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Sport Nation
Who is the best player that didn’t make it?
SEN • May 29th, 2025 1:52 pm
Who are the best players who were unable to establish themselves at AFL level?
We asked some of the AFL experts at SEN who they believe to be the unluckiest player who didn’t make it, whether it be injuries, form, a lack of opportunity or other reasons.
Nathan Buckley, David King, Kane Cornes, Campbell Brown, Andy Maher, Miles Pfitzner and Julian De Stoop all answered.
Check out their responses below:
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We included a few other responses from Malcolm Blight, David Wildy and Dwayne Russell as well.
Read below:
David King
“He played eight games of AFL under Dean Laidley at the Kangaroos back in 2003-2004 – Jeremy Clayton.
“He was a superstar small forward, he could kick miracle goals, he could take pack marks, he could sit on your head, he could crumb. He could do it all, a little Toby Greene.
“But it didn’t quite work out. ‘Laids’ didn’t like him, so he got the ass.”
Nathan Buckley
“Lee ‘Tangles’ Walker. Had a couple of shoulder recos, couple of ACLs, never really got a crack at it.
“He was a gangly type, he was a little bit awkward, but I reckon if he got a chance to play 200 games - he was a cult hero anyway - but he would have been even better.
“He’s my vote for a bloke that might have been a star if he had a bit of luck with injury.”
Malcom Blight
“I was fortunate enough to coach Woodville in the SANFL after playing in Melbourne.
“We went up to a place called Katherine in the Northern Territory and there was an Indigenous player by the name of Terry Booth.
“Eventually we got Terry to play for Woodville. In his first few games he got votes in the Magarey Medal – which is very hard to do.
“He was a fantastic player, quick, I’ve never seen anyone tackle better with a very short frame.
“One night he didn’t turn up for training and he later said, ‘Blighty, it’s too cold here’. He just could not adapt.
“We’d found a gold nugget. Little Terry Booth was a fantastic Indigenous player, but he just couldn’t adapt to cold Adelaide.”
Kane Cornes
“The best player that I played with as a junior was a guy called Simon Fitzgerald.
“We played under-12 state footy together. Unbelievable, huge, big inside midfielder, played some footy at Norwood, but never reached AFL level. I thought he always would.
“Ripping fella, still in contact with him and we’ve stayed in touch.”
Dwayne Russell
“Stephen Clifford – three-time premiership player and three-time best and fairest at Port Adelaide in the SANFL who had a stint with the Pies in the VFL. Won the Gardiner Medal in the VFL Reserves.”
Andy Maher
“Stephen Oliver was a rangy left-footer out of Bendigo. Key forward, young talent, phenom he was.
“Destroyed Glen Jakovich when he was at the peak of his powers and an All-Australian, best defender in the competition over at Subiaco. Oliver turned him inside out, upside down, Jakovich didn't know which way he was going.
“Eight games later he's back in the Bendigo league, kicking 15 goals a week.
“Could have been anything.”
Campbell Brown
“It’s got to be Dom Brew.
“I've been covering the VFL for a decade, and he is an absolute warrior, won the JJ Liston, captained his side Werribee to a Premiership.
“He's won everything that he could possibly win, and I wouldn't want to play on him.
“I can't believe he hasn't been picked up by an AFL club.”
Julian De Stoop
“I tell you what, go back and watch the 2002 Anzac Day game.
“You would think Damian Cupido is one of the best players to ever play the game.
“Left foot, right foot, quick, strong, but unfortunately, the output didn't match the talent.”
Miles Pfitzner
“The current coach of Werribee, Jimmy Allan.
“Was a rookie at Geelong, went to North Adelaide, 140-odd games of SANFL, three-time Magarey medal winner, one-time runner-up, and another time in the top three.
“So five seasons in the top three in the SANFL, should have won four Magarey medals.
“Absolute superstar, season after season he averaged 30-plus disposals.
“Now coach of Werribee, a premiership coach of Werribee, and he is the best player hands down that didn't make it.”
David Wildy
“One of the unluckiest players I’ve seen in the modern era is Dan Menzel.
“His career started really well but was unfortunately cruelled by four knee reconstructions.
“He kept at it and ended up playing about 80 games. I always wonder how good could he have been.”
