WHEN Melbourne draftee Charlie Spargo makes his AFL debut, his family will achieve a League record.

The former Murray Bushrangers pocket rocket, whom the Demons snared with pick No. 29 in the recent NAB AFL Draft, is set to make his clan the first to produce four successive generations of direct descendants to play League footy.

Other families have produced fourth-generation players but have either skipped a generation or the pedigree hasn't followed a direct line. 

This year's draft also returned the famous Richards name to the AFL, with the Western Bulldogs using pick No.16 to grab Oakleigh Chargers left-footer Ed Richards – the grandson of Collingwood stalwart Ron Richards and the great-nephew of the legendary Lou Richards. 

A Richards debut with the Dogs would make his family just the third known to have spawned four generations of players over five generations. 

There have already been seven instances of clans with four generations of League footballers – among them Melbourne's regal Cordners (the latest addition being AFL Women's player Harriet Cordner), with other links to Hawks-turned-Suns Mitch Hallahan and Tom Murphy. 

Here are the known cases of families with four generations of elite-level players. 

Spargo

1ST GENERATION

Bob Spargo senior – Footscray 1934-41 (65 games, 6 goals), Melbourne 1942 (2 games, 0 goals), Victoria (1 game, 0 goals)

2ND GENERATION

(Sons of Bob Spargo senior)

• Bob Spargo junior – Footscray 1958-53 (80 games, 43 goals).

• Ricky Spargo – Footscray 1966-71 (64 games, 65 goals).

3RD GENERATION

Paul Spargo (son of Bob Spargo junior) – North Melbourne 1985-92 (81 games, 109 goals), Brisbane Bears 1993 (9 games, 9 goals), North Melbourne 2nd best and fairest 1988.

Paul Spargo played 81 games for the Kangaroos. Picture: AFL Photos

4TH GENERATION

Charlie Spargo (son of Paul Spargo) – Melbourne (2017 draftee, yet to play a game). 

Pannam/Richards 

1ST GENERATION

• Charlie Pannam senior – Collingwood 1897-1907 (179 games, 111 goals), Richmond 1908 (14 games, 22 goals), Victoria (5 games, 2 goals), Australian Football Hall of Fame member, Coll captain 1905, Rich captain 1908, league leading goalkicker 1905, Coll premierships 1902, 1903.

• Albert F. Pannam (brother of Charlie Pannam senior) – Collingwood 1907-09 (28 games, 12 goals)

2ND GENERATION

(Sons of Charlie Pannam senior)

• Charlie Pannam junior – Collingwood 1917-22 (97 game, 12 goals), South Melbourne 1926-28 (45 games, 31 goals), Victoria (2 games, 0 goals), Sth Melb non-playing coach 1923-25, Sth Melb captain-coach 1926-28, Coll premierships 1917, 1919.

• Alby C. Pannam – Collingwood 1933-45 (181 games, 453 goals), Richmond 1947 (2 games, 6 goals), Victoria (2 games, 6 goals), Coll captain 1945, Coll best and fairest 1942, Coll 3rd best and fairest 1941, Coll leading goalkicker 1941, 1942, 1943, Coll premierships 1935, 1936. 

3RD GENERATION

(Grandsons of Charlie Pannam senior)

• Lou Richards – Collingwood 1941-55 (250 games, 423 goals), Victoria (3 games, 9 goals), Australian Football Hall of Fame member, captain 1952-55, 2nd best and fairest 1947, 1950, 3rd best and fairest 1951, club leading goalkicker 1944, 1948, 1950, premiership 1953.

• Ron Richards – Collingwood 1947-56 (143 games, 114 goals), premiership 1953. 

4TH GENERATION

Ed Richards (grandson of Ron Richards) – Western Bulldogs (2017 draftee, yet to play a game).

Cordner

1ST GENERATION

(Brothers)

• Harry Cordner – Melbourne 1903 & 1905 (11 games, 16 goals), University 1908-09 (29 games, 7 goals), Victoria (1 game, 2 goals), University captain 1909, Melb leading goalkicker 1905.

• Ted Cordner senior – Melbourne 1905 (7 games, 0 goals), Melbourne 1908-12 (60 games, 8 goals). 

2ND GENERATION

(Sons of Ted Cordner senior)

• Ted Cordner junior – Melbourne 1941-46 (52 games, 0 goals), Victoria (1 game, 0 goals), premiership 1941.

• Don Cordner – Melbourne 1941-50 (166 games, 23 goals), Victoria (2 games, 1 goal), Brownlow Medal 1946, captain 1948-49, best and fairest 1943, 2nd best and fairest 1944, 1947, premierships 1941, 1948.

• Denis Cordner – Melbourne 1943 & 1948-56 (152 games, 82 goals), Victoria (8 games, 3 goals), captain 1951-53, best and fairest 1950, 1954, 2nd best and fairest 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, club leading goalkicker, premierships 1948, 1955, 1956.

3RD GENERATION

David Cordner (son of Ted Cordner junior) – Melbourne 1982-87 (53 games, 61 goals), Sydney 1988 (5 games, 6 goals). 

4TH GENERATION

Harriet Cordner (granddaughter of Don Cordner) – Melbourne 2017- (7 games, 1 goal).

Hallahan 

1ST GENERATION

Jim R. Hallahan senior – St Kilda 1904 (2 games, 1 goal).

2ND GENERATION

(Two sons of Jim R. Hallahan senior)

• Tom Hallahan – Collingwood 1932 (9 games, 9 goals), St Kilda 1933-34 (14 games, 3 goals).

• Jim. P. Hallahan – Footscray 1935-37 (17 games, 6 goals), Fitzroy 1942-44 (32 games, 7 goals).

3RD GENERATION

Mike Hallahan (son of Jim P.) – Fitzroy 1967 (3 games 0 goals).

4TH GENERATION

Mitch Hallahan (grandson of Jim P.) – Hawthorn 2011-14 (6 games, 2 goals), Gold Coast 2015-17 (20 games, 5 goals).

McShane/Smith/Murray

1ST GENERATION

(Brothers)

• Jack McShane – Geelong 1882 & 1886-87 (28 games, 4 goals), South Melbourne 1883 & 1885 (16-18 games, 0 goals), Geel vice-captain 1886-87 (until his death from a severe cold at 23), Geel premiership 1886.
• Phil McShane – Geelong 1883-84 & 1886-89 (71 games, 101 goals), Essendon 1885 (17 games, 0 goals), Carlton 1890 (5 games, 10 goals), Fitzroy 1890 (5 games, 10 goals), Geel premierships 1883, 1884, 1886.

• Tommy McShane – Geelong 1885-88 (38 games, 33 goals), South Melbourne 1888-89 (13-14 games, 11 goals), premierships 1886, 1888.

• Joe McShane – Geelong 1887-1901 (225-226 games, 72 goals), Carlton 1902-04 (48 games, 17 goals), Victoria (1 game, 0 goals), Geel captain 1903-04, Geel best and fairest 1897.

• Jim McShane – Geelong 1890-1901 (137 games, 78 goals).

• Harry McShane – Geelong 1894-98 (78 games, 45 goals), Carlton 1899-1904 (82 games, 28 goals)

2ND GENERATION

Stan Smith (grandson of Jim McShane) – South Melbourne 1951-54 (26 games, 0 goals).

3RD GENERATION

Michael Smith (son of Stan Smith) – South Melbourne 1977-81 (32 games, 43 goals).

4TH GENERATION

Tom Murphy (grandson of Stan Smith) – Hawthorn 2005-12 (95 games, 5 goals), Gold Coast 2013-14 (18 games, 0 goals).

Aked/Edwards 

1ST GENERATION

Frank Aked senior – Footscray 1925-32 (108 games, 59 goals), Hawthorn 1933 (8 games, 2 goals).

2ND GENERATION

• Frank Aked junior – Footscray 1951-52 (4 games, 0 goals).

• Arthur Edwards (son-in-law of Frank Aked senior) – Footscray 1951-60 (120 games, 26 goals), 2nd best and fairest 1957, premiership 1954. 

3RD GENERATION

Allan Edwards (son of Arthur Edwards) – Richmond 1975-79 (66 games, 84 goals), Collingwood 1979-83 (35 games, 45 goals), Footscray 1984 (12 games, 17 goals), Victoria (1 game, 2 goals) 

4TH GENERATION

• Shane O'Bree (grandson of Arthur Edwards) – Brisbane Lions 1998-99 (19 games, 3 goals), Collingwood 2000-10 (227 games, 84 goals).

• Jake Edwards (son of Allan Edwards) – Carlton 2006-09 (5 games, 4 goals).

Shane O'Bree carved out a long and successful career with the Pies and Lions. Picture: AFL Photos

Munday/Woolnough  

1ST GENERATION

(Half-brothers)

• Bill Munday – Geelong 1902 (1 game, 0 goals).

• Jim Munday – Geelong 1904-06 (33 games, 1 goal).

2ND GENERATION

• Jim Munday (son of Bill Munday) – Geelong 1944-46 (44 games, 26 goals), best and fairest 1944.

3RD GENERATION

Michael Woolnough (father of Marc) – Geelong 1971-78 (117 games, 42 goals), Collingwood 1979-80 (24 games, 8 goals), Geel 3rd best and fairest 1975. 

4TH GENERATION

Marc Woolnough (great-grandson of Bill Munday) – Geelong 1998 & 2002 (6 games, 1 goal).

Rankin/O'Donnell

1ST GENERATION

• Teddy Rankin – Geelong 1897-1910 (180 games, 35 goals), Victoria (3 games, 1 goal), best and fairest 1903.

• Tom Rankin (brother of Teddy) – Geelong 1904-06 (47 games, 12 goals).

• Pat O'Donnell (grandfather of Graeme O'Donnell, great-grandfather of Gary O'Donnell) – Geelong 1899 (1 game, 0 goals). 

2ND GENERATION

(Sons of Teddy Rankin)

• Bert Rankin – Geelong 1912-23 (132 games, 21 goals), Victoria (7 games, 1 goal), captain 1923, best and fairest 1917.

• Cliff Rankin – Geelong 1915 & 1919-28 (153 games, 400 goals), Victoria (13 games, 30 goals), captain-coach 1925-27, premierships coach 1925, league leading goalkicker 1921, club leading goalkicker 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923.

• Doug Rankin – Geelong 1938-39 (9 games, 8 goals).

3RD GENERATION

Graeme O'Donnell (grandson of Pat O'Donnell) – Geelong 1961-62 (7 games, 4 goals), North Melbourne 1963-64 (16 games, 18 goals) 

4TH GENERATION

Gary O'Donnell (great-grandson of Teddy Rankin and Pat O'Donnell) – Essendon 1987-98 (243 games, 88 goals), Victori8a 9 games, 0 goals), captain 1996-97, All Australian 1990, best and fairest 1993, 2nd best and fairest 1989, 1990, 3rd best and fairest 1991, 1992 (equal), 1995, premiership 1993.

Hiskins/Richardson/McCormack  

1ST GENERATION

(Brothers)

• Fred Hiskins – Essendon 1900-02 & 1906 (50 games, 78 goals), Victoria (1 game, 1 goal), league leading goalkicker 1901, premiership 1901.

• Arthur Hiskins – South Melbourne 1908-15 & 1919-23 (185 games, 56 goals), playing coach 1920, premiership 1909.

• Stan Hiskins – South Melbourne 1913-14 & 1919-21 (66 games, 34 goals).

• Rupe Hiskins – Carlton 1920-24 (74 games, 9 goals)

2ND GENERATION

Jack Hiskins (son of Fred Hiskins) – Essendon 1934-35 (16 games, 7 goals).

3RD GENERATION

Barry Richardson (grandson of Fred Hiskins) – Richmond 1965-74 (125 games, 134 goals), 3rd best and fairest 1970, premierships 1967, 1969, 1974.

4TH GENERATION

Paul McCormack (great-grandson of Fred Hiskins) – Carlton 1992-94 (14 games, 2 goals). 

• Information supplied by AFL history and statistical consultant Col Hutchinson