How the names of AFL players have changed through the decades

From Alf, Bill and Frank in the 1920s to Koltyn, Gryan and Bailey a hundred years later, here’s how the names of footy players have changed over the years – and the one name that reigns supreme.

When it comes to footy players’ names, there’s a few that got out of the blocks early and soared away to a quick lead.

But alas, many were unable to keep momentum and the days of commentators calling names like Alf, Cliff and Fred are few and far between.

In the early days of the 1890s, 1900s and 1910s it was the humble name of Alf that was among the most popular names for VFL players.

Among them was Alf Jackson, an Australian military officer who played 12 games for Essendon.

Bill, (33) Jack, (32) George, (30) and Jim (25) also soared to the top of the ladder for most popular names in the 1890s.

John ’Sam Newman gets his kick away in 1976.

But as the times changed, so did the players’ names.

An analysis of data from the AFL Tables website, which lists the stats of every AFL-VFL player in history, reveals there have been no Alfs to debut since the 1970s.

Ernest, Percy and Gerry were also sent to the bench, with the name not appearing since the 1960s, while Frank, Vic and Norm also last debuted in the 1970s.

In the 1950s it was the solid names of John (85), Bill (49), Brian (44), Ron (44) and Bob (39) that were the most popular.

By the 1980s Michael had taken over as the most popular name (43), followed by Mark (41), Peter (41), David (38), Paul (31), and Darren (28).

In the ‘90s it was Matthew which took the crown of the most popular name (37), followed by Mark (29), Andrew (29), and Paul (28).

But like Geelong and Sydney, some names have endured through the ages.

Michael Tuck with teammate John Platten after his record-breaking 404th match in 1990.

Jack Riewoldt is one of more than 500 Jacks to play VFL/AFL. Picture: Getty Images

The data reveals Jack is the most popular footballer name of all time, peaking in popularity during the 1930s and 40s.

There were 100 Jacks playing in the 1930s and 110 in the 1940s, compared to 30 in the 2010s and 12 in the 2020s, with a grand total of 517 since the 1890s.

There have also been plenty of Bills (419) Johns (337), Jims (269), Georges (239) and Toms (228) to hit the field over the decades.

But while some names are now desperately out of form, including Ron, Ken, Fred, Gordon, Keith, Kevin and Laurie, other names have soared to the top of the ladder.

Josh, Sam, James and Tom are among the most popular AFL player names in the 2020s.

Josh Daicos of the Magpies. Picture: Michael Klein

Gryan Miers of the Cats. Picture: Michael Willson

But some names are as rare as a St Kilda premiership.

Just one Griffin and Gryan have ever taken the field. There has also only been one Hal, Hamilton, Jace, Judson, Leroy, Orazio, Sharrod, Steele, Taj, Wilbur and Zeno.

Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale is one of just 12 Lachie’s to ever take the field, with the name hitting peak popularity in the 2010s, while his teammate Harris Andrews is the only Harris to ever play AFL.

Swans midfielder Braeden Campbell also holds the title of the only Braeden, and Caiden Cleary can lay claim to being the first Caiden to play VFL/AFL.

Originally published as How the names of AFL players have changed through the decades