Micro Noises 75: New names on the block
Look what the draft blew in
The 2014 National AFL Draft has delivered no less than 24 surnames that will be first-timers if and when they make it onto the field for a senior match next season. That number will increase it to 37 if the 13 rookies with never-before-seen surnames also get a guernsey.
Surnames preparing to make their first appearance at VFL/AFL level include:
B - Blakely, Boekhorst, Brooksby (rookie)
C - Castagna (rookie), Cavka, Cockatoo, Cunico
D - De Goey, Deluca-Cardillo, Duggan, Durgan
F - Frampton
G - Glenn (rookie), Goodyear, Gore
H - Hammelmann (rookie), Hardisty (rookie), Heeney, Hiscox
L - Laverde, Lucey (rookie)
M - Manteit (rookie) McCartin, Melican (rookie), Menadue, Miller-Lewis (rookie)
N - Neal-Bullen, Nielson
P - Petracca, Pittonet, Preuss (rookie)
S- Short (rookie), Soldo (rookie)
V - Viojo-Rainbow, Vickers-Willis
W - Wagner (rookie), Wigg
Second-timers get second billing
It seems only fair that our second item features players whose surnames will be making their second appearance. Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw will follow Mark, who played 32 games for North Melbourne between 1990 and 1992, while Alex Waterman will follow his 177-game father Chris to the West Coast Eagles.
High-flying hyphens
Hyphenated surnames seem to be proliferating in the modern era, and the 2014 draft and rookie draft includes no less than five that have not been seen before. Alex Neal-Bullen has one of those surnames, although the first part of that name - Neal - has been seen four times at VFL/AFL level, while Bullen has popped up three times. Ed Vickers-Willis is another first-timer, although the league has previously included one Vickers and seven Willises. Rookie Jermaine Miller-Lewis has a surname comprising two commonly seen names - Miller has come up 21 times, while Lewis has made 16 appearances. Josh Deluca-Cardillio's surname has made half a previous appearance, with Adrian and Alby De Luca both former V/AFL players, while Dillon Viojo-Rainbow is a first timer of the first order, with his full surname making its debut, its two components never seen in the VFL or AFL and even his first name, Dillon (at least with that spelling), set to make a first-time appearance as anything but a surname.
A final word on the hyphens. The V/AFL has never seen a hyphenated surname that begins with the letter V, so Vickers-Willis and Viojo-Rainbow are in a race to be the first. If they both make their debuts in round one, then Viojo-Rainbow will get the honours, with his team Carlton kicking off the season three days before Vickers-Willis's team North starts its year.
Other nearly notable names
- While Christian will be the first Petracca to appear in the V/AFL, he won't be the first with a surname beginning with Petra. That honour belongs to Angelo Petraglia, who played 54 matches for North and Footscray in the 1980s.
- Jordan may well be the first De Goey but there have been three other 'De G's - Bill and Harry De Gruchy, and St Kilda's Rex De Garis.
- Nakia will be the first Cockatoo but there have of course been three players with the surname Cockatoo-Collins - Che, David and Don.
- With Jayden Laverde set to play or the Dons, it's a shame Adelaide's Robert Shirley isn't still running around. Newspaper sub-editors would have been lining up to use the phrase "Laverde and Shirley" in a headline when the Crows played the Bombers.
- While Daniel will be the first Nielson in the AFL, there have been two Nielsens - Victor and Frank - in VFL times past.
- And although Jack Hiscox will likely debut his surname in 2015, a Jack Hiscock played four games for Melbourne in 1950.
Welcome back
A few players with surnames that have been seen before but not for some time at V/SFL level include these young boys:
- Caleb Marchbank - his surname was last seen when Jim played the last of his 115 matches in 1913.
- Adelaide's Jake will be the first Lever since carlton's Bill last pulled on the boots in 1930.
- The Bulldogs' Lucas Webb has a surname not seen since Keith was a Lion in 1961.
- Cory Gregson will break a 104-year drought, with Reg last playing for St Kilda in 1911.
- Taken at pick 85 by the Giants, Jeremy will become the first 'elite' Finlayson since Fitzroy's Roy played in 1932.
- And if rookie Eagle Paddy gets a run, he'll be the first Brophy since Joe got two games for the Maroons in 1910.
Milestone men
Three players will achieve minor milestones when they make their AFL debuts: Darcy will be the 25th Moore in V/AFL history, James will be the 10th Rose and Jaden will be the 20th McGrath.
Ridiculous footy anagram
From what we're led it believe, the selection of players in the draft these days is a highly scientific affair with nothing left to chance. But sometimes we at Micro Noises can't help but wonder if the boys who are IN THE AFL NATIONAL DRAFT think it's a case of HAND IN TIN - A TOTAL RAFFLE.
Micro Noises is Andrew Gigacz's regular, quirky look at all things footy. The name Micro Noises is an anagram of Enrico Misso, who played one game for St Kilda in 1985. He remains the only Enrico and the only Misso to have played footy at the highest level.
Comments
Stephen Downes 5 December 2014
Great rundown, Gigs. Amazing to learn there has never been a Duggan, a Wagner, a Short or a Glenn - they just sound like football names. The name Vickers-Willis may be new to AFL/VFL ranks, but not to Australian public life. Jim Vickers-Willis was a very well-known square dance caller in the 1950s, propelled to fame in an era when the dance at the local town hall was a big deal for young people. Later, he became a prominent activist and campaigner for sex education and nudism! I wonder if young Ed is any relation?
Andrew Gigacz 8 December 2014
Thanks for your kind words, Stephen. Jim Vickers-Willis was also an insurance agent for T&G and then National Mutual when I was working there back in the late 80s and early 90s. More of Jim's life story can be found here: http://www.vickers-willis.com/index.htm. Vickers-Willis can be found nine times in the national White Pages, all in Victoria. I'm betting Jim and Ed are related. Gigs
Michael Rees 10 December 2014
Marvellous work Mr Gigs. Do you know if Liam Duggan is any relation to Vin Duggan? Vin was on Footscray's list in the mid 70's and played in a night game for the Dogs in 1976. That year the competition was played between clubs from the VFL, SANFL & WAFL in Adelaide under the auspices of the NFL.
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