5 players with most debut goals in AFL history ft Scott Cummings
An AFL forward is characterized by their ability to score accurately and effectively. There is no better way for a forward to announce their abilities than to score goals early on in their careers.
It gets even better when they score on their debuts. Some forwards have dazzled the crowds with goal-fests on their debuts. This article lists the forwards who have scored the most goals in their debut games.
5 players with most debut goals in AFL history
#5 Scott Cummings
Cummings was pick #20 in the 1992 AFL draft. Essendon got him after trading Richard Ambrose, Ed Considine and Michael Werner. He made his debut against Sydney, scored eight and earned a nomination for the AFL Rising Star award. He scored 32 goals and finished the season as the leading goal kicker.
He was traded to Port Adelaide after 40 games and 83 goals for the Bombers
He kicked 70 goals in his debut season for Port. He struggled with injuries before he was traded again to Collingwood where he only played five games before retiring at 28.
#4 John Georgiades
Georgiades made his debut in the WAFL for Subiaco in 1986, scoring 65 goals in 22 games. He was then drafted by Footscray in the 1988 VFL draft. He scored eight goals against Carlton in his debut game. He played 14 more games for Footscray and left in 1991.
#3 Warren Ralph
Ralph started his career in the WAFL but made his debut in the VFL for Carlton in 1984. In round 1, they took on Melbourne who were minor premiers in the 1983 season. He kicked nine goals for his side.
He struggled with injuries and was unable to play out of opposition team tactics. He shuffled between the senior team and the reserves. After his fallout with coach Robert Walls in 1986, he returned to the WAFL.
#2 Bill Wood
Wood joined Footscray after impressing in the tryouts in 1944. On his debut game, they faced Collingwood. He scored nine goals to hold the record at the time. He finished the season with 51 goals. He was the top goal-kicker for five seasons. He left Footscray in 1951.
#1 John Coleman
Coleman was first invited to train with Essendon in 1946 but was considered too young for senior football. For the next two seasons, he played practice matches and did preseason training with them.
In the 1949 season, he was noticed by Richmond and almost lured away. He got his chance in the first game of the season. He scored a goal with his first kick and 11 more to set the unbeaten record for most goals kicked on debut. He scored his 100th goal in the final moments of the Grand Final against Carlton. He also holds the record for most goals scored in a debut season.
He has the second-highest goal average in the history of the VFL/AFL (with 5.48), kicking 537 goals in 98 matches. He was also known for his high-flying marks.
He retired after a knee injury ended his career at 25. The VFL named the award for the leading goal kicker at the end of the home and away rounds the Coleman Medal in 1981.