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by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Lance Franklin's move from Hawthorn to Sydney after the Hawks won the 2013 Grand Final is well-documented. Although he was a member of the 2012 side which lost to the Swans, he has the chance to be added to an elite list of players should the Swans again be victorious. While there have been over 70 players who switched clubs and played in Grand Finals for two different clubs, less than half tasted the ultimate triumph with their new teams.

Hawthorn's Shaun Burgoyne, who was part of the 2013 win, could replace Franklin on the list should the Hawks defeat the Swans. Burgoyne started at Port Adelaide and played in the 2004 Grand Final win before joining the Hawks at the end of 2008.

One must go back to 1898 for the first player to win premierships at more than one club. Eddie Drohan was a clever winger with Fitzroy and a member of their premiership side that year as well as in 1899. After 75 games with Fitzroy, including the losing 1900 Grand Final, he crossed to Collingwood and was again part of premiership glory in his first season as a Magpie.

Some of the others to do so are not as well known as Drohan. Here is a run down of the somewhat exclusive club:

Mick Grace (Fitzroy 1898 and 1899, Carlton 1906 and 1907). Considered the best ruck/forward of his time, Grace stood out of football for several years after the 1900 Grand Final loss. Upon his return, he joined Carlton and helped the Blues defeat his old side in the 1906 decider.

Frank Caine (Carlton 1907 and 1908, Essendon 1912)  Caine left the Blues and the game after a falling out with the club but returned to play with the Bombers.

Jim Martin (Essendon 1912, Fitzroy 1913) Only one of two players to play in consecutive premiership wins with different clubs. The other was his Bomber teammate of 1912 Tom Fitzmaurice (see below).

Charlie Norris (Collingwood 1910, Fitzroy 1912 and 1916) The 1916 premiership win was the only time in League history when the last-placed team was also the Grand Final winner. This was due to only four clubs still being active during the world war. As such, those four teams played Finals and Fitzroy found form at the right time of the year to down first placed Carlton.

Tom Fitzmaurice (Essendon 1923-24, Geelong 1925) A fine defender for the Bombers he walked out in disgust after an exhibition loss to then amateur VFA team Footscray. He accused teammates of not trying hard enough and there were rumors that some were paid to "play dead" during the game.

Horrie Edmonds (Collingwood 1929-1930, Richmond 1934)

Jack Caney (Geelong 1930-31, Carlton 1938) The diminutive rover was one of the first to be the 19th man on the bench under a new rule (no interchange at the time, each side having one spare player to replace anyone who might get injured).

Brighton Diggins (South Melbourne 1933, Carlton 1938) 1933 was the last Grand Final triumph for South Melbourne, with the club having to wait 72 years for their next victory as the Sydney Swans in 2005.

Gordon Abbott (Geelong 1937, Essendon 1942 and 1946)

Keith Stackpole (Collingwood 1935-36 as 19th man in both, Fitzroy 1944) A talented rover who crossed to Fitzroy for more playing opportunities due to the depth of talent at Collingwood.

Peter McLean (Melbourne 1964, Carlton 1968) Was on the bench and never got a run in 1964, came on in the third term in 1968.

Ian Stewart (St Kilda 1966, Richmond 1970) One of the all-time greats, he also won Brownlow Medals while at both clubs.

Barry Davis (Essendon 1962 and 1965, North Melbourne 1975) He crossed to North under the ten year rule which allowed players to change clubs if they had played ten or more seasons with the one team. Captained North to their first flag win and was predecessor to Kevin Sheedy as coach of Essendon.

Doug Wade (Geelong 1963 and North 1975) One of the great forwards of all time, only one of four to kick over 1000 career goals, another who switched sides under the ten year rule.

Brent Crosswell (Carlton 1968 and 1970, North Melbourne 1975 and 1977)

Barry Rowlings (Hawthorn 1976 and Richmond 1980) Suffered a serious knee injury from which the Hawks thought he would not recover and traded him to the Tigers after 82 games. Went on to play eight more seasons and 152 games.

Bryan Wood (Richmond 1973-74 and 1980, Essendon 1985) The Tigers thought his best was over due to injuries and let him go. His former Tiger teammate Kevin Sheedy (now coaching Essendon) got him to the Bombers.

Darren Jarman (Hawthorn 1991, Adelaide 1997-98) Played only a minor role in 1991 and later admitted to being overawed at the time. Returned home to play alongside brother Andrew at the Crows and turned in two fine performances in the Crows' wins.

Martin Pike (North Melbourne 1999, Brisbane 2001-03) Journeyman who started with Melbourne and was with Fitzroy when the club merged with Brisbane at the end of 1996 but was not one of the seven selected by the Lions due to a reputation for poor off-field discipline. That changed under Denis Pagan before he joined Brisbane in 2001.

Blake Caracella (Essendon 2000, Brisbane 2003) Said to have fallen out of favor after expressing anger over the trade of teammate Damien Hardwick. Poor form in 2002 saw him at the Lions in 2003.

Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon 1993, Port Adelaide 2004) Won the Brownlow in 1993, but was lured home in 1997 to captain Port Adelaide in their first AFL season.

Damien Hardwick (Essendon 2000, Port Adelaide 2004) Being told in 2001 that his opportunities would be limited plus salary cap restrictions saw him traded to Port Adelaide.

Byron Pickett (North Melbourne 1999, Port Adelaide 2004) Tough and ruthless defender who won the Rising Star Award in 1998. Missed several chunks of games in 2004 due to injury but won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the 2004 Grand Final win. The first player to be suspended under the Match Review Panel system.

Cameron Mooney (North Melbourne 1999, Geelong 2007 and 2009) Was on the ground for only 20 minutes and had no stats in 1999, he was traded after just 11 games. Despite numerous run-ins with the MRP he was a key to the Cats' rise to prominence and success. Has the dubious record of the most suspensions (four) in one season. Now a match commentator and regular weekly contributor on SEN Radio.

Stuart Dew (Port Adelaide 2004, Hawthorn 2008) The long-kicking Dew stood down from the game in 2007, unsure if he wanted to continue but joined Hawthorn in 2008. Many questioned the wisdom of Hawthorn selecting him but he proved a key to their 2008 win.

Jason Ball (West Coast 1994, Sydney 2005)

Darren Jolly (Sydney 2005, Collingwood 2010 (the tie and the replay) Started with Melbourne but requested a trade at the end of 2004. Was second ruck to Jason Ball at Sydney until Ball retired at the end of 2005. Joined Collingwood in 2010 and retired at the end of 2013.

Source: AFL Record Season Guide, Encyclopedia of League Footballers, author notes

Article last changed on Monday, September 12, 2022 - 5:34 PM EDT


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