Australian Football Association of North America

7. Significant Players in the AFL

The high-scoring nature of Aussie Rules means that forwards, and especially full forwards, tend to be the more glamorous positions on a team. Spectacular players who take high/exciting marks, or who kick lots of goals or get a lot of possessions of the ball, are the most widely known players.

However, that doesn't mean there aren't others in any given team who are just as flashy or equally skilled. Pace midfielders with skills to burn are just as exciting to watch as they tear through the opposition lines.

Then are the defenders, most of whom go about their business with a minimum of fuss but are as just as important as the goalkickers. And let's not forget the tall ruckmen who seem to get taller, more skilled and mobile at ground level, and can be pretty handy in front of goal.

Space doesn't allow for an exhaustive list of stars, but players to pay attention to include:

Adelaide
Brett Burton
Andrew McLeod
Mark Ricciuto (retired 2007)
Tyson Edwards
Simon Goodwin
Ian Perrie (retired 2007)
Ben Rutten
Nathan Bock

Brisbane
Simon Black
Michael Rischitelli
Daniel Bradshaw
Nigel Lappin (retired 2008)
Michael Voss (retired 2006)
Jonathan Brown
Luke Power

Carlton
Brendon Fevola
Eddie Betts
Nick Stevens
Anthony Koutoufiides (retired 2007)
Lance Whitnall (retired 2007)
Heath Scotland
Chris Judd (traded by Eagles 2007)

Collingwood
Nathan Buckley (retired 2007)
Paul Medhurst traded froim Fremantle 2006)
Alan Didak
Josh Fraser
Scott Burns (retired (2008)
Dale Thomas
Shane O'Bree
Anthony Rocca
Scott Pendlebury

Essendon
James Hird (retired 2007)
Matthew Llloyd
Jason Johnson (retired 2008)
Brent Stanton
Dustin Fletcher
Scott Lucas
David Hille
Mark McVeigh

Fremantle
Aaron Sandilands
Peter Bell (retired 2008)
Matthew Pavich
Matthew Carr
Jeff Farmer (retired 2008)
Shaun McManus (retired 2008)
Paul Hasleby
Rhys Palmer
Luke McPharlin

Geelong
Tom Harley
Matthew Scarlett
Gary Ablett, Jr
James Kelly
Cameron Ling
Steve Johnson
Brad Ottens

Hawthorn
Shane Crawford
Sam Mitchell
Luke Hodge
Mark Williams
Peter Everitt (retired 2008)
Lance Franklin
Chance Bateman
Trent Croad
Jarryd Roughead
Cyril Rioli

Kangaroos
Glenn Archer (retired 2007)
Brent Harvvey
Shammon Grant (retired 2008)
Adam Simpson
Daniel Wells
Nathan Thompson (retired 2008)
Hamish McIntosh
Drew Petrie

Melbourne
David Neitz (retired 2008)
Russell Robertson
Aaron Davey
Jeff White (retired 2008)
Cameron Bruce
Aaron Davey
Brad Green
James McDonald

Port Power
Brendon Lade
Dean Brogan
Warren Tredrea
Shaun Burgoyne
Dominic Cassisi
Steven Salopek
Chad Cornes
Kane Cornes
Danyle Pearce
Daniel Motlop

Richmond
Matthew Richardson
Jowl Bowden
Brett Deliedio
Kane Johnson
Nathan Brown

St Kilda
Robert Harvey (retired 2008)
Justin Koschitzke
Fraser Gehrig (retired 2008)
Nick Riewoldt
Nick Dal Santo
Lenny Hayes
Stephen King (traded by Geelong 2007)
Sam Fisher
Leigh Montagna
Stephen Milne

Sydney
Adam Goodes
Brett Kirk
Tadgh Kennelly
Michale O'Loughlin
Barry Hall
Leo Barry
Kieren Jack

West Coast
Ben Cousins (deregistered and delisted 2007)
Daniel Kerr
Darren Glass
Dean Cox
David Wirrpunda
Quinten Lynch

Western Bulldogs
Luke Darcy (retired 2007)
Chris Grant (retired 2007)
Scott West (retired 2008)
Jason Akermanis (traded by Brisbane 2007)
Adam Cooney
Daniel Giansiracusa
Lindsey Gilbee
Brad Johnson
Daniel Cross
Nathan Eagleton
Brian Lake

Retirements of note
Tony Lockett, hulking full-forward from Sydney, all-time leading VFL/AFL goalkicker who finished with 1357 career goals.
Garry Lyon, from Melbourne at mid-season.

Ricky Nixon's Club 10

Ricky Nixon is a former VFL player who has become the football manager (read "agent") for many high-profile AFL players. He introduced a concept called Club 10, which featured a new marketing symbol used in product endorsements by the members. This idea had been floated for a while by the AFL, and Club 10 was formed when negotiations between the AFL and Nixon broke down. The AFL is now forming its own list of 25 up-and-coming star players for similar promotions.

The original "members" of Club 10, which  no longer exists were:

• Gary Ablett Snr (Geelong)
• Gavin Brown (Collingwood)
• Wayne Carey (North)
• Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn)
• Glen Jackovich (West Coast)
• Tony Lockett (Sydney)
• Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)
• Garry Lyon (Melbourne)
• Gavin Wanganeen (Port Power)
• Greg Williams (Carlton)
  
  All of these original Club 10 members are how retired, the last being Gavin Wanganeen, who retired mid-season 2006.