ANSWER MAN

from AFL Record Round 15, 2023

THE TRADERS’ FANTASY CLASSIC STOCK MARKET

It was disappointing that Swans co-captain Luke Parker missed playing in Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin’s 350th career match recently. A suspension from an incident in round 12 ruled him out of playing 100 consecutive games, leaving him stranded on 99. How many players have managed to string together at least 100 matches without missing through injury, illness, omission or suspension?

R.C. CASTLES, PADDINGTON, NSW

CH: From the 1930s until the 1970s, state representative matches were often played during the same weekends as club matches. Players selected in these games had to miss a club match. However, their sequence of consecutive matches was deemed to be unbroken. During the past 127 seasons, there have been 134 instances of players racking up at least 100 games without a miss, involving 131 individuals. Remarkably, Kevin Murray (Fitzroy), Kevin Bartlett (Richmond) and Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda and North Melbourne) each achieved the feat on two separate occasions. Parker has joined five other players who have finished one short of a century of consecutive appearances. Current Saint Callum Wilkie has appeared in all 98 matches since he made his debut in the opening round of 2019. If luck is on his side, he will become just the 10th person to play his first 100 games consecutively.

CAN YOU ASSIST?

u Shane O’Bree, who is a member of Geelong’s coaching panel, represented Brisbane Lions and Collingwood with distinction in 246 matches between 1998 and 2010. His maternal grandfather Arthur Edwards made his debut for Footscray in 1951. During 10 seasons, Edwards played 120 games and was a member of the Bulldogs’ 1954 premiership team. One of O’Bree’s great grandfathers was Frank ‘Dolly’ Aked, who wore the Bulldogs’ colours at AFL level between 1925 and 1932 before switching to Hawthorn for a season. He played a total of 116 career games.

If you know of other examples of relatively recent AFL players who have ancestors with a different surname who also played in the equivalent competition, please contact col.hutchinson@afl.com.au.

ROUND 15, 2022

SWAN SO CLOSE: A suspension meant

Parker was stranded on 99 consecutive games.

Stranded On 99 C0nsecutive Matches

2011 – R14, 2015 Injury

Shaun Atley NM R12, 2015 – R19, 2019 Injury

Most Consecutive Games From Debut

Luke Parker Syd EF, 2018 – R11, 2023 Suspension Games Player Club u Melbourne ended a three-game losing streak in emphatic fashion, downing Brisbane Lions by 64 points at the MCG. Stand-in skipper Jack Viney covered for the injured Max Gawn with a team-lifting performance. The Friday night double-header saw the Western Bulldogs comfortably account for Hawthorn, while West Coast recorded just its second win, taking down Essendon by 10 points at Optus Stadium. Veteran Eagle Josh Kennedy booted five goals. A depleted Carlton was too good for Fremantle with Sam Walsh (40 disposals) putting himself in Brownlow Medal contention. Geelong gave up a 35-point lead to Richmond before a Jack Henry mark and goal in the last minute gave the Cats a three-point win in one of the games of the season. It came at a cost though, with star defender Tom Stewart outed for four weeks for a high hit on Dion Prestia. Sydney was too strong for St Kilda, Adelaide took out North Melbourne with Taylor Walker kicking six goals, Collingwood held on by 10 points over GWS and Port Adelaide won a thriller against Gold Coast.

*Missed one game during sequence due to state selection **Missed two games during sequence due to state selection

IT’S NOT JUST A GAME.. IT’S A WAY OF LIFE!