QUESTIONS?
Ask Col via email at col.hutchinson@afl.com.au or write to him at AFL House, PO Box 1449, GPO, Melbourne, VIC 3001
ANSWER MAN Across history, we have seen many players who had animal surnames or nicknames. Can you tell us about some of them?
with LACHLAN ESSING u In the final round of 2007, Essendon bid farewell to two of its greats – captain James Hird, in his 253rd match, and Kevin Sheedy, who had coached the Bombers for 27 seasons. Essendon trailed reigning premier West Coast by 44 points at three-quarter time at Subiaco Oval. Enter Scott Lucas. Within 17 minutes, the Bombers had cut the margin to 14 points, with Lucas kicking five goals thanks to some strong marking and a booming left foot. A behind to the Eagles was followed by another two goals to Lucas to give him seven for the quarter and eight for the match, but at the 22-minute mark, Essendon still trailed by three points.
NAME GAME: Andrew ‘Rat’ Bews and John ‘Horse’ Longmire were stars of the 1980s and ‘90s.
WILLIAM SIMMONDS, BROOME, WA LE: Carlton rover Adrian Gleeson went by the nickname ‘Bear’ and his 176 games between 1986-96 included the 1987 premiership. Craig Bird was a premiership midfielder for the Swans in 2012 and played the last of his 157 career games in 2017 after switching to the Bombers. John Fox played 60 games for the Cats in the 1960s after crossing from a rugby background. He had a rugby-style approach to the game and once ran 40m without bouncing the ball, as he forgot he was playing Australian Football. Brian Roberts, known as the ‘Whale’, was a giant ruckman for the Tigers and the Swans. One the heaviest players to have played the game, he once weighed in at 120kg. North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey was famously known as ‘Duck’. The nickname came early in his career, as he used to waddle when he walked and ran.
North Melbourne sharpshooter Phil Baker went by the nickname ‘Snake’ and was renowned for his high marking. Andrew Bews was well known as ‘Rat’ and, despite his diminutive size, was recognised as one of the League’s toughest players.
SELECTED ANIMAL SURNAMES OR NICKNAMES NAME
NICKNAME
CLUB
CAREER
GAMES
GOALS
Adrian Gleeson
Bear
Carlton
1986-96
176
175
Syd/Ess
2008-17
157
59
Fitzroy
1955-64; 1967-74
333
51
Max Crow
Ess/StK/WB
1974-86
188
210
Bill Dolphin
South Melb
1905-11
100
0
Craig Bird Kevin Murray
Bulldog
Wayne Carey
Duck
NM/Adel
1989-2001; 2003-04
272
727
Paul Salmon
Fish
Ess/Haw
1983-2002
324
561
Geelong
1960-65
60
7
Frog
Melbourne
1957-66
99
24
John Fox Neil Crompton John Longmire
Horse
North Melb
1988-99
200
511
Tim Notting
Possum
Brisbane
1998-2009
208
138
Andrew Bews
Rat
Geel/Bris
1982-98
282
134
Phil Baker
Snake
NM/Geel
1971-79
106
125
David McKay
Swan
Carlton
1969-81
263
277
Brent Crosswell
Tiger
Carl/NM/Melb
1968-82
222
257
Chris Grant
Turtle
WB
1990-2007
341
554
Brian Roberts
Whale
Rich/SM
1971-75
93
36
20 AFL RECORD
AR04 p20 Answerman.indd 20
CAN YOU ASSIST? u The AFL is seeking information regarding the following former players – Noel Alford (North Melbourne 1952-53), Pat Audas (Richmond 1952-54), Noel Carroll (Fitzroy 1951, 1953), Charlie Clymo (St Kilda 1907-09), Peter Cook (Melbourne 1956-58), Roy Cullinan (South Melbourne 1953), Neil McNeill (South Melbourne 1955-56), Len Metherell (Geelong 1930-36), Frank Mockridge (Geelong 1925-31), Fred Mundy (Geelong 1959; Richmond 1960), Bob Troughton (Geelong 1930-35) and Jack Williams (Geelong 1925-34).
If you can assist, contact Col Hutchinson at col.hutchinson@afl.com.au.
After a tense couple of minutes, Lucas scored a behind, but West Coast replied with a goal to Brent Staker to snuff out a fairytale finish for Hird and Sheedy. Lucas retired at the end of 2009 with 471 goals in 270 games. MARK GENGE
Have a great goalkicking story? Contact AFL historian Mark Genge at mark.genge@afl.com.au.
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5/4/21 12:00 pm
