The best and worst AFL player tattoos

AFL fans have a growing fascination with ink so, in honour of Jordan de Goey’s new art, here’s a look at some of the best and worst player tattoos.

AFL fans have a fascination with ink so, in honour of Jordan de Goey’s new piece, here’s a look at some of the best and worst player tattoos.

Shout out to Jake Stringer for his rather, err, interesting, new gut piece

DUSTY’S TATTOOS: WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

ROUND 1 REVEAL: WHO WILL YOUR TEAM OPEN THE SEASON AGAINST?

JAKE STRINGER

Jake Stringer shows off his new tattoo as he returns to Essendon training early. Picture: Supplied

Anyone seen We’re the Millers?

Jake probably has “no ragrets” over his new lion-mouthed belly button piece, but at least he didn’t “ask for a 13 and they drew a 31”.

DUSTIN MARTIN

A young Dustin Martin not long after he got his neck tattoos.

Dusty’s body is increasingly covered in tattoos. Picture: AAP

Dustin Martin is the AFL’s best and most recognisable player and so is his ink. Word has it that he’s spent more than $15,000 covering his body in tattoos, with his most famous the neck pieces, the Maori words “Ngati Maru”, which refers to his family’s North Island tribe, and also “Matai Whetu”, which refers to a meeting place.

JORDAN DE GOEY

The young Pie showing off his latest inking at pre-season in November.

@CollingwoodFC pre season 🌞 Jordan De Goey & tattoo @agerealfooty @theagesport pic.twitter.com/yMiSwFqLei

— Wayne Ludbey (@WLudbey) November 17, 2017

Wait, that's not Dusty! Brandon Ellis has a bit of fun at Richmond's Mad Monday celebrations.

DUSTY’S NANNA

Dustin Martin's grandmother Lois Knight shows off her first tattoo at age 70 to celebrate Richmond's premiership win. Picture: Rob Leeson

A close-up of Dusty’s nanna’s tattoo. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Yeah, we know she’s not a player, but Dusty’s nanna is just too cool not to be a part of this list. Lois Knight’s first tattoo — at aged 70 — celebrates her grandson’s stunning 2017 season with, of course, his guernsey number.

TRAVIS CLOKE

There is plenty going on with Travis Cloke’s back.

Travis Cloke’s ankle tattoo.

While he’s always had an interesting way with words — think “smoke and shadows behind the windows” — Cloke, who retired this week, actually has some inspiring phrases inked on his body. “Life is precious, worth the fight” sits on his ankle, while he has three words — “Strength, Determination, Belief” on his lower back, below those love it or hate it angel wings.

SAM NEWMAN

Former Adelaide captain Mark Bickley gets up close and personal with the tattoo of former teammate Tony Modra on Sam Newman’s butt. Picture: Dean Martin

Not sure if Modra or a self-portrait.

Love him or hate him, you could never say Sam Newman isn’t a man of his word. He’s lived up to a number of bets in the past, including this doozy. Newman was so certain Adelaide would fail in the 1997 Grand Final, he promised to get superstar full forward Tony Modra tattooed on his behind. Well the Crows won and the rest is history.

NATHAN JONES

Melbourne captain Nathan Jones shows a tattoo of his forearm of his grandfather, who died of motor-neurone disease in 2015. Picture: Getty Images

Demons hard man Nathan Jones has a number of tattoos, but it is the one on his arm of his grandfather that is most poignant. George Jones served in the navy for many years, but passed away from motor-neurone disease in 2015. Read this story and try to keep a dry eye.

LANCE FRANKLIN

Most of Lance Franklin’s arms are covered in tattoos. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

Franklin’s right arm with a portrait of his mother Ursula.

Lance Franklin has steadily added to his collection of tattoos, with most having significance to culture and family. He has a portrait of his mother Ursula, the face of an elder who gave him the nickname ‘Buddy’, along with a number of indigenous motifs, including a kangaroo and didgeridoo.

DANE SWAN

AFL star Dane Swan even convinced shock jock Steve Price to get a tattoo

Swanny always loves to show off his ink. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Over the years, Dane Swan’s obsession with finding the footy was only rivalled by his obsession with getting new ink. And the Brownlow Medallist is covered in a weird and wacky variety of tattoos. The weirdest one has to be the Collingwood legend’s butt tattoo of Sam Newman, inked after he lost a bet with the Footy Show frontman about the Pies making the finals.

Dane Swan gets Sam Newman inked on his bottom. Picture: Instagram/danes84

BEN COUSINS

A ripped Ben Cousins shows off his stomach tattoo.

Splash at the beach for Ben and his tatt. Picture: Michael Klein

If it’s not footy’s most famous tatt, it has to be close. Ben Cousins’ ‘Such is Life’ gut tatt is an ode to the supposed final words of infamous Aussie bushranger Ned Kelly. Cousins’ battle with drug addiction and the law throughout his career have made him an AFL outlaw.