List of VFL/AFL players to have scored a goal with their first kick

In Australian rules football, a player can score a goal by kicking the oval ball between the two central goal posts. 315 players are recognised to have scored a goal with their first kick in the sport's premier competition, the Australian Football League (AFL), known before 1990 as the Victorian Football League (VFL). These players are often said to have joined an "elite" and "exclusive" club.[1][2]

Sam Weideman is one of just 40 AFL players to score two goals with his first two kicks.

Rarer still are players who have scored goals from their first two kicks – a mere 40 of these players have been recorded. Of these players, just ten have also scored a goal with their third kick. Clen Denning (debuted 1935), Richard Lounder (1989) and Daniel Metropolis (1992) are the only VFL/AFL players documented to have scored four goals from as many kicks. Denning followed up with goals from his fifth and sixth kicks, an effort that remains unmatched.

On occasion, players have mistakenly been omitted from – and included in – the AFL's official records of the accomplishment. For example, Melbourne's Dave McGlashan scored a goal with his first kick during the 1981 VFL season. However, his achievement was not recognised until 2010, when he was prompted to come forward after the club's website published an article examining Melbourne players who accomplished the feat.[3] In a contrasting event in 2002, Essendon's Shane Harvey was briefly recognised to have scored goals with his first two kicks, before an Essendon fan pointed out Harvey had in fact kicked a clearing ball just a few seconds into his debut, prior to his first goal.[4]

These record-keeping errors also serve to explain why the list is so heavily weighted towards the modern era, with more than half (165) of the instances listed occurring since 1999, the same year Champion Data began keeping detailed statistics for the league. Basic statistics had been recorded since 1965, but instances that occurred throughout this period and prior were still generally only recorded in newspaper reports.

Goal with first kick

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Collingwood's Gordon Coventry.
 
Carlton's Mickey Crisp.
 
Essendon's John Coleman.
 
Footscray's Ted Whitten.
 
Hawthorn's Leigh Matthews.
 
Essendon's Mark Harvey.
 
Brett Ratten (pictured with Hawthorn) of Carlton.
 
Sydney's Michael O'Loughlin.
 
Essendon's Matthew Lloyd.
 
North Melbourne's Brent Harvey.
 
Daniel Giansiracusa of the Western Bulldogs.
 
Ryan Griffen (pictured with GWS) of the Western Bulldogs.
 
West Coast's Shannon Hurn.
 
Richmond's Trent Cotchin.
 
Geelong's Daniel Menzel.
 
Adelaide's Josh Jenkins.
 
Collingwood's Mason Cox.
 
Gold Coast's Wil Powell.
Legend
Rd. The round in which the player scored his first goal
(n) Player scored goals with his first n kicks.
Player has not recorded another kick in his career.
# Player did not record a kick in his first match.
## Player did not record a kick in his first two matches.
Player is a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Player is a Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Players to have scored a goal with their first kick[a]
Player Club Rd. Year
Jack Kirby Essendon 11 1911
Gordon Coventry Collingwood 15 1920
Ray Brew Carlton 3 1923
Col Deane Melbourne 4 1925
Mickey Crisp Carlton 1 1931
Clen Denning (6) Carlton 4 1935
Jack McMillan Footscray 7 1936
Brendon O'Donnell St Kilda 4 1939
Kevin O'Halloran St Kilda 9 1939
Ian Chinn (2) South Melbourne 6 1940
Alby Oatway St Kilda 11 1941
Alec Mathieson Geelong 5 1944
Jeff Brisbane Geelong 12 1944
Clive Yewers Footscray 11 1947
Bob Reid Footscray 1 1948
Jack Marr Hawthorn 7 1948
John Coleman Essendon 1 1949
Arthur Pound Melbourne 8 1950
Bob Trainer (2) South Melbourne 13 1950
Len Kent Footscray 1 1951
Bill Smeaton Melbourne 1 1951
Ted Whitten Footscray 1 1951
Fred Anderson Fitzroy 10 1951
Harry Herbert Geelong 13 1952
Tom Hafey[b] Richmond 6 1953
Keith Bromage Collingwood 17 1953
Owen Abrahams Fitzroy 7 1954
Glen Bow Geelong 11 1954
Bob Crowe Carlton 17 1954
Robert Fox Essendon 1 1955
Stuart Lennie (2) St Kilda 1 1955
Alan Anton Fitzroy 2 1955
Bob Pratt Jr. South Melbourne 4 1955
Ray Allsopp Richmond 7 1955
Max Oaten South Melbourne 9 1956
Bernie Jeffrey South Melbourne 13 1956
Ken Timms Essendon 1 1957
Keith Burns Collingwood 9 1957
Ted Fordham Essendon 1 1961
Doug Wade Geelong 1 1961
Edo Benetti (2) Richmond 8 1961
Bill Ryan Geelong 9 1963
Frank Davis Melbourne 13 1964
Ian Randle South Melbourne 16 1964
Gareth Andrews Geelong 1 1965
Don Gross Essendon 1 1965
Denis Hughson Fitzroy 7 1965
Vin Waite (2) Carlton 5 1966
Graham Croft St Kilda 14 1966
Gary Farrant North Melbourne 1 1967
Robert Walls Carlton 2 1967
Jeff McGee South Melbourne 7 1967
Gerald O'Loughlin Geelong 16 1968
Barry Round Footscray 1 1969
Peter Weightman Fitzroy 10 1969
Leigh Matthews Hawthorn 16 1969
Ray Carr Melbourne 1 1970
David Clarke Geelong 1 1971
Michael Tuck (3) Hawthorn 8 1972
Ian George St Kilda 8 1973
Tony Dullard Melbourne 19 1973
Billy Picken (2) Collingwood 5 1974
David Armour (2) Geelong 8 1974
Michael Cooke Hawthorn SF 1975
David Miller Richmond 4 1977
Laurie Serafini Fitzroy 15 1977
Dale Weightman Richmond 1 1978
Malcolm Reed Geelong 2 1978
Chris Stone St Kilda 10 1978
Leigh Carlson Collingwood 16 1978
Des O'Dwyer Melbourne 17 1978
Rino Pretto Fitzroy 19 1978
John Mossop Geelong 1 1979
Matthew Wall Richmond 1 1980
Dave McGlashan Melbourne 4 1981
Wally Lovett Collingwood 2 1982
Peter Tossol (2) Melbourne 6 1982
Rod Owen St Kilda 1 1983
Daryl Gilmore Carlton 4 1983
Tony Lockett St Kilda 4 1983
Ian Fairley (3) North Melbourne 7 1983
Mark Harvey Essendon 4 1984
Jason Dunstall Hawthorn 2 1985
Scott Morphett Geelong 22 1985
Stephen Kernahan Carlton 1 1986
David Cameron Geelong 5 1986
Barry Stoneham Geelong 6 1986
Stewart Loewe St Kilda 9 1986
Dean Bailey Essendon 13 1986
Brendan Littler St Kilda 20 1986
Simon Atkins (2) Footscray 2 1987
Garry Hocking Geelong 3 1987
John Barnes (2) Essendon 6 1987
Gary Cameron Geelong 11 1987
Mark Hepburn North Melbourne 18 1987
Jamie Shaw Fitzroy 18 1987
Sean Denham Geelong 21 1987
John Brinkkotter Sydney 1 1988
Andy Lovell Melbourne 3 1988
Justin Stubbs (2) Essendon 12 1988
Stephen Tingay Melbourne 1 1989
Richard Lounder (4) Richmond 5 1989
Chris O'Sullivan Brisbane Bears 9 1989
David Welsby Geelong 2 1990
Tim Rieniets Carlton 6 1990
Brent Heaver Melbourne 11 1990
Dale Lewis Sydney 15 1990
Brett Ratten Carlton 22 1990
Nathan Bower Richmond 24 1991
Andrew Lamprill Melbourne 2 1992
Randall Bone (2) Adelaide 3 1992
Daniel Metropolis (4) West Coast 3 1992
Michael Dunstan (2) Fitzroy 1 1993
Peter Everitt St Kilda 1 1993
Ilija Grgic (2) Footscray 2 1993
Ricky Olarenshaw Essendon 3 1993
Paul Hopgood Melbourne 4 1993
Tim Hargreaves (3) Hawthorn 5 1994
Warren Campbell North Melbourne 7 1994
Damian Houlihan (3) Collingwood 7 1994
Daniel Hargraves Footscray 10 1994
Scott Cummings (2) Essendon 14 1994
Lachlan Ross Essendon 14 1994
Matthew Allan Carlton 15 1994
Peter Bell (2) Fremantle 1 1995
Shannon Grant Sydney 1 1995
Chad Liddell Collingwood 1 1995
Leigh Wardell-Johnson Fremantle 2 1995
Jeff White Fremantle 3 1995
Jason Heatley West Coast 4 1995
Michael O'Loughlin Sydney 5 1995
Jeff Farmer Melbourne 6 1995
Jeff Bruce (2) Fitzroy 9 1995
Simon Beaumont Carlton 10 1995
Mark Stevens (2) North Melbourne 10 1995
Matthew Lloyd Essendon 14 1995
Ben Moore (2) Richmond 11 1996
Peter Vardy Adelaide 14 1996
Blake Caracella Essendon 3 1997
Leigh Newton Melbourne 3 1997
Brent Harvey North Melbourne 5 1997
Jacob Anstey Carlton 7 1997
Jarrod Cotton Port Adelaide 10 1997
Paul Dooley Western Bulldogs 1 1998
Andrew Pugsley (2) Collingwood 4 1998
Brett O'Farrell Sydney 13 1998
Leigh Brockman Geelong 14 1998
Tom Harley Port Adelaide 14 1998
Michael Gardiner Collingwood 21 1998
Lucas Herbert Adelaide 1 1999
Des Headland Brisbane Lions 13 1999
Damien Adkins Collingwood 1 2000
Cameron Bruce Melbourne 1 2000
Ryan Fitzgerald (2) Sydney 1 2000
Luke McPharlin Hawthorn 5 2000
Matthew Pavlich (2) Fremantle 5 2000
Aaron Fiora Richmond 7 2000
John Spaull North Melbourne 13 2000
Daniel Schell Fremantle 15 2000
Marcus Baldwin (3) Geelong 21 2000
Alan Didak Collingwood 7 2001
Troy Broadbridge Melbourne 8 2001
Dean Brogan Port Adelaide 9 2001
Daniel Giansiracusa Western Bulldogs 11 2001
Tim Hazell Hawthorn 14 2001
Leigh Harding North Melbourne 17 2001
Michael Osborne Hawthorn 21 2001
Paul Medhurst Fremantle 1 2002
Mark Williams # Hawthorn 3 2002
Quinten Lynch West Coast 12 2002
Ashley Sampi West Coast 14 2002
Sam Hunt Essendon 20 2002
Jonathon McCormick Carlton 1 2003
Steven Salopek Port Adelaide 1 2003
Allan Murray # St Kilda 10 2003
Laurence Angwin Carlton 14 2003
Ben Rutten (3) Adelaide 16 2003
Brent Staker (2) West Coast 17 2003
Kane Tenace Geelong 2 2004
Nathan Bock (2) Adelaide 5 2004
Cameron Faulkner Western Bulldogs 6 2004
Brock McLean Melbourne 11 2004
Colin Sylvia # Melbourne 21 2004
Jaymie Graham (2) West Coast 3 2005
Ryan Griffen Western Bulldogs 4 2005
Setanta O'hAilpin Carlton 7 2005
Tim Walsh Western Bulldogs 8 2005
Nick Malceski Sydney 11 2005
Henry Slattery Essendon 13 2005
Nathan Ablett Geelong 20 2005
Mitch Clark Brisbane Lions 1 2006
Matthew Bate Melbourne 5 2006
Shannon Hurn West Coast 5 2006
Fabian Deluca ## Port Adelaide 8 2006
Joel Patfull Brisbane Lions 8 2006
Scott Pendlebury Collingwood 10 2006
Michael Rix St Kilda 11 2006
Matt Thomas Port Adelaide 14 2006
Greg Bentley Port Adelaide 19 2006
Bryce Gibbs Carlton 1 2007
Travis Varcoe Geelong 2 2007
Bachar Houli Essendon 7 2007
Justin Westhoff Port Adelaide 10 2007
Jay Neagle Essendon 22 2007
Jack Anthony (2) Collingwood 3 2008
Matthew Kreuzer Carlton 3 2008
Clayton Hinkley Fremantle 5 2008
Trent Cotchin Richmond 8 2008
Ryan Davis West Coast 8 2008
Chris Dawes Collingwood 19 2008
Patrick Dangerfield Adelaide 20 2008
Jeff Garlett Carlton 1 2009
Stephen Hill Fremantle 1 2009
Taylor Walker Adelaide 1 2009
Brent Macaffer Collingwood 5 2009
Matt de Boer Fremantle 6 2009
Brodie Martin Adelaide 16 2009
Callum Wilson West Coast 18 2009
Cameron Hitchcock Port Adelaide 1 2010
Luke Shuey West Coast 1 2010
Jordan Roughead Western Bulldogs 5 2010
Andrew Strijk West Coast 13 2010
Kyle Hardingham Essendon 17 2010
Ben Speight North Melbourne 17 2010
Jake Carlisle Essendon 20 2010
Daniel Menzel Geelong 20 2010
Marcus Marigliani Essendon 21 2010
Claye Beams Brisbane Lions 1 2011
Charlie Dixon (2) Gold Coast 2 2011
Jamie Cripps (2) St Kilda 6 2011
Joseph Daye Gold Coast 7 2011
Alex Fasolo Collingwood 12 2011
Patrick Karnezis (2) Brisbane Lions 13 2011
Mitch Brown Geelong 14 2011
Scott Lycett West Coast 19 2011
Jason Tutt (3) Western Bulldogs 22 2011
Casey Sibosado Fremantle 24 2011
James Magner (2) Melbourne 1 2012
George Horlin-Smith Geelong 3 2012
Josh Bruce Greater Western Sydney 5 2012
Ahmed Saad St Kilda 6 2012
Josh Jenkins Adelaide 7 2012
Tim McIntyre Adelaide 15 2012
Rhys Cooyou Greater Western Sydney 22 2012
Nick O'Brien Essendon 22 2012
Luke Mitchell Carlton 23 2012
Dylan Buckley Carlton 3 2013
Majak Daw North Melbourne 4 2013
Sam Grimley Hawthorn 9 2013
Kristian Jaksch Greater Western Sydney 22 2013
Tim O'Brien Hawthorn 1 2014[9]
Sam Lloyd Richmond 4 2014
Ben Lennon Richmond 9 2014
Rory Lobb Greater Western Sydney 12 2014
Luke Lowden Hawthorn 12 2014
Shane Kersten Geelong 14 2014
Mitch Honeychurch Western Bulldogs 15 2014
Max Duffy Fremantle 20 2014
Cam McCarthy Greater Western Sydney 23 2014
Josh Glenn Gold Coast 5 2015
Billy Stretch Melbourne 6 2015
Bailey Dale Western Bulldogs 7 2015
Liam Dawson Brisbane Lions 8 2015
Keegan Brooksby Gold Coast 9 2015
Conor McKenna Essendon 22 2015
Jade Gresham St Kilda 1 2016
Jayden Short Richmond 2 2016
Mason Cox Collingwood 5 2016
Lewis Pierce St Kilda 12 2016
Sam Weideman (2) Melbourne 20 2016
Ryan Burton Hawthorn 21 2016[10]
Sam Powell-Pepper Port Adelaide 1 2017
Aidyn Johnson Port Adelaide 5 2017
Ryan Nyhuis Fremantle 16 2017
Josh Williams North Melbourne 18 2017
Josh Begley Essendon 22 2017
Tom Doedee Adelaide 1 2018
Darcy Fogarty Adelaide 1 2018
Lachie Fogarty Geelong 1 2018
Esava Ratugolea Geelong 1 2018
Jack Higgins Richmond 3 2018
Jacob Heron Gold Coast 9 2018
Jamaine Jones Geelong 10 2018
Wil Powell Gold Coast 15 2018
Ryan Abbott Geelong 20 2018
Noah Balta Richmond 1 2019
Tom Sparrow Melbourne 1 2019
Chayce Jones Adelaide 1 2019
Chris Burgess Gold Coast 11 2019
Nick Hind St Kilda 13 2019
Ben Cavarra Western Bulldogs 1 2020
Max King St Kilda 1 2020
Will Kelly Collingwood 6 2020
Izak Rankine Gold Coast 6 2020
Cody Weightman Western Bulldogs 7 2020
Brad Close Geelong 8 2020
Irving Mosquito Essendon 13 2020[11]
Jy Farrar Gold Coast 18 2020
Tom Powell North Melbourne 1 2021
Francis Evans Geelong 2 2021
Beau McCreery Collingwood 4 2021
Isiah Winder West Coast 4 2021
Cooper Sharman St Kilda 20 2021
Callum Brown Greater Western Sydney 21 2021
Josh Rachele Adelaide 1 2022
Nathan O'Driscoll Fremantle 2 2022
Jack Carroll Carlton 7 2022
Jye Amiss Fremantle 8 2022
Judson Clarke (2) Richmond 13 2022
Hewago Oea Gold Coast 16 2022
Elijah Hollands Gold Coast 19 2022
Samson Ryan # (3) Richmond 2 2023
Corey Warner Sydney 5 2023
Ryan Maric West Coast 13 2023
Patrick Voss Fremantle 7 2024[12]
Lachie Sullivan Collingwood 8 2024[13]
Caiden Cleary Sydney 15 2024

Multiple goals with first kicks

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Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich
 
Gold Coast's Charlie Dixon (pictured with Port Adelaide)
 
Patrick Karnezis of the Brisbane Lions.
Players to have scored multiple goals with their first kicks[a]
Player Goals Club Rd. Year
Clen Denning 6 Carlton 4 1935
Richard Lounder 4 Richmond 5 1989
Daniel Metropolis West Coast 3 1992
Michael Tuck 3 Hawthorn 8 1972
Ian Fairley North Melbourne 7 1983
Tim Hargreaves Hawthorn 5 1994
Damian Houlihan Collingwood 7 1994
Marcus Baldwin Geelong 21 2000
Ben Rutten Adelaide 16 2003
Jason Tutt Western Bulldogs 22 2011
Samson Ryan # Richmond 2 2023
Ian Chinn 2 South Melbourne 6 1940
Bob Trainer South Melbourne 13 1950
Stuart Lennie St Kilda 1 1955
Edo Benetti Richmond 8 1961
Vin Waite Carlton 5 1966
Billy Picken Collingwood 5 1974
David Armour Geelong 8 1974
Peter Tossol Melbourne 6 1982
Simon Atkins Footscray 2 1987
John Barnes Essendon 6 1987
Justin Stubbs Essendon 12 1988
Randall Bone Adelaide 3 1992
Michael Dunstan Fitzroy 1 1993
Ilija Grgic Western Bulldogs 2 1993
Scott Cummings Essendon 14 1994
Peter Bell Fremantle 1 1995
Jeff Bruce Fitzroy 9 1995
Mark Stevens North Melbourne 10 1995
Ben Moore Richmond 11 1996
Andrew Pugsley Collingwood 4 1998
Ryan Fitzgerald Sydney 1 2000
Matthew Pavlich Fremantle 5 2000
Brent Staker West Coast 17 2003
Nathan Bock Adelaide 5 2004
Jaymie Graham West Coast 3 2005
Jack Anthony Collingwood 3 2008
Charlie Dixon Gold Coast 2 2011
Jamie Cripps St Kilda 6 2011
Patrick Karnezis Brisbane Lions 13 2011
James Magner Melbourne 1 2012
Sam Weideman Melbourne 20 2016
Judson Clarke Richmond 13 2022

Notes

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  1. ^ a b All entries up to the end of 2023 are sourced to the AFL Record Season Guide 2024, except where noted.[5] Players' Hall of Fame membership and Legend status are sourced to AFL.com.au.[6][7]
  2. ^ Hafey was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach.[8]

References

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  1. ^ McMurtry, Andrew (27 July 2020). "Geelong Cats debutant Brad Close joins first kick first goal club against Fremantle Dockers". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. ^ Ryan, Peter (21 July 2020). "Snap Shot: First kick, first goal a Weightman tradition". The Age. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  3. ^ Carroll, Linda (13 December 2010). "McGlashan recognised for first kick goal". melbournefc.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. ^ McClure, Geoff (9 May 2002). "Sporting Life". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  5. ^ Lovett, Michael, ed. (15 January 2024). AFL Record Season Guide 2024: The official statistical history of the AFL game. Melbourne, Australia: Sports Entertainment Network. pp. 808–809. ISBN 978-0645657333.
  6. ^ "Australian Football Hall of Fame – Players". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Australian Football Hall of Fame – Legends". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Australian Football Hall of Fame – Coaches". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  9. ^ Salemme, Kate (14 October 2014). "2014 Review: Tim O'Brien". Hawthorn Football Club. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  10. ^ King, Travis (13 August 2016). "Five talking points: Hawthorn v North Melbourne". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  11. ^ Turner, Matt (31 August 2020). "Irving Mosquito went from remote WA to Essendon's new cult hero". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  12. ^ Seven Sport (28 April 2024) [First broadcast 27 April 2024.]. AFL Round 7, 2024: Fremantle v Western Bulldogs (Television production). Originally broadcast on the Seven Network. Australian Football League. Sequence of events leading to the goal begins at time 50:39. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via AFL.com.au.
  13. ^ McFarlane, Glenn (4 May 2024). "AFL round 8: Lachie Sullivan joins first-kick, first-goal club alongside three Magpies". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

Sources

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