Are you certain they were not brothers?

Well I have been labouring with a mistaken identity for 40 years!

You learn something new every day.

I'm quoting Demon Wiki which is an impeccable source (I hope):

Graham Osborne

DOB: 30 June, 1947

Debut: Round 12, 1966 against St. Kilda at Moorabbin

Last Game: Round 22, 1977 against Collingwood at Waverley

Games: 146

Goals: 61

Career Statistics

Wins Draws Losses Winning %

48 1 97 32.87

From: Toora

Number: 7 1966-1975, 24 1976-1977

Ken Osborne

DOB: 26 September, 1948

Debut: Round 17, 1966 against Collingwood at MCG

Last Game: Round 11, 1968 against Carlton at Princes Park

Games: 13

Goals: 7

Career Statistics (external link)

Wins Draws Losses Winning %

6 0 7 46.15

From: Bentleigh

Number: 51 1966, 36 1967-1968

Graham was recruited at the beginning of 1966 from Toora which is a dairy town in West Gippsland while Ken came through the Under 19's and was originally from Bentleigh. Graham had dark hair while Ken's was light brown and there was certainly no family resemblance in any shape or form.

You learn something new every day.

I'm quoting Demon Wiki which is an impeccable source (I hope):

Graham Osborne

DOB: 30 June, 1947

Debut: Round 12, 1966 against St. Kilda at Moorabbin

Last Game: Round 22, 1977 against Collingwood at Waverley

Games: 146

Goals: 61

Career Statistics

Wins Draws Losses Winning %

48 1 97 32.87

From: Toora

Number: 7 1966-1975, 24 1976-1977

Ken Osborne

DOB: 26 September, 1948

Debut: Round 17, 1966 against Collingwood at MCG

Last Game: Round 11, 1968 against Carlton at Princes Park

Games: 13

Goals: 7

Career Statistics (external link)

Wins Draws Losses Winning %

6 0 7 46.15

From: Bentleigh

Number: 51 1966, 36 1967-1968

Graham was recruited at the beginning of 1966 from Toora which is a dairy town in West Gippsland while Ken came through the Under 19's and was originally from Bentleigh. Graham had dark hair while Ken's was light brown and there was certainly no family resemblance in any shape or form.

Really was not doubting you WJ.

Just a shock that something I believe for all those years was wrong.

As you say "live and learn"

PS Is he the only player that went up in number over his career?

Ossie was my nightmare player. In the 70's we always lifted against the superior Pies and ALWAYS lost tragically ! The number 7 would often feature in the frantic last minutes with a missed spoil , dropped mark or missed "sitter" . Similar to Juice , he seemed to be around forever. I'm guessing he played just as many games in the Twos. Anybody know ?

Ossie was my nightmare player. In the 70's we always lifted against the superior Pies and ALWAYS lost tragically ! The number 7 would often feature in the frantic last minutes with a missed spoil , dropped mark or missed "sitter" . Similar to Juice , he seemed to be around forever. I'm guessing he played just as many games in the Twos. Anybody know ?

see above he played 146 in 11.5 years, in those days we played 22 games ( ha Ha no finals to worry about ) so 11.5 x 22 = approx 253 possible games that leaves 107 assuming he was not out injured much.

So he did play more games in the seniors than reserves.

PS Is he the only player that went up in number over his career?

Many have, including Stefan Martin and Rohan Bail off our current list.

dee-eee, I remember one game against the f!lth in the 70s where the hapless dees were making a brave comeback late in the last quarter and got within a goal. The ball was kicked into the dees goal square, Punt Rd end. G & K Osborne went up for it and spolied each other. The ball was rushed away and it was yet another loss for us. Ossie was like Frank Spencer.

On the brother topic, does anyone remember Chris Aitken? Spectacular high flying full forward and I seem to have heard he was the brother of Wilbur Wilde.

Chris Aitken? Spectacular high flying full forward and I seem to have heard he was the brother of Wilbur Wilde.

Wiki:

Wilbur Wilde (born Nicholas 'Nick' Aitken on 5 October 1955) is an Australian saxophonist. He rose to prominence with the bands Ol' 55, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons. He is most famous for appearing as part of the house band on Hey Hey It's Saturday (1984–1999, 2009–2010), alongside Red Symons. He also appeared in the 2002 film, Trojan Warrior. Wilde is a supporter of the Melbourne Football Club (his brother, Chris, having played for them in the 1970s) in the Australian Football League.

The Aitkens are my cousins. Chris is living in Darwin with his new wife. Still a supremely fit and athletic bloke for his age. Brother Willy is loving his golf and living large.

Wiki:

I'm shocked ! They could not be more different looking. Chris had Brad Pitt looks whilst Wilbur............er well ! I actually remember an entertaining Reserves game with a rather spiteful two man feud involving Chris and Collingwood's Peter Eakins.

Eakins would have been the aggressor. Chris won his last fight by 50 yards.

see above he played 146 in 11.5 years, in those days we played 22 games ( ha Ha no finals to worry about ) so 11.5 x 22 = approx 253 possible games that leaves 107 assuming he was not out injured much.

So he did play more games in the seniors than reserves.

Thanks for the facts...........I reckon he was also named on the Seniors bench an amazing number of times and in the 70's that really meant you were not quite up to it.

Wiki:

Chris Aitken..Player with so much potential. Suffered a bad knee injury at one stage that interfered with his career from memory. Number.5..one of my favourites...gave us hope...and we needed strong marking forwards who could kick goals so badly then. The knee injuries seemed to happen to nearly every good key, strong marking forward we had back then..Chris Aitken, Greg Parke, Ross Dillon.

Close but it was his ankles not knee.

Chris Aitken was a favourite of mine. He first came on the scene as a 17 year old coming up from the Under 19s in a night series game at the end of 1966 against Richmond at the old South Melbourne ground. We thought we really had something in this blond bombshell and he made his VFL home and away debut in the opening game of the 1967 season wearing #5.

However, although his career spanned over more than a decade he played only 14 games for 15 goals before making his swan song in 1977.

Unfortunately, a bung ankle kept him down to four games in his debut season. Then in the last game of 1967 he exploded with five goals in a low scoring 4 point win against Essendon and we all thought to ourselves, "how good is this bloke going to be?"

The ankle continued to cause him problems and he missed the entire 1968 season after ankle surgery.

He was back for another seven games in 1969 but his ankle was shot and he was gone at the end of the season. His record in three seasons was 11 games and 15 goals.

As 3031 mentions, Melbourne had some potentially good/great key forwards in those days in Ross Dillon and Greg Parke along with Aitken but, for one reason or another (mostly injuries), they were hardly ever on the park together. Dillon moved on to Norwood in the SANFL, Parke was cleared to Footscray and Aitken went to the bush and we thought he would never be heard of again until he reappeared for three more games (wearing #14) at 28 years of age in 1977.

Apart from being the brother of Wilbur Wilde, Aitken is a musician himself - AFL legend takes to the opera stage and he also once stood as a Greens candidate for the House of Representatives seat of McMillan receiving 4.5% of the vote.

Yet another of Melbourne's passing parade who could have been a contender but for injuries striking him down before he could reach his prime.

Close but it was his ankles not knee.

Chris Aitken was a favourite of mine. He first came on the scene as a 17 year old coming up from the Under 19s in a night series game at the end of 1966 against Richmond at the old South Melbourne ground. We thought we really had something in this blond bombshell and he made his VFL home and away debut in the opening game of the 1967 season wearing #5.

However, although his career spanned over more than a decade he played only 14 games for 15 goals before making his swan song in 1977.

Unfortunately, a bung ankle kept him down to four games in his debut season. Then in the last game of 1967 he exploded with five goals in a low scoring 4 point win against Essendon and we all thought to ourselves, "how good is this bloke going to be?"

The ankle continued to cause him problems and he missed the entire 1968 season after ankle surgery.

He was back for another seven games in 1969 but his ankle was shot and he was gone at the end of the season. His record in three seasons was 11 games and 15 goals.

As 3031 mentions, Melbourne had some potentially good/great key forwards in those days in Ross Dillon and Greg Parke along with Aitken but, for one reason or another (mostly injuries), they were hardly ever on the park together. Dillon moved on to Norwood in the SANFL, Parke was cleared to Footscray and Aitken went to the bush and we thought he would never be heard of again until he reappeared for three more games (wearing #14) at 28 years of age in 1977.

Apart from being the brother of Wilbur Wilde, Aitken is a musician himself - AFL legend takes to the opera stage and he also once stood as a Greens candidate for the House of Representatives seat of McMillan receiving 4.5% of the vote.

Yet another of Melbourne's passing parade who could have been a contender but for injuries striking him down before he could reach his prime.

Aha. Thanks for that info WJ..the ankle..yes and a shame he couldn't have had a better run without so much injury. A great story on Chris WJ..and the appearance in the number 14 was one I hadn't been aware of. Thanks WJ. Tim

Apart from being the brother of Wilbur Wilde, Aitken is a musician himself - AFL legend takes to the opera stage and he also once stood as a Greens candidate for the House of Representatives seat of McMillan receiving 4.5% of the vote.

Thought they were taking the proverbial for a second there before clicking through and realising the AFL 'legend' is actually cheap shot merchant Michael Long.