Opinion
My series on the 100 greatest nicknames in VFL/AFL history continues with numbers 20 to 11.
AFL top 100: Nicknames 100-91
AFL top 100: Nicknames 90-81
AFL top 100: Nicknames 80-71
AFL top 100: Nicknames 70-61
AFL top 100: Nicknames 60-51
AFL top 100: Nicknames 50-41
AFL top 100: Nicknames 40-31
AFL top 100: Nicknames 30-21
20. ‘SOS’
The son of a legend, Stephen Silvagni simply became known as ‘SOS’: Son of Sergio. Sergio was a popular champion at the Blues, mainly in the 1960s.
Stephen Silvagni’s efforts eclipsed those of his famous father. Both played in premierships and both won best and fairest awards. But Stephen played more games, kicked more goals and was chosen as fullback of the century.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
19. ‘Tangles’
Better known as a Test fast bowler, Max Walker was bought to Melbourne by the Demons to play football although he had never played senior football in Tasmania.
He played for the Demons for six years, accumulating 85 games. But eventually his love for cricket won out and he retired at age 23 to pursue a cricket career.
His nickname ‘Tangles’ referred to his ungainly and unorthodox actions on both the cricket and football fields.
18. ‘Diamond Jim’
This was the name given to John M Tilbrook, a Melbourne recruit in the 1970s.
The hefty clearance fee paid to Sturt appeared justified given he had been part of five premierships in a row at Sturt and had been close to best on ground in one of them.
However, after 53 games and 59 goals in five years, his league career was over.
17. ‘Pebbles’
Saverio Rocca’s little brother was Anthony. Between them they kicked 918 goals for Collingwood.
16. ‘Cowboy’
Nicknamed ‘Cowboy’ for his bow legs and his rolling gait, St Kilda’s Kevin C Neale was recruited from South Warrnambool and was an extremely popular and productive player for the Saints from 1965 to 1977, playing 256 games (then a club record) and scoring 301 goals.
15. ‘Plough’
‘Plough’ was an apt way to describe Terry ‘Plough’ Wallace’s football style as he burrowed into packs and racked up possession after possession.
Wallace played 174 games for Hawthorn, then after one disappointing year at Richmond, revived his career at Footscray, winning the best and fairest in his first two years.
He took over the senior coaching position at the Bulldogs in 1996.
14. ‘Flea’
The lightly built frame of Mildura recruit Dale ‘Flea’ Weightman was no impediment to his aggressive roving and pinpoint accuracy of his disposals.
Weightman played in the Tigers’ 1980 premiership team and won the best and fairest in 1986 and 1987. The following year he was appointed captain, a role he held for five seasons.
13. ‘Duck’
Wayne Carey appeared further up the list as ‘the King’ but was always known by the Kangaroos’ faithful as ‘Duck’, due to his strutting, aggressive gait.
Carey won four best and fairest awards at North Melbourne and is still the club’s greatest goal scorer and considered one of the greatest players of all time.
(Credit: Jack Atley/ALLSPORT via Getty Images)
12. ‘Diesel’
Dual Brownlow Medallist Greg ‘Diesel’ Williams was considered to be one of the elite footballers of his era (1984 to 1997).
He was originally rejected by Carlton, but after his second Bendigo league best and fairest, he tried his luck at Geelong and won the best and fairest in his second season.
A pay dispute saw him move to Sydney for six years during which time he ran second in the best and fairest four times but never won one. At Carlton, he won one.
11. ‘Stainless’
I had to fit this in somewhere! Kelvin ‘Stainless’ Steel played in the 1970s at both Hawthorn and Essendon.
His career was not long and consisted of four years at Hawthorn for 19 games and three goals while his one year at Essendon netted him six games and no goals. He was originally from suburban Surrey Hills.
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