Brasher NATS 2024: ‘Bogan’ kids embrace the true ‘meaning of the mullet’

From self-described “bogan” boys to kids too young to walk, the competition was fierce as Sydney’s best mullets went - literally - head to head. See the best photos from BrasherNATS.

Burnouts, bogans, and “the unicorn of mullets” were on show at the Sydney Mulletfest heats on Sunday in all their “lusciousness”, with 51 young enthusiasts facing some curly competition at BrasherNATS at the Eastern Creek Dragway.

Kids too young to walk were among those competing to represent the Harbour City across a range of categories, including “extreme,” “grubby,” “everyday”, “ranga,” and “junior”.

The winners will go on to compete at the Kurri Kurri grand final in December, hoping to be crowned Australia’s “Best Mullet of Them All”.

“We have seen some great ones from all around the country but we do have a gentleman in the Ranga category today, which we call the unicorn of mullets,” Mulletfest founder Laura Johnson told The Daily Telegraph.

Her personal favourite head of hair was on 2-year-old Axel Belliby, who had “a skullet and a pair of hair sunglasses in the top of his head, so that ranks quite high”.

Two-year-old Axel Beilby, with his ‘skullet’ look, is Mulletfest founder Laura’s pick of the bunch. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Angela Belliby, Axel’s mum, said that he’s been growing it since birth and Mulletfest “is what we live for”.

“I think they’re great on kids,” the mother from Bargo said.

Axel was joint runner up in the 0-3 category with Hendrix Forrester, with Kobi Prothero taking the win.

Mullet-wielding father-son duo Craig Long and Jaxson (2). Picture: Rohan Kelly

“He’s got a bit of a curl so it’s really cute. I think you need to have the attitude for one, a bit of a bogan background,” Belliby continued.

“It brings out a whole different person in somebody I reckon, a different atmosphere. I think boys with mullets know how to party better.”

“Shire boy” Cooper Allen Bridge’s ‘ranga’ category entry is considered “the unicorn of mullets”. Picture: Rohan Kelly.

She added that “longer is probably better” and that she’s never chopped the bottom. She did have Axel’s barber “put in some racing stripes,” to give it that extra something. “Simple, but still bogan.”

The mullet — short on the sides, long in the back — isn’t just a popular Australian hair cut. It’s a lifestyle.

Dylan and Leonardo Mitchell. Who needs a tape measure when you’ve got a shirt to measure the gloriousness of your mullet? Picture: Rohan Kelly

11-year-old entrant Nixon Masters, who jointly won the 11-13-year-old category with Dylan Mitchell (left). Picture: Rohan Kelly

It was almost impossible to hear to entrants’ parents speak over the growl of engine motors doing their skids.

“You need to be pretty confident to be rocking a mullet and it means you aren’t afraid to stand out from the crowd,” Johnson said.

The kids’ mullet race at the Mulletfest heats at BrasherNATS on Eastern Creek Dragway. Picture: Rohan Kelly.

The entrants were judged on cut, and condition, but stage presence wins the day.

“The meaning of the mullet, it’s just such an Aussie thing to not take ourselves too seriously and come up with a practical way to not end up with a sunburnt neck in the summer heat,” Johnson said.

Another father-son duo, Dylan and four-year-old son Coen Swan (4). Picture: Rohan Kelly

“Absolutely luscious,” is how 20-year-old mother Ellie Glover describes her three-year-old son Kobe’s blonde mullet.

“Mullets are just Aussie,” she said. “Not much more you can say really. They’re literally born and bred.”

“He loves it here, it’s his second home pretty much, we’re here every Wednesday.”

Kobe Prothero won the 0 to 3-year-old category. Mullet Fest competition at BrasherNATS at Eastern Creek Dragway. Picture: Rohan Kelly.

Officer Brock Arrow, joint runner up in the 4 to 7-year-old category. Mullet Fest competition at BrasherNATS at Eastern Creek Dragway. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Central Coast brothers Nixon, 11, and Valin, 8, Masters entered together, “just for a laugh,” with Nixon jointly taking out the 11 to 13-year-old category with Dylan Mithcell. However, when it came to the business end of mullets, the crowd was very serious: “New South Wales has the best in ‘Straya.”