Greatest AFL nicknames of all time and background on how the nickname came about.

[Demonic Ascent]

Kyle Cheney was Bocca at least at Hawthorn.

Was "Fetta" at Melbourne

Cyril “Jazzlegs” Gambetta from St.Kilda in the 20’s must have had shaky legs…​

I'm pretty sure I remember hearing it's because he had polio - they discussed it on the great Kick To Kick podcast.

Another one from that podcast (and I don't know the spelling) but a player from the 70s had the surname "Duperali" and his nickname was Super.

Dont know how widespread it was but my brother and I used to call Cam Pedersen "Rolf" after the disgraced Rolf Harris.

"Ghost" for Jim Jess is a great one, pretty sure it's because his skin was so white he was translucent. GhostofJimJess may be able to verify

 

[Boston tiger]

The scud .. Eddie Hocking .

 

[caveman72]

Had a teammate called Virgil who ran like a thunderbird moved

 

[demondavey]

Not AFL but played cricket with a guy whose nickname was clock .......had one arm longer than the other

Clock didn’t play for St Kilda CC

 

[demondavey]

Greg "The human dog walker" Stafford

Made up…. Plus it’s an awful nickname

 

[Mr_Wilson]

The Chimp (Bob skilton, South Melbourne, triple brownlow medalist).
Nicknamed because of his stature.

 

[Osho]

Delicate Des Dickson.
My Glenferrie born father had many colourful stories of Des often lashing out as a train would pass by, like clockwork. From Wiki:

'"Delicate Des", as he was known ironically, was a tough, rough defender and changing ruckman. Recruited from Golden Square in Bendigo, Dickson received a harsh initiation in his first game in the reserves when he was king hit early on. He vowed that would be how he played the game at that level. He was reported three times late that afternoon.'

 

[iameviljez]

The Chimp (Bob skilton, South Melbourne, triple brownlow medalist).
Nicknamed because of his stature.

I thought it was his hairy arms

 

[Mr_Wilson]

Delicate Des Dickson.
My Glenferrie born father had many colourful stories of Des often lashing out as a train would pass by, like clockwork. From Wiki:

'"Delicate Des", as he was known ironically, was a tough, rough defender and changing ruckman. Recruited from Golden Square in Bendigo, Dickson received a harsh initiation in his first game in the reserves when he was king hit early on. He vowed that would be how he played the game at that level. He was reported three times late that afternoon.'

Lou Richards was strong on calling out nicknames during footy commentaries.
Hawthorn's 'Delicate Des Dickson' rolled off Lou's tongue like it was meant to be.