Youngest Premiership Player

With James Aish being so prominent in yesterday's GF, I am wondering who would be the youngest person to play in an SANFL League Premiership?

I think Shannon Hurn was 16 as well when he played in his first premiership at Centrals (was either 2003 or 2004). He played in 2 before being drafted by West Coast.

I think it would most likely be one of Hurn or Aish

Shannon Hurn played in the 2004 premiership, as well as 2005. He had just turned 17 in 2004.

Nobody else comes to mind immediately as being younger than James Aish.

Sam Fairclough was 16 when fuller played him IIRC
Toumpas must have been 16 or 17 last yr

How old was Peter Bottroff in the 1960 NAFC premiership. Hardly a household name now, but there was mention of him being amongst the youngest ever premiership players at that time.

mickyj wrote:Sam Fairclough was 16 when fuller played him IIRC
Toumpas must have been 16 or 17 last yr

Jimmy Toumpas was 17 years, 9 months in the 2011 flag. Sam Fairclough was also 17 in 2006.

robranisgod wrote:How old was Peter Bottroff in the 1960 NAFC premiership. Hardly a household name now, but there was mention of him being amongst the youngest ever premiership players at that time.

Peter Bottroff was born 1 November 1941, so he would have been 18 on Grand Final Day, 1960.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

robranisgod wrote:How old was Peter Bottroff in the 1960 NAFC premiership. Hardly a household name now, but there was mention of him being amongst the youngest ever premiership players at that time.

Peter Bottroff was born 1 November 1941, so he would have been 18 on Grand Final Day, 1960.

It is all pointing to Aish being the youngest player to play in a premiership then.

These are the players that I know of who debuted before their 17th birthday:

Years, Days, Player, Club
15 336 Dexter Kennedy West
15 357 Darcy Hourigan South
16 46 Paris Fowden North
16 53 Bryce Gibbs Glenelg
16 56 Brian Stewart North
16 76 Ben Hart North
16 95 Josh Mail North
16 106 Mark Weideman West
16 124 Todd McKay South
16 126 David Jonas West
16 144 James Aish Norwood
16 225 Sam Mardling Port
16 243 Peter Turner North
16 252 Lachlan Ross West
16 287 Mark Ricciuto West
16 300 Lindsay Head Torrens
16 301 Jared Polec Eagles
16 311 Gavin Wanganeen Port
16 314 Sam Fairclough Eagles
16 324 Shannon Hurn Central
16 333 Sean Wellman North
16 358 David Niemann Torrens


Of those, besides Aish, only Wanganeen, Fairclough, Hurn along with Toumpas were premiership players before their 18th birthday

That's the youngest premiership players I can come up with:

16 334 James Aish
17 29 Shannon Hurn
17 97 Sam Fairclough
17 111 Gavin Wanganeen
17 280 Jimmy Toumpas
18 17 Lindsay Head

Thanks Spelly, it's looking like James Aish is the only premiership player under 17 years, unless some obscure player emerges.

what about Craig Bradley ? surely he would've won one or two flags at a young age

Ah yes, Bradley is another player to have won a premiership at 17; 17 years and 345 days to be exact, in 1981.

spell_check wrote:These are the players that I know of who debuted before their 17th birthday:

Years, Days, Player, Club
15 336 Dexter Kennedy West
15 357 Darcy Hourigan South
16 46 Paris Fowden North
16 53 Bryce Gibbs Glenelg
16 56 Brian Stewart North
16 76 Ben Hart North
16 95 Josh Mail North
16 106 Mark Weideman West
16 124 Todd McKay South
16 126 David Jonas West
16 144 James Aish Norwood
16 225 Sam Mardling Port
16 243 Peter Turner North
16 252 Lachlan Ross West
16 287 Mark Ricciuto West
16 300 Lindsay Head Torrens
16 301 Jared Polec Eagles
16 311 Gavin Wanganeen Port
16 314 Sam Fairclough Eagles
16 324 Shannon Hurn Central
16 333 Sean Wellman North
16 358 David Niemann Torrens


Of those, besides Aish, only Wanganeen, Fairclough, Hurn along with Toumpas were premiership players before their 18th birthday

Reg Richards was 16 when he debuted for South but he certainly wouldn't have played in a final in his career. Are you sure about Paris Fowden's age? I don't think that your information is correct there. Have you transposed Paris Fowden and Toby Stribling's details?

I also believed that Toby Stribling was right up there in this list - first game being in round 19, 2003, when he was 16 years and four months old.

Travis Lane was also 16 when he debuted for Woodvile/West Torrens in 2008. I believe he is the youngest ever Star Search nominee, which he attained in Round Four of that season, against Norwood. I stand corrected, but believe he was 16 years, 287 days at the time of his debut.

robranisgod wrote:

spell_check wrote:These are the players that I know of who debuted before their 17th birthday:

Years, Days, Player, Club
15 336 Dexter Kennedy West
15 357 Darcy Hourigan South
16 46 Paris Fowden North
16 53 Bryce Gibbs Glenelg
16 56 Brian Stewart North
16 76 Ben Hart North
16 95 Josh Mail North
16 106 Mark Weideman West
16 124 Todd McKay South
16 126 David Jonas West
16 144 James Aish Norwood
16 225 Sam Mardling Port
16 243 Peter Turner North
16 252 Lachlan Ross West
16 287 Mark Ricciuto West
16 300 Lindsay Head Torrens
16 301 Jared Polec Eagles
16 311 Gavin Wanganeen Port
16 314 Sam Fairclough Eagles
16 324 Shannon Hurn Central
16 333 Sean Wellman North
16 358 David Niemann Torrens


Of those, besides Aish, only Wanganeen, Fairclough, Hurn along with Toumpas were premiership players before their 18th birthday

Reg Richards was 16 when he debuted for South but he certainly wouldn't have played in a final in his career. Are you sure about Paris Fowden's age? I don't think that your information is correct there. Have you transposed Paris Fowden and Toby Stribling's details?

I suppose I shouldn't take what is reported on Adelaide Now/Advertiser for granted,as that is where I got a few of those from, Fowden included!

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/panthers-to-blood-15-year-old/story-e6freckc-1226133283153

Also, Chris Robertson made his debut for North in 1997 at a young age, maybe 16?

Reg Richards made his debut against West in Round 15 1952 at 16, but I'd like to know his DOB so I can put him in. Wayne Slattery made his debut in 1977 for South, also at the age of 16, but I don't know which round it was.

15 336 Dexter Kennedy West
15 357 Darcy Hourigan South
16 53 Bryce Gibbs Glenelg
16 56 Brian Stewart North
16 76 Ben Hart North
16 95 Josh Mail North
16 106 Mark Weideman West
16 124 Todd McKay South
16 126 David Jonas West
16 132 Angus Monfries Sturt
16 144 James Aish Norwood
16 149 Toby Stribling North
16 220 Jared Rivers North
16 225 Sam Mardling Port
16 243 Peter Turner North
16 252 Lachlan Ross West
16 287 Mark Ricciuto West
16 292 Travis Lane Eagles
16 300 Lindsay Head Torrens
16 301 Jared Polec Eagles
16 311 Gavin Wanganeen Port
16 314 Sam Fairclough Eagles
16 324 Shannon Hurn Central
16 333 Sean Wellman North
16 358 David Niemann Torrens

According to the 1966 South Australian Football Year Book, Reg Richards was 16 years, 4 days on debut. No mention of his date of birth.

Mitchell Grigg was born 2/1/1993. made his debut on 5/9/2009, so I'll let you make that caculation

Adelaide Hawk wrote:According to the 1966 South Australian Football Year Book, Reg Richards was 16 years, 4 days on debut. No mention of his date of birth.

Mitchell Grigg was born 2/1/1993. made his debut on 5/9/2009, so I'll let you make that caculation

Reg Richards age would be correct. When Dexter Kennedy made his debut it was widely recorded that he broke the record held by Reg Richards as the youngest ever SANFL player.

Greg McAdam was born on 18th February 1961 and played in the last minor round game of 1977. Thus he should be in the list of players debuting at less than 17 years of age. At the time it was reported that he was the youngest ever NAFC footballer but there have been a number of younger players since Greg.

That's correct. I knew Greg McAdam and he was definitely 16 when he forst played league. Greg's little brother used to hang around as well ..... Gilbert I think his name was

Reg Richards was born 26/8/1936 & played his first SANFL league match for South Adelaide 23/8/1952, 3 days BEFORE his 16th birthday @ Adelaide Oval vs West Adelaide. He won Souths u17s B & F in 1952 also & went into league side late in season without playing u19's or seconds! He passed away 30/10/1990 aged 54.