List of AFL debuts in 1997
The 1997 AFL season was the one hundred and first season of the Australian Football League /Victorian Football League. Ninety eight players made their senior debut in the 1997 season, while another 56 players debuted for a new club having previously played in the AFL .
Debuts
Name
Club
Age at debut
Round debuted
Games
Goals
Notes
Simon Goodwin
Adelaide
20 years, 94 days
1 [ 1]
275
162
All-Australian 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2009. Adelaide captain 2008–2010.
Brett James
Adelaide
24 years, 105 days
1 [ 2]
76
26
Previously played for Collingwood. Brother of Roger James .
Trent Ormond-Allen
Adelaide
20 years, 298 days
2 [ 3]
42
2
Previously played for Melbourne.
Clay Sampson
Adelaide
21 years, 153 days
17 [ 4]
24
16
Previously played for Melbourne.
Chad Rintoul
Adelaide
22 years, 242 days
1 [ 5]
23
16
Barry Standfield
Adelaide
27 years, 46 days
2 [ 6]
13
23
Previously played for Footscray.
Tim Cook
Adelaide
23 years, 45 days
2 [ 7]
8
5
Brent Williams
Adelaide
19 years, 46 days
1 [ 8]
7
4
Aaron Keating
Adelaide
22 years, 310 days
1 [ 9]
6
1
Brother of Clark Keating .
Tom Gilligan
Adelaide
18 years, 161 days
3 [ 10]
3
1
Chris Johnson
Brisbane Lions
20 years, 304 days
1 [ 11]
205
105
Brisbane Lions captain 2007. All-Australian 2002 and 2004. Previously played for Fitzroy.
Jarrod Molloy
Brisbane Lions
20 years, 322 days
1 [ 12]
61
104
Son of Shane Molloy . Previously played for Fitzroy.
Brett Voss
Brisbane Lions
19 years, 65 days
8 [ 13]
35
11
Brother of Michael Voss .
Scott Bamford
Brisbane Lions
22 years, 287 days
2 [ 14]
24
17
Previously played for Fitzroy
Brad Boyd
Brisbane Lions
25 years, 288 days
9 [ 15]
15
8
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Nick Trask
Brisbane Lions
19 years, 116 days
10 [ 16]
12
3
John Barker
Brisbane Lions
22 years, 74 days
6 [ 17]
8
1
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Nick Carter
Brisbane Lions
19 years, 14 days
7 [ 18]
5
1
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Shane Clayton
Brisbane Lions
18 years, 199 days
18 [ 19]
5
0
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Lance Whitnall
Carlton
17 years, 220 days
1 [ 20]
216
348
Carlton captain 2007, All-Australian 2000, Carlton Best and Fairest 2006 and AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 1).
Darren Hulme
Carlton
19 years, 324 days
10 [ 21]
110
56
AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 10).
Anthony Franchina
Carlton
19 years, 309 days
20 [ 22]
105
26
Mark Porter
Carlton
20 years, 281 days
16 [ 23]
55
13
Adam White
Carlton
21 years, 89 days
2 [ 24]
44
21
Ben Nelson
Carlton
20 years, 81 days
3 [ 25]
40
6
Jacob Anstey
Carlton
19 years, 104 days
7 [ 26]
16
5
Mick McGuane
Carlton
29 years, 92 days
1 [ 27]
3
1
Previously played for Collingwood.
Andrew Balkwill
Carlton
25 years, 20 days
3 [ 28]
1
0
Sam Smart
Carlton
22 years, 114 days
21 [ 29]
1
0
Anthony Rocca
Collingwood
19 years, 226 days
1 [ 30]
220
404
Collingwood Leading Goalkicker 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2007. Brother of Saverio Rocca . Previously played for Sydney.
Mal Michael
Collingwood
19 years, 319 days
7 [ 31]
61
23
AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 18).
Luke Godden
Collingwood
18 years, 316 days
18 [ 32]
36
0
Richard Osborne
Collingwood
32 years, 286 days
1 [ 33]
29
26
Previously played for Fitzroy, Sydney and Footscray.
Josh Mahoney
Collingwood
19 years, 226 days
12 [ 34]
19
8
Brad Fuller
Collingwood
18 years, 324 days
13 [ 35]
19
12
John Barnett
Collingwood
21 years, 226 days
1 [ 36]
8
4
Previously played for North Melbourne.
Jason Taylor
Collingwood
28 years, 193 days
2 [ 37]
4
0
Previously played for Fitzroy and Hawthorn.
Brad Cassidy
Collingwood
21 years, 31 days
21 [ 38]
2
0
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Jason Johnson
Essendon
19 years, 189 days
18 [ 39]
184
109
Best and Fairest 2001 and 2005. All-Australian 2001. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998.
Blake Caracella
Essendon
20 years, 30 days
3 [ 40]
126
151
AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 13).
Chris Heffernan
Essendon
18 years, 194 days
19 [ 41]
123
46
Andrew Ukovic
Essendon
18 years, 204 days
12 [ 42]
19
8
Andrew Bomford
Essendon
22 years, 268 days
3 [ 43]
13
5
Daniel McAlister
Essendon
19 years, 1 days
21 [ 44]
6
0
Matthew Banks
Essendon
20 years, 279 days
5 [ 45]
3
1
Matthew Watson
Essendon
20 years, 264 days
21 [ 46]
1
0
Heath Black
Fremantle
17 years, 326 days
4 [ 47]
138
61
AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 4).
Jess Sinclair
Fremantle
18 years, 280 days
10 [ 48]
50
26
AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 5).
Trent Carroll
Fremantle
19 years, 27 days
9 [ 49]
33
1
Brother of Nathan Carroll .
Matthew Clucas
Fremantle
19 years, 47 days
6 [ 50]
11
1
Martin Whitelaw
Fremantle
21 years, 94 days
21 [ 51]
1
0
Darren Milburn
Geelong
19 years, 349 days
1 [ 52]
292
94
All-Australian 2007. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 22).
Adam Houlihan
Geelong
19 years, 14 days
4 [ 53]
61
75
AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 6). Brother of Damian and Ryan Houlihan .
Paul Corrigan
Geelong
19 years, 243 days
1 [ 54]
53
6
Daniel Lowther
Geelong
20 years, 92 days
16 [ 55]
34
9
Tim Hargreaves
Geelong
21 years, 310 days
2 [ 56]
20
12
Previously played for Hawthorn.
Cameron Roberts
Geelong
18 years, 266 days
10 [ 57]
11
2
Ben Dixon
Hawthorn
19 years, 316 days
5 [ 58]
203
282
Son of Joe Dixon .
Jonathan Hay
Hawthorn
17 years, 347 days
17 [ 59]
149
12
All-Australian 2001. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 5).
Aaron Lord
Hawthorn
21 years, 251 days
1 [ 60]
93
136
Hawthorn leading goalkicker 1999. Previously played for Geelong.
Jon Hassall
Hawthorn
23 years, 227 days
1 [ 61]
44
5
Previously played for Collingwood.
Justin Crawford
Hawthorn
20 years, 9 days
1 [ 62]
29
21
Brother of Shane Crawford . Previously played for Sydney.
Brad Scott
Hawthorn
20 years, 330 days
1 [ 63]
22
6
AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 17). Brother of Chris Scott .
Todd Ridley
Hawthorn
28 years, 82 days
6 [ 64]
2
0
Previously played for Essendon and Fremantle.
Dwayne Griffin
Hawthorn
20 years, 185 days
22 [ 65]
1
0
James McDonald
Melbourne
20 years, 295 days
17 [ 66]
251
56
Melbourne captain 2008–2010. All-Australian 2006. Melbourne Best and Fairest 2006 and 2007. Brother of Anthony and Alex McDonald .
Russell Robertson
Melbourne
18 years, 264 days
20 [ 67]
228
428
Melbourne Best and Fairest 2003. Melbourne leading goalkicker 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 14)
Shane Woewodin
Melbourne
20 years, 258 days
1 [ 68]
138
63
Brownlow Medallist 2000. Melbourne Best and Fairest 2000. AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 10)
Alistair Nicholson
Melbourne
19 years, 62 days
6 [ 69]
110
3
Anthony McDonald
Melbourne
24 years, 309 days
4 [ 70]
104
41
Brother of Alex and James McDonald
Brent Grgic
Melbourne
17 years, 271 days
14 [ 71]
77
29
Robert Pyman
Melbourne
25 years, 172 days
1 [ 72]
19
8
Previously played for North Melbourne and Collingwood.
Leigh Newton
Melbourne
21 years, 17 days
3 [ 73]
13
6
Nick Pesch
Melbourne
22 years, 290 days
3 [ 74]
4
0
Previously played for Adelaide.
Byron Pickett
North Melbourne
19 years, 334 days
15 [ 75]
120
81
All-Australian 1999. AFL Rising Star 1998.
Martin Pike
North Melbourne
24 years, 133 days
15 [ 76]
81
19
Previously played for Melbourne and Fitzroy.
Brett Chandler
North Melbourne
21 years, 259 days
1 [ 77]
44
6
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Evan Hewitt
North Melbourne
18 years, 357 days
13 [ 78]
33
22
Anthony Mellington
North Melbourne
22 years, 267 days
4 [ 79]
20
19
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Chris Groom
North Melbourne
23 years, 354 days
20 [ 80]
5
1
Previously played for Adelaide and Fremantle.
Julian Kirzner
North Melbourne
17 years, 314 days
24 [ 81]
3
5
Paul Wynd
North Melbourne
21 years, 38 days
11 [ 82]
3
0
Warren Tredrea
Port Adelaide
18 years, 103 days
2 [ 83]
255
549
Port Adelaide captain 2006-2008, All-Australian 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2009. Port Adelaide leading goal kicker 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 7).
Peter Burgoyne
Port Adelaide
19 years, 60 days
1 [ 84]
240
193
Brother of Shaun Burgoyne .
Brendon Lade
Port Adelaide
20 years, 262 days
1 [ 85]
234
182
All-Australian 2006, 2007. Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 2006. AFL Rising Star nominee 1997
Michael Wilson
Port Adelaide
20 years, 128 days
1 [ 86]
192
51
AFL Rising Star winner 1997.
Stuart Dew
Port Adelaide
17 years, 329 days
15 [ 87]
180
245
Port Adelaide leading goalkicker 2002. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 13).
Gavin Wanganeen
Port Adelaide
23 years, 292 days
2 [ 88]
173
138
Port Adelaide captain 1997-2000. All-Australian 2001 and 2003. Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 2003. Previously played for Essendon.
Adam Kingsley
Port Adelaide
21 years, 221 days
1 [ 89]
170
47
Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 1998.
Josh Francou
Port Adelaide
22 years, 234 days
1 [ 90]
156
72
All-Australian 2002
Roger James
Port Adelaide
21 years, 188 days
5 [ 91]
147
87
Brother of Brett James .
Stephen Paxman
Port Adelaide
26 years, 115 days
1 [ 92]
138
20
Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 1999. Previously played for Fitzroy.
Matthew Primus
Port Adelaide
22 years, 77 days
1 [ 93]
137
76
Port Adelaide captain 2001 – 2005, Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 2002 and All-Australian 2001 and 2002. Grandson of Reg Hickey . Previously played for Fitzroy.
Darren Mead
Port Adelaide
26 years, 0 days
1 [ 94]
122
8
Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 1997.
Brayden Lyle
Port Adelaide
24 years, 23 days
1 [ 95]
90
12
Previously played for West Coast.
Fabian Francis
Port Adelaide
23 years, 156 days
1 [ 96]
86
44
Previously played for Melbourne and Brisbane Bears.
Stephen Daniels
Port Adelaide
20 years, 229 days
4 [ 97]
58
2
Shane Bond
Port Adelaide
21 years, 263 days
1 [ 98]
57
11
Brother of Troy Bond . Previously played for West Coast.
Nathan Eagleton
Port Adelaide
18 years, 168 days
5 [ 99]
56
45
Donald Dickie
Port Adelaide
24 years, 325 days
1 [ 100]
55
19
Shayne Breuer
Port Adelaide
24 years, 200 days
1 [ 101]
54
29
Previously played for Geelong.
Bowen Lockwood
Port Adelaide
18 years, 279 days
2 [ 102]
50
45
AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 3).
Scott Cummings
Port Adelaide
23 years, 71 days
1 [ 103]
37
102
Port Adelaide leading goalkicker 1997. Previously played for Essendon.
Adam Heuskes
Port Adelaide
21 years, 9 days
1 [ 104]
37
1
Previously played for Sydney.
Darryl Poole
Port Adelaide
24 years, 362 days
1 [ 105]
24
11
David Brown
Port Adelaide
27 years, 181 days
1 [ 106]
22
18
Previously played for Adelaide.
Nathan Steinberner
Port Adelaide
20 years, 167 days
21 [ 107]
20
3
Nigel Fiegert
Port Adelaide
21 years, 69 days
2 [ 108]
19
6
Brent Heaver
Port Adelaide
25 years, 287 days
1 [ 109]
16
13
Previously played for Melbourne and Carlton.
Stephen Carter
Port Adelaide
23 years, 53 days
1 [ 110]
10
0
John Rombotis
Port Adelaide
20 years, 216 days
8 [ 111]
9
5
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Ian Downsborough
Port Adelaide
25 years, 70 days
1 [ 112]
7
2
Previously played for West Coast.
Damian Squire
Port Adelaide
23 years, 134 days
1 [ 113]
5
4
Tom Carr
Port Adelaide
18 years, 308 days
4 [ 114]
5
0
Jarrod Cotton
Port Adelaide
21 years, 57 days
1 [ 115]
4
4
Mark Conway
Port Adelaide
24 years, 48 days
14 [ 116]
1
0
Paul Geister
Port Adelaide
25 years, 215 days
22 [ 117]
1
0
Previously played for North Melbourne.
Mark Chaffey
Richmond
19 years, 348 days
4 [ 118]
166
34
Brett Evans
Richmond
24 years, 364 days
9 [ 119]
28
26
Matthew Manfield
Richmond
19 years, 350 days
1 [ 120]
6
2
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Ewan Thompson
Richmond
20 years, 100 days
14 [ 121]
4
1
Jason Baldwin
Richmond
27 years, 211 days
11 [ 122]
2
0
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Daniel Donati
Richmond
19 years, 280 days
14 [ 123]
1
0
Nick Jewell
Richmond
19 years, 347 days
19 [ 124]
1
0
Also represented Victoria in cricket. Son of Tony Jewell .
Max Hudghton
St Kilda
20 years, 208 days
1 [ 125]
234
14
Andrew Thompson
St Kilda
24 years, 159 days
1 [ 126]
221
93
St Kilda Best and Fairest 2000.
Jason Heatley
St Kilda
25 years, 51 days
3 [ 127]
60
163
St Kilda leading goalkicker 1997 and 1998. Previously played for West Coast.
Brad Campbell
St Kilda
21 years, 134 days
6 [ 128]
22
2
Brett Cook
St Kilda
23 years, 344 days
1 [ 129]
18
5
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Troy Gray
St Kilda
24 years, 32 days
1 [ 130]
9
2
Previously played for Sydney.
Ben Mathews
Sydney
18 years, 232 days
16 [ 131]
198
45
AFL Rising Star nominee 1999 (Round 20).
Rowan Warfe
Sydney
20 years, 315 days
6 [ 132]
84
4
Previously played for Fitzroy.
John Stevens
Sydney
25 years, 300 days
3 [ 133]
78
45
Troy Cook
Sydney
20 years, 242 days
3 [ 134]
43
11
AFL Rising Star Award nominee 1997 (Round 11)
Mark Orchard
Sydney
20 years, 361 days
1 [ 135]
41
5
Previously played for Collingwood.
Paul Licuria
Sydney
19 years, 85 days
1 [ 136]
10
2
Mark Kinnear
Sydney
17 years, 256 days
6 [ 137]
6
1
Ben Wilson
Sydney
20 years, 33 days
1 [ 138]
4
0
Previously played for Collingwood.
Shannon Corcoran
Sydney
26 years, 36 days
1 [ 139]
2
0
Previously played for Footscray and the Brisbane Bears.
Michael Braun
West Coast
19 years, 77 days
11 [ 140]
228
66
AFL Rising Star Award nominee 1997 (Round 14) and 1998 (Round 1).
Michael Gardiner
West Coast
17 years, 288 days
4 [ 141]
129
87
All-Australian team 2003. AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 19).
Josh Wooden
West Coast
18 years, 135 days
1 [ 142]
96
18
Nicholas Stone
West Coast
24 years, 212 days
4 [ 143]
33
4
Ilija Grgic
West Coast
25 years, 24 days
1 [ 144]
23
15
Previously played for Footscray.
Neil Marshall
West Coast
20 years, 13 days
16 [ 145]
4
0
Trent Cummings
West Coast
23 years, 48 days
9 [ 146]
2
1
Previously played for Fitzroy. Great-grandson of Joe Johnson , son of Percy Cummings and brother of Robert Cummings .
Nathan Brown
Western Bulldogs
19 years, 48 days
1 [ 147]
137
206
All-Australian team 2001 and 2002. Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker 2002 and 2003.
Paul Hudson
Western Bulldogs
26 years, 252 days
1 [ 148]
108
214
All-Australian team 1998. Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker 1998 and 1999. Previously played for Hawthorn. Son of Peter Hudson .
Brett Montgomery
Western Bulldogs
23 years, 308 days
2 [ 149]
78
68
Matthew Dent
Western Bulldogs
25 years, 72 days
1 [ 150]
63
10
Previously played for Fitzroy.
Adam Contessa
Western Bulldogs
20 years, 181 days
13 [ 151]
45
8
Stephen Powell
Western Bulldogs
20 years, 237 days
6 [ 152]
30
21
Simon Minton-Connell
Western Bulldogs
27 years, 337 days
1 [ 153]
25
53
Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker 1997. Previously played for Carlton, Sydney and Hawthorn.
David Round
Western Bulldogs
18 years, 291 days
3 [ 154]
2
0
Son of Barry Round .
References
Events Awards Club overviews Player changes