Top 5 youngest debutants in AFL history ft Tim WatsonÂ
AFL rules state players must be 18 by December 31 of their draft year in order to be eligible to join clubs. This was a result of school players leaving home to play interstate. Some club officials also opine that the draft age should be increased to 19 to allow potential draftees to focus squarely on their basic education.
This development was implemented in the 2009 draft. Previously, players younger than 18 debuted in the AFL.
Debuting early doesn't signify that a player was/is a prodigy because many different teams use younger players for different reasons. A look at the top five youngest players to debut in AFL history reveals a mix of legendary and forgotten players.
Top 5 youngest debutants in AFL history
#5 Wels Eicke
Eicke debuted at 15 years and 315 days for St Kilda in 1909. He started as a rover but cemented himself as one of the greatest defenders of the V/AFL.
Despite his small stature, he had a fine kick and was a strong mark. He won the inaugural St. Kilda Best and Fairest in 1914. He won two more in 1915 and 1919. He was coach captain between 1919 and 1924. He played a total of 194 games and scored 56 goals for the Saints before moving to North Melbourne.
He joined North Melbourne in 1925 and played 21 games for them before returning to St Kilda in 1926 where he played just three games.
He was one of the inaugural inductees into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He was also inducted into the St Kilda Hall of Fame in 2007.
#4 Tim Watson
Watson debuted at 15 years and 305 days for bombers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">Essendon in 1977. He played the ruck rover in Essendon's 1984 and 1985 Grand Final wins. He won Essendon's best and fairest four times; 1980, 1985,1988, and 1989. He won the AFL Players Association MVP award, now known as the Leigh Matthews Trophy in 1989.
Watson left Essendon in 1992 for West Coast Eagles but didn't play a single game because he expressed his desire to retire.
In 1993, Essendon lured him out of retirement but he was unable to play the ruck anymore due to fitness. He was moved to the front line and kicked some important goals to lead the Bombers to the flag that year.
He retired for good in 1994. He was sixth on Essendon's Champions of Essendon list in 2002.
#3 Albert Collier
Collier debuted at 15 years and 297 days for Collingwood in 1925. He initially played as a forward but eventually established himself as a center half-back. He was part of the Collingwood team that won four flags in a row between 1927 and 1930. This feat remains unequaled to date. He won a Brownlow for his 1929 season performance.
He left the Magpies in 1931 but returned in 1933 and was the vice-captain from 1935 till 1939. He won two more premierships in 1935 and 1936.
He was forced into retirement by the Collingwood committee in 1940. He went to Fitzroy in 1941 and played 12 games.
Albert was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and was named a center half-back in Collingwood's Team of the Century.
#2 Keith Bromage
Keith Bromage debuted for Collingwood against Richmond in 1953. He was 15 years and 287 days. He played 28 games and kicked 30 goals before leaving Collingwood in 1956.
He joined Fitzroy in 1958, played 41 games, and scored 48 goals before he left Fitzroy in 1961.
#1 Claude Clough
He holds the record of the youngest player to debut in the V/AFL, at 15 years and 209 days. Until March 2012, he was mistaken for Claude Lindsay Clough who was born in 1880, while he was born in 1884.
His first appearance for the Saints was their first victory in the VFL since they joined in 1897. The result against North Melbourne was overturned after a week to give St Kilda a one-point win over them. After 23 games and eight goals, he retired at 16 on the back of 22 straight losses with St Kilda. He died in 1922 at 37.