SINCE its earliest days, football has been a family affair. Although the game has expanded to all parts of the country and a national draft has replaced zoning as the major source of recruiting, there is still room for sentiment. 

The father-son rule has remained in a modified version to the one that was introduced in 1950, while brothers seek to pursue their dreams together. 

This is not always possible, but for 10 pairs of brothers they can enjoy the highs and lows of this season within the same club environment. While the other 22 pairs of brothers may not see as much of each other as they are dispersed at different clubs around the nation, they share an unbreakable bond and communicate as often as they can. 

Sixteen of the 18 clubs have at least one of the siblings playing this year – the Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs are the only clubs without one. Here is the list of brothers playing in the AFL this year:

  • Brendon Ah Chee (Port Adelaide) and Callum Ah Chee (Gold Coast) 
  • Claye Beams and Dayne Beams (Brisbane Lions) 
  • Mitchell Brown (West Coast) and Nathan Brown (Collingwood) 
  • Brad Crouch and Matt Crouch (Adelaide) 
  • Charlie Curnow and Ed Curnow (Carlton)
  • Cameron Delaney (Geelong) and Luke Delaney (St Kilda)
  • Jack Frost (Collingwood) and Sam Frost (Melbourne) 
  • Dylan Grimes (Richmond) and Jack Grimes (Melbourne) 
  • Cian Hanley and Pearce Hanley (Brisbane Lions)
  • Cameron Hewett (Port Adelaide) and George Hewett (Sydney Swans) 
  • Bradley Hill (Hawthorn) and Stephen Hill (Fremantle)
  • Brandon Jack and Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans)
  • Nathan Jones (Melbourne) and Zak Jones (Sydney Swans)
  • Jake Kolodjashnij (Geelong) and Kade Kolodjashnij (Gold Coast)
  • Ed Langdon (Fremantle) and Tom Langdon (Collingwood)
  • Lachlan Langford and Will Langford (Hawthorn) 
  • Harry Marsh (Sydney Swans) and Jonathon Marsh (Collingwood)
  • Oscar McDonald and Tom McDonald (Melbourne)
  • Jeremy McGovern (West Coast) and Mitch McGovern (Adelaide)
  • Ben McKay (North Melbourne) and Harry Mckay (Carlton)
  • Daniel Menzel (Geelong) and Troy Menzel (Adelaide)
  • Jackson Merrett and Zach Merrett (Essendon)
  • Brodie Murdoch (St Kilda) and Jordan Murdoch (Geelong)
  • Ben Reid (Collingwood) and Sam Reid (Sydney Swans)
  • Ted Richards and Xavier Richards (Sydney Swans) 
  • Joel Selwood and Scott Selwood (Geelong)
  • Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne) and David Swallow (Gold Coast) 
  • Daniel Talia (Adelaide) and Michael Talia (Sydney Swans)
  • Joel Tippett (North Melbourne) and Kurt Tippett (Sydney Swans)
  • Corey Wagner (North Melbourne) and Josh Wagner (Melbourne)
  • Jimmy Webster (St Kilda) and Zac Webster (Hawthorn)
  • Lachie Weller (Fremantle) and Maverick Weller (St Kilda)

The best brothers of all time

Although they played well before the television era and there are few people around today who saw them exhibit their considerable skills, Collingwood’s Coventry brothers, Gordon and Syd, have been rated by AFL Media reporters as the best in AFL/VFL history. 

They formed an integral component of the Collingwood ‘Machine’ that won a record four straight premierships, from 1927-30. 

The Colliers, Albert and Harry, were also part of that celebrated group and came in third on our rankings.

In second spot were Justin and Simon Madden, two of the game’s best ruckmen who played 710 games between them. 

Reporters were asked to rate their top five on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis. Each brother had to play a minimum of 100 AFL/VFL games. 

This is unfortunate in the case of several groups of brothers, notably the Danihers. Although Terry, Anthony and Chris qualify, Neale is ruled out by virtue of rotten luck with knee injuries that cut short what could have been a brilliant career. 

1. Gordon Coventry and Syd Coventry (Collingwood)

Gordon ‘Nuts’ Coventry kicked 1299 goals over a glorious 18-year career for the Magpies and held the League goalkicking record until 1999. Syd was an inspirational ruckman, captain of the team that won four straight flags and the 1927 Brownlow medallist.

2. Justin Madden (Essendon and Carlton) and Simon Madden (Essendon)

Two of the best ruckmen of the modern era, Simon was a champion for Essendon over 19 seasons, 378 games and two flags. Justin moved to Carlton for more opportunities and played 332 games, also featuring in two premiership teams. 

3. Albert Collier (Collingwood and Fitzroy) and Harry Collier (Collingwood)

The only brothers to each win a Brownlow, Albert in 1929 and Harry the next year. Harry was older, Albert was bigger but both were champions and teammates in six premierships – 1927-30 and 1935-36. 

4. Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) and Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide and Hawthorn)

Peter was a skilful small forward and then midfielder who played in Port’s 2004 premiership. The multi-talented Shaun was his teammate then and, since moving to the Hawks in 2010, has earned three more flags as a utility. 

5. Anthony Daniher (Sydney and Essendon), Chris Daniher (Essendon) and Terry Daniher (South Melbourne and Essendon)

Ungarie’s greatest gift is arguably football’s greatest family. Terry was a dual Essendon premiership captain but all three served the Bombers with distinction. Let’s not forget Neale, restricted by knee injuries to just 82 games … he might have been the best of the lot. 

6. Denis Cordner and Don Cordner (Melbourne)

Football royalty at Melbourne, both were dominant ruckmen and able to play as key defenders. Both played in multiple premierships and for Victoria while Don won the 1948 Brownlow. Both played their footy hard but scrupulously fair.

7. Gary Ablett (Hawthorn and Geelong) and Geoff Ablett (Hawthorn, Richmond and St Kilda)

Gary was one of the greatest players of all time. Has there been a better highlights reel? But Geoff was a star as well, a dual-premiership wingman for the Hawks. 

8. Bruce Nankervis and Ian Nankervis (Geelong)

Wonderful Cats servants of the the 1970s and early ’80s, Ian started as a rover before becoming one of the first running back pockets, while Bruce was a great ruck-rover and half-back. Their ability to traverse far and wide on the ground earned them the name the ‘Leyland Brothers’ after the widely travelled television travel guides. 

9. Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide and GWS) and Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide)

South Australian legend Graham Cornes sired two sons, who both served his hated Port Adelaide with distinction. Chad was your classic utility while Kane was a tenacious on-baller and a tagger par excellence. The pair played in Port’s 2004 premiership team.

10. Andrew Jarman (Adelaide) and Darren Jarman (Hawthorn and Adelaide)

Skilled and smart, Andrew was the spiritual leader of the Crows from their first match. Darren was a superb kick. A premiership player at Hawthorn in 1991, his magic final quarter helped clinch the Crows their first flag in 1997.

Profiles of the AFL’s current brothers appear in the round 14 edition of the AFL Record, available at all venues.