The AFL website has a feature on each club’s best father-son selection since 1986 Following in his footsteps: Your club's best father-son selections

The concept has been criticized of late because of claims that it affects the integrity of the draft but there are already so many anomalies in the process and this one is so traditional in the game’s fabric that I believe it should continue. Melbourne was the first beneficiary of the rule when it recruited Ronald Dale Barassi, son of fallen war hero Ron Barassi, Senior, in 1953. The son went on to become the club’s most famous player and personality, playing in six premierships with the club and then going on to a successful coaching career. The Demons are likely to pick up Taj Woewodin (son of Shane) in this year’s draft, our first since 2014. Here’s the writer’s choice for Melbourne:- 

“Jack Viney (2012)

The son of Todd is a clear standout among the Demons' father-son crop, emulating his father's feat of captaining the club and going one better on the finals front by claiming a premiership in 2021. Viney's brutal, contested style of play also mirrors that of his dad, who played 233 games for the Demons from 1987-99. Jack has just the one club champion trophy to his name, one fewer than Todd's two, but he remains every chance of ranking equally highly in the pantheon of club greats by the time his career ends. Viney's ex-teammate Billy Stretch, who managed 47 games over five seasons from 2015-19, is the best of the remaining selections. - Michael Rogers
All father-son picks: Tom Kavanagh (1988), Glenn Molloy (1992), Brad Campbell (1992), Chris Johnson (2003), Jack Viney (2012), Billy Stretch (2014)”

Wasn’t Ron Barassi the first father son pick?

Such a great tradition. Made much fairer when they tightened the rules to 100 games and bid matching.

I feel that the academy selections being so similar in the way they are picked up taints the public perception of the father son process.

Looking at the article, there aren't really that many father son selections who go on to be fantastic players.

Geelong are the clear standouts picking up Scarlett, Ablett jnr, Hawkins and Nathan Ablett all with 3rd round picks in a short time frame to be part of a premiership team.

 

3 minutes ago, BAMF said:

Such a great tradition. Made much fairer when they tightened the rules to 100 games and bid matching.

I feel that the academy selections being so similar in the way they are picked up taints the public perception of the father son process.

Looking at the article, there aren't really that many father son selections who go on to be fantastic players.

Geelong are the clear standouts picking up Scarlett, Ablett jnr, Hawkins and Nathan Ablett all with 3rd round picks in a short time frame to be part of a premiership team.

 

Nathan ablett was chosen to keep Abletts happy . The other 3 were top shelf successes and made a difference in winning flags

dustin fletcher , jobe watson , josh kennedy  but he was better after he left to Sydney,  Tom liber , john brown , steve silvagni 

some players yet proven 

 

 

I've often wondered whether clubs who have had considerable success through the father-son recruitment process, such as Geelong and Essendon, were just lucky or whether they actively helped develop the sons from a young age knowing full well that the club may be the ultimate beneficiary?

A long, long time ago I remember Melbourne making a big song and dance about putting on contract one of Ken McKaige's sons when he was still very young. (Was it Andrew, who subsequently became a TV soap actor?) But apart from that story - and I'm not even sure it was anything more than a PR stunt - I can't recall the club actively monitoring or developing sons of fathers until Chris Johnson.

Bob Johnson Jr was also a Father Son selection in the 1950's he played in 5 premierships 1955-1960 left to play in 1962 for East Fremantle in WA and won a premiership in 1965 with East Fremantle.

Later he became Captian Coach of Oakleigh in the VFA.

Michael Clark, who only played the one game, is the son of Denis. 

However,  I'm not sure he was taken as a father-son.

edit:  A quick check of Demonwiki reveals no fewer than 31 Melbourne players whose fathers also played for the mighty Demons.

Edited November 8, 20213 yr by Demonstone
more info

Ron Barassi Sr - Ron Barassi Jr
George Bickford - Stephen Bickford
Lloyd Burgmann - Shane Burgmann
Des Campbell - Bradley Campbell
Bert Chadwick - Bob Chadwick
Denis Clark - Michael Clark
Jack Collins - Geoff Collins, Mike Collins
Edward Cordner - Don Cordner, Denis Cordner, Ted Cordner, John Cordner
Ted Cordner - David Cordner
Brent Crosswell - Tom Kavanagh
Roy Dowsing - Rob Dowsing
Adrian Dullard - Tony Dullard
Richie Emselle - Ken Emselle
Jack Foster - Rob Foster
Alan Johnson - Chris Johnson
Robert C Johnson - Robert B Johnson
John Lord Sr. - John Lord Jr.
Herb Matthews - Norm Matthews
Peter Maynard - Corey Maynard
Bob McKenzie - Robert McKenzie
Tom McLean - Glenn McLean
Graham Molloy - Glenn Molloy
Norm Smith - Peter Smith
Shaun Smith - Joel Smith
Steven Stretch - Billy Stretch
Tony Sullivan - Chris Sullivan
Todd Viney - Jack Viney

Joel Smith and Corey Maynard were not a father son selections because Peter and Shaun played too few games for the MFC otherwise Brayden would have been a Father Son selection.

39 minutes ago, Satan said:

Nathan ablett was chosen to keep Abletts happy . The other 3 were top shelf successes and made a difference in winning flags

dustin fletcher , jobe watson , josh kennedy  but he was better after he left to Sydney,  Tom liber , john brown , steve silvagni 

some players yet proven 

 

 

Not true. Nathan Ablett was a much better footballer pre AFL than Ablett jnr. 

He got there on merit and played well in Geelong's premiership.

Love the father son rule and the changes made using the points system has made it much fairer.

If they get rid of this rule it would be pretty disappointing as it is a unique part of our game and builds family traditions.

 

I notice from Demonwiki that Brent Croswell played 48 games for us. Was his son, Tom Kavanagh, recruited under the father-son scheme in place at the time? If so, what rules were in place about eligibility for selection? After all, if Kavanagh was eligible to play for Melbourne he must also have been eligible for Carlton and North Melbourne as well.

5 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

If so, what rules were in place about eligibility for selection?

I'm pretty sure the criterion in those days was the father playing 50 games at the club, which was later increased to 100 by the League.  Jonathon Brown was recruited as a father-son by Brisbane in 1999 despite his father Brian having played only 51 games for Fitzroy.

Under those rules, Kavanagh couldn't have been taken as a father-son by Melbourne and it would appear that neither Carlton nor North were interested in him despite him being eligible under the 50 game rule.

On 11/9/2021 at 9:05 AM, durango said:

Joel Smith and Corey Maynard were not a father son selections because Peter and Shaun played too few games for the MFC otherwise Brayden would have been a Father Son selection.

From memory both these players came onto our list as Cat B rookies, basketballers that we got because they hadn't played Footy for a few years.

 

I love the Father Son rule, nothing better than seeing a former players kid pull on the same jumper

Looking forward Woey this year and Kalani White in 4 years? Not sure whether any others on the radar. I guess the club does not want any pressure on the young sons.

These are the official father-son nominations for 2021 -

Collingwood – Nick Daicos
Melbourne – Taj Woewodin
North Melbourne – Jackson Archer
Port Adelaide – Jase Burgoyne
Western Bulldogs – Sam Darcy

Really great to see Jack Viney taking the premiership cup to Todd.  Love Todd’s reaction. Go Dees 🏆❤️💙 

 

On 11/10/2021 at 6:59 PM, manny100 said:

Looking forward Woey this year and Kalani White in 4 years? Not sure whether any others on the radar. I guess the club does not want any pressure on the young sons.

I know there were some murmurings at the club that Jimmy’s boy Tiernan was also worth tracking.

7 hours ago, IvanBartul13 said:

I know there were some murmurings at the club that Jimmy’s boy Tiernan was also worth tracking.

Tiernan Stynes is still a couple of years away. However, he was also regarded very highly in basketball ranks and made a state junior representative side a little while ago, 

There was also a mention of Noah Yze, but I don't know his age or anything else about him.

I believe this premiership may bring all the father son children back to the Demons fold and they will have a desire to play for the Red and the Blue like before the 1970's.

I believe Nathan Brown has some boys?

Given the winding back of the Academy, it would seen that clubs should concentrate their non-list development efforts on father son/daughter development... as there's is real (defendable) benefit to be had with this program.

Maybe a geneticist, and in-house breeding program on the down low as well..?

😜 

15 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Really great to see Jack Viney taking the premiership cup to Todd.  Love Todd’s reaction. Go Dees 🏆❤️💙 

 

Ditto 🏆❤️💙🍾

20 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

Given the winding back of the Academy, it would seen that clubs should concentrate their non-list development efforts on father son/daughter development... as there's is real (defendable) benefit to be had with this program.

Maybe a geneticist, and in-house breeding program on the down low as well..?

😜

I agree, should be written into players contracts that the Club gets to select players partners.

Sounds like a job for JT and team.

15 hours ago, Demonstone said:

There was also a mention of Noah Yze, but I don't know his age or anything else about him.

Noah Yze is around 15 years of age. He’s 2 - 3 years away from draft age.

Let’s not forget however, that not every child of an AFL star is necessarily the “son of a gun”.