How family connections will fuel the AFL grand final

Australia World

You barrack in the outer long enough, you see the descendants of your heroes coming through the football ranks.

First, it makes you feel old, then you start to enjoy hearing those familiar names.

Eventually, it becomes fun searching for family traits in the faces of youngsters, remembering their fathers and uncles from fading Scanlen cards, images stuck to your memory with strips of pink chewing gum.

This grand final is a treat in that regard: both the Demons and the Bulldogs boast relatives of former VFL/AFL players.

A combination of nature and nurture has prepared these athletes – gifts of athleticism and family support, many hands to hold as they follow their instincts toward the bright lights of AFL stardom.

Mostly, the players have themselves to thank. They’ve put in the hours of training required to make their mark and be remembered for a long time, to cast their own formidable shadows.

Here’s the full list of family ties in this year’s AFL grand final:

Melbourne Demons

Charlie Spargo (centre) holds up his first Melbourne Demons AFL jersey. His parents and siblings stand with him.Charlie Spargo (centre) holds up his first Melbourne Demons AFL jersey. His parents and siblings stand with him.
Paul Spargo (second from right) presented son Charlie with his first Demons guernsey.(

Twitter: Melbourne Demons

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Charlie Spargo: Twenty-one-year-old number eight flashes around the forward line, hunting tackles and crumbs. He comes from the proud Ovens and Murray football region and a storied football family.

Charlie’s father Paul (North Melbourne), grandfather Bob (Footscray), great uncle Ricky (Footscray), and great grandfather Bob Sr (Melbourne and Footscray) all playing more than 50 games at VFL/AFL level.

Jack Viney: The tough midfielder and former captain is about to play his 150th game. He got picked up by Melbourne as a father/son selection in the 2012 draft.

His dad, Todd, played 233 games for the Demons and was a mainstay of the side throughout the 1990s. He also captained the club and was a two-time best and fairest.

Jake Bowey: The lightning halfback is rising to the occasion in his first year. ABC Sport profiled his talented family last week.

His father, Brett, played 85 games for St Kilda in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and his aunty Belinda is a games record holder in the Victorian state league. Jake played in a junior side at Cheltenham with Tyson Milne (son of former St Kilda sharpshooter Stephen) and Noah Beveridge (son of Western Bulldogs coach Luke).

Kysaiah Pickett: The composed and brilliant 20-year-old has played 38 games since being drafted from South Australia in 2019. Now he’s a match-winning forward.

His uncle is Byron Pickett, who played 204 games for North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Melbourne. Byron is remembered for his hold-ya-breath collisions, but he was also a player of rare skill under pressure, winning the 2004 Norm Smith Medal.

An overjoyed AFL forward is lifted up by a teammate after kicking a goal.An overjoyed AFL forward is lifted up by a teammate after kicking a goal.
The Pickett family already has a Norm Smith Medal in their history. (

AAP: Lukas Coch

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Angus Brayshaw: Once a player who rummaged in the packs, he’s now a standout wingman after going past the 100-game milestone. Brayshaw was a Hampton Rovers junior, recruited to Melbourne via the Sandringham Dragons in 2014.

His father Mark played 32 games for North Melbourne and 110 games for Claremont in the WAFL. His grandfather Ian also played for Claremont. Angus’s brother Hamish and Andrew reached the AFL, and their family ties extend to Channel Seven commentary studio, where uncle James will be calling the action.

Ben Brown: The Tasmanian arrived at Melbourne from North Melbourne in 2020. His performance as a key forward in the finals series has been critical to the Demons’ increased scoring power.

Brown’s uncle is former Collingwood premiership player James Manson, who played 120 games for the Magpies from 1985 to 1992 and 47 games for Fitzroy from 1993 to 95. James was an all-heart big man, a favourite among barrackers. James’ father – Ben’s grandfather – Jim, was a champion at Glenorchy Football Club.

Ben Brown and Max Gawn embrace after a Melbourne Demons goal in the AFL game against North Melbourne.Ben Brown and Max Gawn embrace after a Melbourne Demons goal in the AFL game against North Melbourne.
Seeing Ben Brown (left) in Melbourne colours took some getting used to.(

AAP: James Ross

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Jayden Hunt (emergency): Hunt played 20 impressive games this season but couldn’t make it back into the side during finals after taking time off with a late-season injury.

His great uncle Harold Rumney played in Collingwood’s four consecutive premierships from 1927-30 and his uncle Andrew Moir played 73 games for Melbourne from 1977-81.

Joel Smith (unlucky): Smith is 25 but has only played 21 games. The tall defender with a basketballer’s leap is a coach’s delight when available. He played in the qualifying final against Brisbane but missed the preliminary final a hamstring injury, and he’s been unable to force his way back in for the grand final.

His father is Shaun Smith, who played 109 VFL/AFL games for North Melbourne and Melbourne. Shaun famously took the 1995 Mark of the Year. He stayed in the air so long you sometimes think he’s still up there.

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Mark Williams (assistant coach): The premiership-winning coach with Port Adelaide in 2004 must be included. A member of one of Australian sport’s royal families, his influence at Melbourne has been profound.

Mark’s father Fos Williams played and coached in South Australia’s top league from 1946 until 1969 – he was a seven-time premiership player, nine-time premiership coach, an inaugural inductee into the AFL Hall of Fame and has a grandstand named after him at Adelaide Oval. Mark’s siblings Anthony, Stephen and Jenny (multi-sport Australian representative) all played top-level sport.

Sibling note: Ed Langdon’s brother Tom played 89 games with Collingwood before retiring due to injuries.

Western Bulldogs

Footscray/Bulldogs' Tony Liberatore stands behind son Tom, Steve Wallis behind son Mitch, and Mark Hunter behind son Lachie.Footscray/Bulldogs' Tony Liberatore stands behind son Tom, Steve Wallis behind son Mitch, and Mark Hunter behind son Lachie.
Tony and Tom Liberatore, Steve and Mitch Wallis, and Mark and Lachie Hunter. Wallis has not played since July.(

Getty Images: Darrian Traynor

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Tom Liberatore: Another 2016 premiership player to arrive at Western Oval through the father/son rule. Tom started at the highest level in 2010 and has since amassed 172 games.

His father Tony played 283 games for the Bulldogs from 1986 to 2002, winning the 1990 Brownlow Medal and earning his place in the Western Bulldogs’ Team of the Century.

Lachie Hunter: Yet another 2016 premiership father/son pick up (2012), Hunter was a standout in the preliminary final, half of his 22 possessions being recorded as score involvements. The 2018 Charles Sutton Medallist has played 162 games.

Lachie’s father is Mark, who played 130 games as a Bulldog between 1988-96. His standout season was 1994, when Footscray eventually lost to Melbourne in a one-sided semi-final before 65,000 barrackers.

Zaine Cordy: Originally from Ocean Grove, he arrived at the Western Bulldogs via the father/son rule in 2014. Since then, he’s played 81 games (including the 2016 grand final) as a versatile and hard-to-beat defender.

His father Brian played 124 games for Footscray between 1981 and 88. His uncles also played league footy: Graeme turned out 27 times for Footscray and Sydney; Neil, now a leading sport journalist, played 235 games between 1979-1993 for the Bulldogs and Swans. Zaine’s brother Ayce also played for the Western Bulldogs.

Josh Schache: The 24-year-old was raised in Seymour and went to Brisbane Lions before being traded to the Bulldogs in 2017. He’s now played 64 games. He’ll probably be given the critical task of limiting Jake Lever’s influence in the grand final.

Josh’s father Laurence was drafted to the Brisbane Bears in 1990 before appearing in 29 AFL matches — leading Brisbane’s goalkicking in 1991 with 47. Laurence died of a rare heart disease in 2002, when Josh was five.

Andrew Dunkley and son Josh Dunkley stand with their arms around each other. Josh his wearing a cap. Both wear blue shirts.Andrew Dunkley and son Josh Dunkley stand with their arms around each other. Josh his wearing a cap. Both wear blue shirts.
Josh Dunkley was just 19 whe he won the 2016 premiership with the Dogs.(

Instagram: Josh Dunkley

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Josh Dunkley: The youngest 2016 premiership player is now 24 years old, with 92 games of experience.

Son of Sydney fullback Andrew, Josh was available to the Swans under the father/son rule, but the Western Bulldogs made a draft bid for him that went unmatched. His old man played 217 games against some of the best full forwards in history during the 1990s.

Ed Richards (emergency): Drafted by the Bulldogs in the 2017 draft, Richards played most senior games from 2018 and 2020. He’s only played five this season.

His grandfather was 1953 Collingwood premiership player Ron Richards, whose brother Lou became a household name as a former Collingwood captain and broadcast pioneer.

Luke Beveridge: The master coach’s grandfather Jack Beveridge was a Collingwood hero in the Magpies’ record four successive flags from 1927-30, alongside Jayden Hunt’s great uncle.

Sibling note: Jack Macrae’s brother Finlay plays for Collingwood.