Kids of AFL stars and WAG influencers following in their dad’s footsteps, on and off footy field
The kids of some of the AFL’s biggest names and most influential WAGs are showing promise as rising footy stars — with the skills and courage of one undeniable. And, no, it’s not a son of a gun.
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The children of some of the AFL’s biggest stars and most influential WAGs are showing silky skills at Auskick and on Victoria’s footy fields.
Others are also following in their father’s footsteps, but in life loves rather than sport.
Here’s what eight are up to, on and off the footy field.
One junior player in particular shows huge promise as a rising footy star.
And no, it’s not a son of gun, it’s a girl who channels Richmond great Dusty Martin — and refuses to be argued with, when she’s chasing or got the ball.
Mackenzie Cotchin
The daughter of former Tiger Trent Cotchin and his influencer wife Brooke looks to be an AFLW gun in the making.
In photos recently posted by her proud mum, young Mackenzie Cotchin is seen not only showing huge courage in tackling boys almost twice her size, but also breaking away from the pack, booting the ball, demonstrating impressive speed and giving the opposition the signature Dusty Martin “don’t argue” hand block treatment.
“Kenzie girl doing her thing!” posted Brooke on Instagram, to which followers replied “Go Kenzie. ️The tackle on the young boy twice her size!”, “Don’t argue with”, “Definitely be a Tigers AFLW star in 10 years”, “Look at her go! Fearless”, “Do we get her in AFLW under father/daughter rule or what?”, “Like daughter like father, she is looking like the next Cotchin to play for Richmond” and “you go girl!”
The Cotchins have three children, Parker, Harper and Mackenzie.
Bartel boys
The youngest son of ex WAG Nadia and her former husband, Geelong great Jimmy Bartel, started Auskick this year.
Henley — a look-a-like of his dad — donned footy gear for the first big day of the season.
“A big weekend of boys sport and Henley starting Auskick for the first time. He was so excited. I honestly don’t know how people with more than two kids manage all the weekend sport timings,” mum Nadia posted on Instagram.
The Bartels have two boys, Aston and Henley, and both show great sporting skills — not limited to Aussie rules.
Judd kids
The children of former West Coast Eagles and Carlton star Chris Judd and his Queen WAG wife, Bec, have good genes for sporting success.
On Mother’s Day Bec posted: “Bacon + egg roll for brekky at footy game 1, quick trip home to unwrap gifts, 2 more footy games, home hang + sauna, got ready to go out, Billie did Tom’s hair, dinner at Mr Miyagi, kids loved it despite Tom’s face, ice cream at Pidapipo.
Pretty lucky to be Mum to these 4 rockstars.”
Bec shares four children with her former footy champ husband, including eight-year-old twins Tom and Darcy, daughter Billie, 10, and Oscar, 12
Pendlebury kids
The kids of Collingwood star and former captain Scott Pendlebury and his wife Alex have two next generation Pies in the making, with this season being young Darcy’s first.
The pair have two children, Jax and Darcy.
“2 auskicker’s in the house! Darcy’s first go this season. Amazing morning! @aflauskick,” Alex recently posted.
Max Murphy
The young son of former Blues captain Marc Murphy, Max, has pulled on his footy boots at Auskick this season also.
“No chill waiting for the first bounce! Go Blues! @marcmurphy3 @carlton_fc,” Marc’s influencer wife, Jessie, posted.
Asked if young Max was heading to Auskick, Jessie replied: “Yes! The @aflauskick season just kicked off! He had been counting down for it to start!”
“If possible put on the ozkick (sic) shirt & join in to help — it’s the most rewarding thing to do even if you can’t kick a footy. You only get one chance at being a part of your child’s footy experiences — in the blink of an eye Max will be growing up & not wanting your input as much. cheers from a long past ozkick dad (& mum),” one person commented.
Grace ‘Gigi’ Ablett
The daughter of Geelong Football Club and Gold Coast Suns legend Gary Ablett Jr and mum Jordan, Grace, has shirked AFL for the soccer field, but with her superior sporting genes is likely to excel in kicking any shape of ball!
The Abletts have three children, the eldest Levi — who has a degenerative disease and is unable to walk or talk — Grace and baby Ezra.
While Levi’s smiling face is routinely shown in Jordan’s photos, Grace’s is not — with photos of the pair’s daughter typically showing her back or with her face turned away from the camera.
“We have a soccer player in the house! Go Gigi!” Jordan posted earlier this year.
Henry Hawkins
It’s life on the land that the toddler son of Cats champ Tom Hawkins and his influencer wife Emma appears to enjoy the most.
And it’s something his farmer-footballer dad loves also.
In an adorable video posted to Instagram, Emma shows the little fella amazingly driving a toy ute by himself, donning an Akrubra hat and loading hay into the tray at a farm shed — before taking off again.
“Farmer Henry … refuses to hold his own milk bottle still. But can drive himself over to the sheds now. 😅 hectic, but all kinds of cute H.H 🤠 #farmlife,” posted Emma.
Henry Hawkins is the little brother of sisters Arabella and Primrose.
George Dangerfield
The wild child of Geelong Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield and his wife Mardi shares his dad’s love of the ocean, fishing and also hanging about in the shed, with tools.
George Dangerfield appears to love the sea as much as his dad, and throwing in a line and hooking a fish when he can.
George is the eldest of the Dangerfield children, with younger sisters Felicity and Winnifred.
Originally published as Kids of AFL stars and WAG influencers following in their dad’s footsteps, on and off footy field
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