liam Picken.
 
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Tom Wills' father was Horace Wills. Horace Wills was the son of a convict. He was one of the first settlers in the Western District of Victoria - particularly around Ararat. He became wealthy, and was later elected to the Victorian Parliament. He moved to Queensland in 1861 to help set up grazing properties, but was murdered after only 2 weeks (along with most of his party - about 25) by local aborigines. Tom Wills (age 16) was in the group, but was one of the few survivors.
 
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Russell Ebert's the father and uncle of Brett and Brad in that order.

Tim Watson's the father of Jobe Watson.
Larry Watson's the brother of Tim and the uncle of Jobe.

Kurt and Joel Tippett are brothers.

Tony, Ray and Neville Shaw are brothers.
Rhyce and Heath are the sons of Ray and the nephews of Tony and Neville.

Gary O'Donnell is the great-grandson of Cliff Rankin.

Leroy, Neville and Lewis Jetta are cousins of each other.
Buddy Franklin and Jeffey Garlett are cousins.
Jeffey and Cruize Garlett are cousins.

Josh Walker's the grandson of Peter Walker.

Jordan Bourke's the son of Damian Bourke.
Jed Bews is the son of Andrew Bews.
Mitch Wallis' the son of Stephen Wallis.
James Stewart's the son of Craig Stewart.
Tom Liberatore's the son of Tony Liberatore.

Shaun McKernan's the brother of Corey McKernan.
Chad and Kane Cornes are the sons of Graham Cornes.
Allen and Glen Jakovich are brothers.
Dale Weightman and Leigh Colbert are uncle and nephew.
Anthony and Saverio Rocca are brothers.
Ronnie Wearmouth's the son of Dick Wearmouth.

Fraser Gehrig's the nephew of Ross Thornton.
James Walker's the great-grandson of Gordon Coventry.
Jackson Merrett's the great-nephew of Thorold Merrett and is distantly related to Roger Merrett and Geelong's Lord twins Alistair and Stewart.
Chris and Robbie Tarrant are brothers as are Dayne and Claye Beams whose step-brother is Bryce Retzlaff.
Mark and David Johnson are brothers.

Ross and Bryce Gibbs are father-son.

There've been 3 generations of one lot of Murphy's.
First there was Leo who had a son called John and John's son is Marc Murphy.

Max Papley's the grandfather of Ben and Michael Ross.

There are the 2 Ted Whitten's, the 2 Bob Pratt's, the 2 Austin Robertson's and the 2 Gary Ablett's.

Kelvin and Leigh Matthews are brothers.

Bill Goggin's the uncle of Terry Bright.

Michael and Marc Woolnough are father-son.

Cale, Mitch and Jarryd Morton are brothers.

Leo is the father of Michael Turner.
 
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This could take a while.

The Daniher family tree.

We'll start with the man set to debut this week in the NAB Cup, Joe Daniher. Like brother Darcy before him, he is the son of Anthony Daniher, a veteran of over 200 games with South Melbourne, Sydney and Essendon.

Anthony is the 3rd of the Daniher brothers to play at the highest level.

Eldest brother Terry played over 300 games with South Melbourne and Essendon. 2nd brother Neale would manage 86 games, and become the poster boy for horrific knee injuries. Baby brother Chris would also pass 100 games, all at Essendon.

They had a cousin Mick Daniher, who was a team-mate of Anthony's with the Swans and now sits in the high ranks of football development in NSW, as he has done for a generatipn.

I understand the Bombers have no hold on Neales kids - one showing promise over in WA.
 

worbod

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Does brother-in-law count as a relation?

Probably a lesser known instance lies with Tony Southcombe, who only played 13 games for Carlton in 1977 before heading back to the country. He was brother-in-law with another country champion in Ron Best, who kicked over 1500 goals in the Bendigo League, and later became a National Party politician. Don't think they are still brothers-in-law, as both have remarried since they retired in the 1980s.
 
Aug 23, 2010
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Does brother-in-law count as a relation?

Probably a lesser known instance lies with Tony Southcombe, who only played 13 games for Carlton in 1977 before heading back to the country. He was brother-in-law with another country champion in Ron Best, who kicked over 1500 goals in the Bendigo League, and later became a National Party politician. Don't think they are still brothers-in-law, as both have remarried since they retired in the 1980s.


Brother-in-laws do indeed count.

Garry Lyon and Brett Lovett and Michael Tuck and Gary Ablett Sr.
 
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That would be about right given his lack of games at the club.

But do tell me more about his son, because i am quite sure Essendon would be keeping an eye out as well.

Sorry paz, I'm Melbourne based & know about as much about young Daniher as I do about Peter Materas young bloke who lives/plays in Melbourne - I'd love to go & see Jordyn Matera play but ... I'll pass on anything I learn on Neales young bloke.
 
Maurice Rioli and Michael Long are uncles of Cyril Rioli, Dean Rioli and Anthony Long, who are all cousins.

Sir Douglas Nicholls played for Fitzroy along side Haydn Bunton Sr. He was the first indigenous Australian to be knighted as well as the first to be appointed to a vice-regal position (Governor of South Australia). He is the great grandfather of Nathan Lovett-Murray, who is the cousin of Andrew Lovett. (Not sure of his linage to Andrrew)

Hadyn Bunton Sr is the father of Haydn Bunton Jr. Haydn Sr is brother to Cleaver Bunton, who was a long standing NSW Senate representative and was made an officer of both OBE and OA.

Donald & David Cockatoo-Collins are twins and the elder brothers of Che Cockatoo-Collins.

Wally, Peter & Phil Matera are all brothers, Wally is the father of Brandon Matera.

Adrian, Gilbert & Greg McAdam are all brothers.

Ashley & Cory McGrath are brothers, Marty McGrath is their cousin.

Daniel, Shannon and Steven Motlop are all brothers, Marlon Motlop is their cousin.
 
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Graeme Whitnall's the father of Lance Whitnall.
David Darcy's the father of Luke Darcy.
Jack Hawkins' the father of Tom Hawkins and Tom's the nephew of Michael Hawkins.
Vin Waite's (R.I.P) the father of Jarrad Waite.
David Clarke Sr is the father of David Clarke Jr and Tim Clarke.
Wayne Richardson's the father of Mark Richardson.
Ken Turner's the father of Jamie Turner.
Jack Howell's the father of Scott Howell.
Ken Fletcher's the father of Dustin Fletcher.
John Somerville's the father of Peter Somerville.
John Dugdale's the father of Dean and Glenn Dugdale.
Sergio Silvagni's the father of Stephen Silvagni.
Robert Bosustow's the father of Peter Bosustow.
Allan Hird Sr's the father of Allan Hird Jr and the grandfather of James Hird.
Rod Blake's the father of Mark Blake.
John Yeates' the father of Mark Yeates.
Michael Bowden's the father of Joel and Sean.
Ron Barassi Sr's the father of Ron Barassi Jr.
Brian Pert's the father of Gary Pert.
Tom Mitchell's the son of Barry Mitchell.
David Flintoff and Garry Lyon are cousins.
John Scarlett's the father of Matthew Scarlett.
Ashley McIntosh's the son of John McIntosh.
Campbell Brown's the son of Mal Brown.
Paul and Andrew Dimattina are sons of Frank Dimattina.
Frank Bourke's the father of Francis Bourke and grandfather of David Bourke.
Garry Lyon's the son of Peter Lyon.
Ryan O'Keefe's the son of Brian O'Keefe.
Ayce Cordy's the son of Brian Cordy.
Matthew and Brad Lloyd are sons of John Lloyd.
Ben Cousins is the son of Brian Cousins.
Warren Tredrea's the son of Gary Tredrea.
Shane Cable's the son of Barry Cable.
Brad Miller's the son of Neville Miller.
Ben Dixon's the son of Joe Dixon.
Paul Atkins' the brother of Simon Atkins.
Brian and Jim Stynes are brothers.
Gerard and Bernard Toohey are brothers.
Likewise Stuart and David Glascott, Bruce and Glenn Elliott, Jamie and Ricky Barham who, in turn, is the father of Jaxson Barham, Robbie and Tom Flower, Neil and Craig Balme, Robert and Arnold Briedis, Wayne and Daryl Schimmelbusch, Jamie and Chris Grant, Daniel and Michael Talia, Jack and Sam Frost, David and Peter Cloke, Kym and Scott Russell, Tim and Damian Bourke whose son is Jordan, Steve and Michael Richardson, Robert and Anthony Harvey, Mark and Russell Greene whose son is Steven, Mark and Stan Alves, Luke and Brad Ottens and Jay and Todd Viney.
Chris and Brad Scott are identical twins as are Shane and Darryl Wakelin.
 
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Dean Rice's the nephew of Colin Rice.
David Flintoff's the nephew of Peter Lyon.
Norm Smith's the great uncle of Wayne Harmes.
Ben Graham's the nephew of Ricky Graham and the grandson of Jack Graham.
Barry Young's the nephew of Paddy Guinane.
Ty Zantuck is not only Shane Zantuck's son but also the nephew of Arnold Briedis.
Lou and brother Ron Richards are part of the famed Collingwood Pannam family.
 

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