youngest debutants

WAFL WAFL General Chat
1

Obviously John Todd springs to mind as a 17 yrold winning a Sandover back in the day…be interesting if Bease or anyone can list club by club youngest debutants(best) during their spectating years of WAFL Footy. Seem to remember seeing the odd few debut very young back in the 70’s and 80’s. SD has always been one club never afraid to blood some youngsters, EF did during the Kennedy, Ryder, A Swallow and Clark years mid 2000’s, a few years back under Wiley with Watson, Curley, Robinson and Murdock, but in both those years the EF league side was struggling big time.

EF youngster David Swallow played a game or two as a 16/17 year old, before he got snaffled by GCS before the allowed draft age. I remember Grant Campbell(EP) and Geoff Hendricks(WP) being 16 yr old school boys back in the 70s making their debuts. Nicky Winmar at SF in the 80’s playing as a 17 yr old. SD Coniglio kicking 4 in the 2010 final. Chris Lewis in the 80’s for Cl from Christchurch or Hale.

EF - Swallow
SD - Coniglio
WP - Hendricks
EP - Campbell
SF - Winmar
Cl - Lewis
Subi - ?
Perth - ?Wiley in the early 70’s,he kicked 6 in the 74 GF as a teenager

No doubt a few others…a lot of them went of to have long and productive footy careers.

2

I might be wrong but think Stan Magro was the youngest ever for Souths at 15 followed closely by Jacko, Brad Hardie and an old junior teammate of mine Ray Stewart all at 16. I’ll have a think about Subi’s as I’m not sure…maybe SS has some ideas.

3

In 1937, a Swan Districts player, Reg Burchell, played 10 games as a 17 year old. A link to verify it is provided here:

http://2nd4thmgb.com.au/soldier/wx14022/

4

The youngest I can remember at Subi was Keith Watt, perhaps 17 but certainly no more than 18.

5

How old was Feathers when he debuted? Sort of guy who seemed to be on the footy scene for ever…gee Magro at 15 is pretty young.

Couple guys who I played footy with and against in juniors/ school footy were Richard Dennis and Tony Papotto. Both lads were at Cyril Jackson in year 12 when they debuted for EP…not sure how old David Bain was when he debuted for EP, but he must of been at school too…

Cheers JS for the Keith Watt heads up.

6

Peter Sartori was 16 when he debuted for SD in 1981 Freeze.
Chris Yarran at age 17 kicked 7 goals on WAFL debut Round 1 2008.
Others in my lifetime to debut at 17 or younger for SD- Phil Narkle, Craig Callaghan, Garth Taylor, Brett Johnson, Andrew Embley, Michael Walters, Stephen Coniglio (was still 16 in 2010 GF), Denver Grainger-Barrass.
We have had a truckload debut at age 17 but in the year they turn 18.

From the other clubs these guys sprung to mind but their could be younger debutants-
CL- Guy McKenna 16 in 1985
EF- Glen Rogers (79), Craig MacLean (88), Shaun McManus (93) would have been 17
EP- Grant Campbell 16 in 1978
PE- Rhett Baynes 16 in 1980, Wayne Allard 17 in 1991, Lance Franklin 17 in 2004
PT- Daniel Wells
SF- Glen Jakovich had just turned 16 in Round 1 1989, Brad Hardie in 1979
SU- Des Headland 17 in 1998
WP- Geoff Hendricks 16 in 1975

7

Darren Bennett 17 years old in 1982 when he debuted for EFFC. Ben Cousins 16 years old.

8

I might be wrong but think Stan Magro was the youngest ever for Souths at 15 followed closely by Jacko, Brad Hardie and an old junior teammate of mine Ray Stewart all at 16. I’ll have a think about Subi’s as I’m not sure…maybe SS has some ideas.
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Didn’t Neil Balme play as a young guy? I may be totally off here.

9

Didn’t Neil Balme play as a young guy? I may be totally off here.
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Oh yeah - Daniel Rich.

10

I think Bryan Cousins debuted for Perth in a GF while he was still at Armadale SHS. So either 16 or 17. Think it was the 1970 GF v SF. Jeager O’Meara only 16 or 17. 4 goals on debut down at Rushton Park. The next year he was one of those taken by Gold Coast but ineligible to play AFL yet. What a waste that was playing shit football in the QFL and pumping weights which probably contributed to his early knee problems.

How good would it have been getting a full season in the WAFL from O’Meara?

11

Neil Balme and Daniel Rich were both 16 I reckon. And Buddy Pickett debuting with his Dad was 17.

Oh yeah - Daniel Rich.
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12

Oh yeah - Daniel Rich.
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Neil Balme & Daniel Rich both 16, with Daniel Rich playing in a premiership while 16 and at school? What about Buddy Pickett debuting with his dad - maybe 17?

13

Rich d.o.b June 1990, played 5 games for Subi in 2007… so 16 or 17 depending when he debuted.

Balme

[quote]Balme played his junior football with Wembley Athletic Club, after leaving Mount Pleasant Amateurs, before transferring to Western Australian Football League (WAFL) club Subiaco in 1968. [color=orange]Aged just 16[/color], Balme created a huge impression with a strong performance in the ruck against future Australian Football Hall of Famer Graham “Polly” Farmer in a game against West Perth Football Club. In January 1969, he moved to Melbourne with his family. He was quickly enticed to sign with Richmond along with his older brother Ian Balme.
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14

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Rich debuted in Round 21 2007 so he was aged 17 & 2 months when he debuted.
Headland was also 17 & 2 months when he debuted in Round 1 2008.

15

Thanks fella’s for your input, fair few decent players in that lot, some who had longevity with their careers and some who were gone way too soon.

16

Michael Mort was 17 as was Buddy Pickett also Bevan Warner I think

17

Dom Cassisi was 17 when he debuted for EFFC rd 20. Cushy 79 point win over Perth. Went on to play 5 games for us including a GF against the East Perth Eagles combined side.

18

I think Joe O’Neil has the ‘record’ at 13, but it was a night game and he didn’t actually come on the ground. Still, he is credited with one game…

19

I think Bryan Cousins debuted for Perth in a GF while he was still at Armadale SHS. So either 16 or 17. Think it was the 1970 GF v SF. Jeager O’Meara only 16 or 17. 4 goals on debut down at Rushton Park. The next year he was one of those taken by Gold Coast but ineligible to play AFL yet. What a waste that was playing shit football in the QFL and pumping weights which probably contributed to his early knee problems.

How good would it have been getting a full season in the WAFL from O’Meara?
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Cousins debuted in the last qualifying game of the season at Lathlain Park. He was only 16 and then went in to play in the GF against SF.

20

Can remember East Perth having a few young players in the mid to early 1980’s.Richard Dennis who went on to be a 1987 premiership player with Carlton.Debut with EP at 16 at 17 Tony Papotto.David Morgan.David Bain.Maby even Alex Ischenco.