Top draft picks given new nicknames at AFL clubs
PIGEON, Daryl and Fridge. Catch up on the new nicknames of your club’s recruits and the hilarious and sometimes baffling stories behind them.
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WHEN a fresh-faced recruit arrives at an AFL club, there is a process that must be followed.
The draftee is assigned a jumper number and a locker. And a nickname.
The nicknames handed out to some of last year’s top draft picks reveal the creativity of their teammates — in most cases, anyway.
Have you heard a nickname we’ve missed? Leave a comment below
ANDY MCGRATH (ESSENDON) — PIGEON
The No. 1 draft pick’s new nickname was cemented when an unknown player left a packet of birdseed in his locker before Christmas. The origin is McGrath’s namesake and Australian cricket great Glenn McGrath, who famously had the same nickname. He was given the moniker by NSW teammate Brad McNamara who, upon first laying eyes on the fast bowler’s lil-white pins, said: “You’ve stolen a pigeon’s legs, McGrath”.
Looks like the new nickname is going to stick #pigeon #kk pic.twitter.com/FR6VrZWOV7
â Andrew McGrath (@Andy_McGrath1) December 21, 2016
HUGH MCCLUGGAGE (BRISBANE LIONS) — BAGS
His new Brisbane teammates didn’t have to work too hard on that one.
KOBE MUTCH (ESSENDON) — THE EEL
The former Bendigo Pioneer picked up a new nickname at his first pool session as a Bomber. “I think it’s the way I swim,” he revealed in a video on the club website. If it’s a reference to Equatorial Guinea Olympian Eric Moussambani, his freestyle may need some work.
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RYAN GARTHWAITE (RICHMOND) — DARYL
The Tigers’ final pick at No. 72 in the draft was quickly initiated into footy club culture, with ‘Garth Vader’ an early nickname before Jack Riewoldt came up with the reference to singer Daryl Braithwaite.
NICK LARKEY (NORTH MELBOURNE) — SOUV
As in Souv-laki.
JOSH BEGLEY (ESS) — FRIDGE
Rating Essendon’s recruits in December, veteran Bomber Ben Howlett marked draft bolter Begley as one to watch, and also revealed his interesting nickname: “One of the other young boys that I’m really interested in is Josh Begley — we call him The Fridge — he’s the Ollie Wines type and he’s looking a beauty so I’m really excited to see how those young guys go.”
SAM DRAPER (ESS) — DRAPES OR SAMMY
Not as much creativity here.
ESAVA RATUGOLEA (GEEL) — SAV
The Cats’ newest excitement machine has followed a footy tradition by adopting a much easier to pronounce version of his unusual name (his parents are Fijian). That’s no shame, just ask Poppy, Gia and Dipper.