WHEN the nerves settle, and the game starts, it is a fair bet that any debutant player is just out there, looking for his first kick.
For fourteen of Melbourne’s players since the start of the VFL, that first kick has come with an extra something to make it special. For, lining up with ball in hand, they have taken that first kick - and it has been a goal.
In the case of former Thornton-Eildon player, Peter Tossol, the first of his seventeen games for Melbourne between 1982 and 1984 started in even more spectacular fashion than just one goal. Tossol’s first two kicks were goals, putting him in even more rare company.
The other thirteen first kick goal kickers cross ranges of experience and eras, and include three current Melbourne players. Frank Davis is the earliest on record, with his first goal scored in Melbourne’s Round 13 win over North Melbourne in 1964 - not a bad season to be making a first up impact.
With Davis later venturing towards the half-back or back pocket, it is probably not surprising that this was his only goal for the season, in which he played six games, including the Grand Final win against Collingwood. Even more interesting to note is that this first kick goal was one of just two that Davis kicked in his entire career - the other came in Round Two, 1973.
One of Melbourne’s favourite goal kickers in the modern era was surely Jeff ‘Wiz’ Farmer. His first goal , kicked in Round One, 1995, was the first of 259 for Melbourne, and a small signpost on his way to leading the Club’s goal kicking table on three occasions.
In between Davis and Farmer, and taking double goal kicker Tossol out of the equation, there have been five other first kick goal scorers for Melbourne.
These range from Leigh Newton, kicking his first goal in Round Three, 1997, to Brent Heaver, setting the game alight briefly with five goals in his first game in Round Eleven, 1990, and on to Paul Hopgood, performing the feat in Round Four, 1993. Andrew Lamprill, while more commonly known as a defender, scored a goal with his first AFL kick in Round Two, 1992, while Andy ‘Chopper’ Lovell achieved the honour in Round Three, 1988, and Stephen Tingay started his career and season on a brilliant note with his first kick goal in Round One, 1989.
More recently, there are other familiar names - memories emerge of Troy Broadbridge being sent back for a kick in his first game and scoring a goal from it in Round Eight, 2001. Brock McLean came to the party in Round Eleven, 2004, while the current crop of Demons take over with the remainder of those who have achieved the honour. Matthew Bate was there in Round Five, 2006, Colin Sylvia turned on a rare treat in Round 21, 2004, and Cameron Bruce started his career, the season and the millennium off on a high note in Round One, 2000.
For fourteen of Melbourne’s players since the start of the VFL, that first kick has come with an extra something to make it special. For, lining up with ball in hand, they have taken that first kick - and it has been a goal.
In the case of former Thornton-Eildon player, Peter Tossol, the first of his seventeen games for Melbourne between 1982 and 1984 started in even more spectacular fashion than just one goal. Tossol’s first two kicks were goals, putting him in even more rare company.
The other thirteen first kick goal kickers cross ranges of experience and eras, and include three current Melbourne players. Frank Davis is the earliest on record, with his first goal scored in Melbourne’s Round 13 win over North Melbourne in 1964 - not a bad season to be making a first up impact.
With Davis later venturing towards the half-back or back pocket, it is probably not surprising that this was his only goal for the season, in which he played six games, including the Grand Final win against Collingwood. Even more interesting to note is that this first kick goal was one of just two that Davis kicked in his entire career - the other came in Round Two, 1973.
One of Melbourne’s favourite goal kickers in the modern era was surely Jeff ‘Wiz’ Farmer. His first goal , kicked in Round One, 1995, was the first of 259 for Melbourne, and a small signpost on his way to leading the Club’s goal kicking table on three occasions.
In between Davis and Farmer, and taking double goal kicker Tossol out of the equation, there have been five other first kick goal scorers for Melbourne.
These range from Leigh Newton, kicking his first goal in Round Three, 1997, to Brent Heaver, setting the game alight briefly with five goals in his first game in Round Eleven, 1990, and on to Paul Hopgood, performing the feat in Round Four, 1993. Andrew Lamprill, while more commonly known as a defender, scored a goal with his first AFL kick in Round Two, 1992, while Andy ‘Chopper’ Lovell achieved the honour in Round Three, 1988, and Stephen Tingay started his career and season on a brilliant note with his first kick goal in Round One, 1989.
More recently, there are other familiar names - memories emerge of Troy Broadbridge being sent back for a kick in his first game and scoring a goal from it in Round Eight, 2001. Brock McLean came to the party in Round Eleven, 2004, while the current crop of Demons take over with the remainder of those who have achieved the honour. Matthew Bate was there in Round Five, 2006, Colin Sylvia turned on a rare treat in Round 21, 2004, and Cameron Bruce started his career, the season and the millennium off on a high note in Round One, 2000.
