Weirdest Football Career

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Dave Lynch for Richmond in the 1920's.

20 games spread across eight years for 77 goals @ 3.85 a game, in an era when teams averaged 10 goals a match.

Kicked 8 bags of 5+.

In 1926 he played the last six games in the seniors and kicked 7, 6, 5, 5, 5, 3 to win both the senior and Reserves goalkicking.

He played 97 Reserves games for 400 goals. In 1929 at 27yo he won the Reserves competition goalkicking with 89 and booted five goals in the Reserves premiership win, as well as four goals in his solitary and last senior appearance. In 1928 and 1930 he played for local side Darling, kicking 231 goals in 35 games. Late in 1930 he returned to the Richmond Reserves, kicking five goals in the losing GF team.

Never been able to find out much about him or why he got so few opportunities in the ones, yet he stands beside the early goalkicking legends in the list below.

Highest career goal averages to 1929:

Avg Gls|Player|Gms|Club(s)|Career
\3.95|Moriarty, Jack|111|Es,Fi|1922-1933
\ 3.85 |L ynch, Dave | 20 | Ri | 1922-1929
\3.77|Coventry, Gordon|159|Co|1920-1937
\3.57|Morrison, Alby|28|WB|1928-1946
\3.21|Davie, Harry|58|Me,Ca|1924-1928
\3.13|Johnson, Ted E.|104|Sy|1923-1931
\3.08|McCormack, Jack|24|Ri|1927-1929
\3.08|Johnson, Len|13|Es,NM|1929-1933
\3.07|Lee, Dick|230|Co|1906-1922
 
Last edited:
parsons nose said:
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.
Click to expand...

Tony Southcombe? One of the few players to wear glasses. 1977.

297247_51bea3bcc5b813be907690de1a35fb98.jpg


Will throw in Paul Meldrum. Born in London and a passionate Carlton supporter, he walked in off the street and asked to train with the reigning premiers. Played 150+ games, finished third in a Brownlow and became a premiership player himself.
 

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Brett Zorzi -

An absolute champion in the SANFL, one of the most decorated players for Norwood, also for the VFL Preston Bullants, on the reserves list for four AFL Clubs and in all that time - got one crack in the AFL comp, in Justin Madden’s number ...none the less, in his jumper that went down to his knees.

Captain, Norm Smith Equivalent, Best and Fairests, premierships, premiership captain and one game, in Madden’s jumper that didn’t even fit him. Just so weird
 
Isaac Smith is an interesting one.

Moved to Ballarat to go to uni and played for local side Reden in the reserves in 2009. Finished up 2009 winning the flag in the seniors. Then 2010 he started out playing for Reden and finished the year starring for North Ballarat in the VFL grand final and was drafted by Hawthorn in the 1st round a few weeks later.

Played In an AFL prelim a year later, a gf a year after that and then won 3 straight flags almost winning a norm Smith in the 3rd.

Pretty amazing rise.
 
BG__ said:
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.
Click to expand...
Cheers for this , didn't know his back story and rate him highly . No wonder he has that rock solid attitude to match the physique .
 

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I’ve made this post before.

Doug Wade has a trippy aspect of his career.

He played for two clubs and played in two GFs with both of them and had the same result against the same teams.

As a Cat in 1963 he wins a flag against Hawthorn and in 1967 is part of the GF losing team to Richmond.

As a Kangaroo in 1975 he wins a flag against Hawthorn after having played in a GF loss to Richmond in 1974.

Drew Banfield and Wade IIRC have the record for largest gap between first and second premierships of 12 years.

————-

Damian Hardwick from 1999-2004 played in six straight minor premierships.

———

Some players like Andrew Mackie amazingly didn’t make their state U18 team but FFS Jarrad/Max Rooke didn’t even make the North Ballarat Rebels. IIRC he kicked 8 goals in the senior side for Casterton in the GF and sent that tape to all clubs.
 
Lance Whitnall. Bursted onto the scene as a dominant and weird flabby looking 19 year told. Continued to get more flabby, somehow made captain, gained more weight, got delisted whilst he was still captain.

Big controversy in his career was a blue with his brother about his sons bday party or some s**t
 
TheRealComptroller said:
I’ve made this post before.

Doug Wade has a trippy aspect of his career.

He played for two clubs and played in two GFs with both of them and had the same result against the same teams.

As a Cat in 1963 he wins a flag against Hawthorn and in 1967 is part of the GF losing team to Richmond.

As a Kangaroo in 1975 he wins a flag against Hawthorn after having played in a GF loss to Richmond in 1974.

Drew Banfield and Wade IIRC have the record for largest gap between first and second premierships of 12 years.

————-

Damian Hardwick from 1999-2004 played in six straight minor premierships.

———

Some players like Andrew Mackie amazingly didn’t make their state U18 team but FFS Jarrad/Max Rooke didn’t even make the North Ballarat Rebels. IIRC he kicked 8 goals in the senior side for Casterton in the GF and sent that tape to all clubs.
Click to expand...

To be fair on Mackie. He dominated school boys footy through the private schools
 
The Passenger said:
Matt Spangher's career was pretty amazing
11 seasons
56 games
5 times on a list for a premiership winning team at 3 different clubs
1 premiership medal
Click to expand...

Came here to say Sir Spangher for those reasons. He was a premiership lucky charm that's for sure.

Brendan Whitecross doesn't have a weird career, as much as a tragic one - has been on the list at the Hawks since the 2008 season and has missed out on 4 premierships, doing his ACL in consecutive prelim finals.
 
Kyle Cheney.

Been in the system for 10 years, no major injuries, 3 clubs and a total of 78 games.

Drafted by Melbourne in 2007.
Played 14 games in 3 years. Delisted by one of the worst teams in the comp
Picked up by one of the best teams in the comp. Hawthorn
27 games over 4 years. Delisted.
Picked up by Adelaide.
Played 37 games over 4 years.
 
Or maybe Todd Viney.

Retired mid career to become the hitting partner and fitness coach for Mark Philippoussis. Only to realise his old man was a knob and come back to playing footy
 
Ron The Bear said:
Tony Southcombe? One of the few players to wear glasses. 1977.

297247_51bea3bcc5b813be907690de1a35fb98.jpg


Will throw in Paul Meldrum. Born in London and a passionate Carlton supporter, he walked in off the street and asked to train with the reigning premiers. Played 150+ games, finished third in a Brownlow and became a premiership player himself.
Click to expand...
Yep, that’s him Ron. Had red hair too from memory. Weird looking cat, but could play
 
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