As Noah Anderson burst by the center final Friday evening to offer, go, get again and aim, Hawthorn supporters over the age of 40 could possibly be forgiven for cursing.
Anderson aim was the reply to the extraordinary final quarter problem laid down by Collingwood’s Josh Daicos, who had 16 disposals and two targets to very practically drag the Magpies to a unprecedented comeback win.
A field workplace end, but in addition a prescient reminder for golf equipment to not mess with their father-son drafting potentialities when two sons of weapons may orchestrate such a climatic end.
On the tail finish of 1992, Rohan Connolly reported Noah’s father Dean Anderson feedback as he was all of the sudden traded from the Hawks.
“They’re determined for one more tall key place participant… and so they have an abundance of operating gamers. I can see their argument completely – it’s simply laborious that they need to do it that method,” the elder Anderson stated.
On the time Anderson was 25, had performed 83 video games for the Hawks, had represented Victoria and had two premiership medals.
He had been one of many Hawks’ greatest with 4 targets within the famed 1989 Grand Ultimate.
However a poor end to 1992 the place he was relegated to the bench had him shipped out, together with teammate Chris Wittman, for younger St Kilda prospect Tim Allen.
The lack of Anderson would trigger fractures on the Hawks within the second, a lot in order that it was straight addressed within the membership’s annual report.
“I perceive all the emotion over Dean Anderson’s departure,” wrote coach Alan Joyce.
“However we needed to make that call as a result of we knew we couldn’t get what we wished within the Nationwide Draft.”
Allen wouldn’t present the house enchancment Joyce wished at Hawthorn, solely taking part in 11 video games. Anderson would play one other 67 on the Saints.
After all, Joyce and the Hawks didn’t personal a crystal ball. But it appears sure that if Anderson stayed, he would have performed not less than 17 extra video games. Right now, his famous person son could be operating round within the brown and gold.
Because the chief of the AFL Coaches Affiliation participant of the yr voting, it’s not too huge a stretch to say that 1992 commerce may assist determine the 2025 premiership race.
On the flipside, Josh Daicos is one other poster boy for the fruits of giving father-son prospects extra time than backyard selection draftees.
Whereas brother Nick, who Collingwood insiders say was higher bodily ready for AFL soccer than any draftee that they had ever seen, was a digital primary decide, it’s simple to neglect that Josh slipped all the best way all the way down to 57.
To outsiders,. Josh’s first three years and 17 typically unremarkable video games gave no trace at what he might turn out to be. Questions have been requested: if his identify wasn’t Daicos, would he have been persevered with?
With Nick on his method, although, there was no likelihood Collingwood would hand over on huge brother that quickly.
It’s not simply Josh: there’s a stack of proof the place sons of former champions have taken their time earlier than blossoming into matchwinners. It’s as if the genes kick in dramatically as soon as the thoughts and physique are lastly prepared. They zoom previous friends that they had beforehand stalled behind.
Josh Daicos celebrates a aim with Scott Pendlebury. (Picture by Dylan Burns/AFL Images through Getty Pictures)
Jobe Watson is the archetype. His first three seasons at Essendon have been seemingly with none pure place, and supplied no clues for his transformation to a premier on-baller corresponding to dad Tim.
Grandfather/father/son product Josh Kennedy’s three seasons and 13 video games at Hawthorn weren’t sufficient to earn him the same reprieve. Sydney have been the beneficiaries of an additional 277 video games as one of many sport’s greatest midfielders.
In a horrible 2025 for Carlton, the one upside has been the mid-career breakout of one other third-generation expertise. Lastly entrusted in a key defence put up that his father made his personal, Jack Silvagni now appears at dwelling.
Whereas not a father-son, Ed Richards has produced the same profession trajectory with footy luminaries: his grandfather (Ron), nice uncle (Lou) and great-great grandfather (Charlie Pannam Sr). A task participant of 4 seasons to midfield contributor for one and a half, Richards has turn out to be an AFL star in 2025 on the age of 26.
Even one of many biggest ever, Gary Ablett Jr, was a comparatively speculative fortieth decide on the AFL Draft – youthful brother Nathan was even seen as the larger household prize for the Cats.
Ablett Jr’s first 5 seasons confirmed flashes of brilliance as a inventive small ahead, however solely the Cats knew the true potential that was lastly unlocked in 2007 as a midfield maestro.
It was reported on the time of Josh Daicos’ drafting that dad Peter was cautious to not expose him to an excessive amount of soccer too early, to stability the massive expectations that might inevitably include the Daicos identify.
When Nick got here alongside, that bridge had already been crossed.
It could possibly be the load of household names, or the extra strategic sheltering in opposition to it, however there’s a development that claims the rewards are larger for much less heralded father-son picks in years 4 and 5 onwards.
Within the AFL in the present day, genetics ultimately matter.
At the moment, the sons of AFL gamers of various paths (Anderson, Nick Daicos, Andrew Brayshaw, Josh Daicos, Tom Liberatore) fill 5 of the highest 20 on the AFLCA votes desk, with Richards’ distinctive linage giving a sixth household product among the many elite.
After which there’s Sam Darcy, who could be essentially the most dominant ahead of the following era.
Whether or not its qualifying gamers for 100 video games for future pay-off or holding on to slow-developing offspring till their hereditary footy chip computes, getting your father-son romance proper is paying off greater than ever.
