Honorable Mentions
There are several redheads who have made a significant impact on the game but didn’t make it into the top rankings. These players, however, hold a special place in the hearts of their respective clubs and fans.
Lance Whitnall – Known as “Big Red,” Whitnall overcame multiple weight and injury concerns throughout his career. He achieved a fine record, including being an All-Australian, three-time Blues’ leading goalkicker, club captain, and best and fairest winner. His career was cut short at just 28 years of age.
Robert ‘Scratcher’ Neal – A fixture of the Geelong Cats in the ’70s and ’80s, Neal sported a red bowl cut while holding shape on a wing. A member of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, he finished inside the top 10 in the 1976 Brownlow Medal count, tied with Leigh Matthews.
Nick Vlastuin – Known as “Tigger,” Vlastuin is a three-time premiership star for Richmond. Often overlooked in conversations about the league’s best, his importance has only been truly recognized in the lean period that followed the Tigers’ recent dynasty. He was granted life membership in 2017.
Ed Richards
Ed Richards, the dynamic Bulldogs midfielder, is more than likely to finish his career higher on this list if he can maintain his current trajectory. A genuine match-winner with an exceptional blend of pace, attack on the footy, and clean distribution, Richards has emerged as one of the competition’s finest. His flaming locks are hard to miss, making him a worthy inclusion.
Cameron Ling
One of the game’s greatest taggers, Cameron Ling’s dedication to task was a major part of the Geelong sides’ success in the late 2000s. Despite being often maligned by the public for his appearance, none could doubt his importance to the Cats’ dynasty. Ling capped off a brilliant career with a third premiership in 2011 as captain, leaving behind a legacy all bloodnuts can be proud of.
Adam Cooney
Adam Cooney, one of a few Brownlow Medallists on this list, was a problem in the 2000s. His brilliance is often overshadowed by his self-deprecating nature and general larrikinism. Cooney was a true ball magnet in an era populated by them, playing for the Rodney Eade-coached Dogs and Adelaide Crows. He played 250 games in the AFL, with his final season coming as one of Essendon’s ‘top-up’ players in the wake of their infamous doping scandal. A bloke you’d love to share a beer and spin a yarn with.
Jarryd Roughead
Leongatha’s finest, Jarryd Roughead, won four flags, two All-Australians, a Coleman medal, and three leading goalkicker nods in a storied 283-game career in the brown and gold. Overcoming great adversity, including an Achilles injury and cancer complications, his upbeat nature shone through. Roughead remains heavily involved in football, recently becoming list manager at the Adelaide Crows.
Guy McKenna
Guy ‘Bluey’ McKenna was an uncompromising member of the tough-as-nails Eagles sides that were immediately competitive upon their entry into the VFL. A Rookie of the Year in 1988, he was a 1989 VFL Team of the Year member, with two best and fairest wins, two premierships, three All-Australians, and a best clubman award. His legacy shouldn’t be tarnished by a tumultuous tenure as Gold Coast’s inaugural senior coach.
Dustin Fletcher
Dustin Fletcher, a member of the code’s illustrious 400 games club, was an ornament of Essendon’s backline for over two decades. Two flags, two All-Australians, and a best and fairest (in a premiership year, no less), Fletcher was as reliable as the day was long. He is beloved by Bombers’ faithful for his service of the club. A father-son selection, Fletcher and his father, Ken, hold the record for the most V/AFL games as a father and son duo.
Justin Leppitsch
The man they call ‘Leppa’ revolutionised the way key backs go about their business. As a full-forward in his early years, Leppitsch claimed back-to-back leading goalkicker gongs at the Lions before making the move down back, where he became a mainstay in All-Australian sides. A pivotal member of the three-peat Lions of the early 2000s, Leppitsch was initially reluctant to undertake the positional move that was the making of him as an AFL footballer. His instincts as a forward helped him down back, with his offensive style of play complementing his close-checking ability perfectly. An absolute handful for opposing coaches.
Jason Akermanis
He is potentially a controversial inclusion, given the notoriety he garnered for his bleached salad, but ‘Aker’ is naturally redheaded. One of the most prodigiously talented players to ever lace them up, Akermanis was sublimely skilled on both sides of his body, and built quite the portfolio of exquisite finishes from impossible angles. Three flags, four All-Australians, the 2001 Brownlow Medal, the 2002 Goal of the Year, two best and fairests, and two leading goalkicker nods somehow only tell half the story. ‘Aker’s infamy unfortunately extends to what he said, as much as what he did, with numerous controversial faux pas following him to this day. One thing is for sure: the streets will never forget Jason Dean Akermanis.
Frank ‘Bluey’ Adams
A history lesson is in order. Frank ‘Bluey’ Adams was a star of the Melbourne machine in the ’50s and ’60s. Adams did damage in the forward pocket, on a wing, and as a rover. One of very few players to feature in all six flags Melbourne claimed in their golden era, Adams formed a formidable partnership with the great Ron Barassi. Both men were rather obvious inclusions in Melbourne’s formidable Team of the Century. A world champion sprinter, Adams is perhaps best known for his role in the most violent collision in V/AFL history.
Michael Voss
There’s only one choice for the best ever redhead to play Aussie rules football. The flaming feathers of Michael Voss were indicative of his fiery on-field nature. The definition of ‘leading from the front,’ Voss always threw his hand up, and his body on the line to inspire his side. He captained arguably the greatest side the game’s ever seen to three straight flags and four straight grand final appearances, while filling out his CV with a Brownlow Medal. Voss was a major part of the Lions’ brand awareness growing in the Sunshine State, with his courage, skill, and leadership dominating water cooler chats around the River City for years. Leigh Matthews said Voss would be his first player chosen if he was building a team from every player he’s ever seen. That’s good enough for me – who am I to argue with ‘Lethal’?
