An SMS from a mate posed a question that got me stumped: “Is Karmichael Hunt the first person to have played at the elite level in both AFL and rugby league?” I couldn’t think of anyone else who has.
The closest was Adrian Barich, one of the original West Coast Eagles, who later crossed to rugby league and was listed by the Western Reds during their season in Super League, but didn’t play a senior game.
But the SMS, along with an article on The Roar by Ryan O’Connell, got me thinking about players who have represented at an elite level in multiple sports.
Players who have played elite level Aussie Rules and cricket are legion. Names such as Sam Loxton, Laurie Nash, Keith Miller, Max Walker and Simon O’Donnell have played Test cricket and also played in the then-VFL. Craig Bradley, in the top 10 for the most AFL appearances, also played Shield cricket for both South Australia and Victoria.
Jamie Siddons, veteran South Australian cricketer, also played for the Swans when South first moved up to Sydney.
With lengthening seasons, and more rigorous pre-season training regimes, it’s getting harder to represent in multiple sports.
Players in the past had elite careers concurrently in two sports, but now a player will have to stop playing one sport in order to take up a career in another. Nick Jewell may be the last in the line to have had concurrent cricket and AFL careers.
Ray Lindwall, one of the great Australian fast bowlers, was also an elite rugby league player. Graeme Hughes represented NSW in both rugby league and cricket.
Many players have made it to the top in both rugby union and rugby league. In rugby’s amateur days, defections to league and the opportunity to earn money, were commonplace.
In more recent times, the likes of Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and Sonny Bill Williams have gone the other way; although Rogers, Tuqiri and Sailor eventually returned to league.
Using his height and ability to tap the ball, Dean Brogan has taken premiership honours in two codes, having won an NBL championship for the Adelaide 36ers and an AFL flag with Port Adelaide.
Anthony Mundine, after winning a premiership with Brisbane and appearing in a grand final with St George, left rugby league to take up a career in boxing. John Hopoate has also made the switch.
Several Gaelic football players have made the switch to AFL, the most famous being the great Melbourne ruckman Jim Stynes. The Swans have two former players of other codes on their books, with Gaelic footballer Tadhg Kennelly and Canadian rugby international Mike Pyke now playing AFL for Sydney.
Brian Booth represented Australia in hockey in the 1956 Olympics, and would later captain Australia in cricket. Ric Charlesworth was another hockey international who also played first-class cricket for Western Australia.
Darren Bennett made a career for himself after his AFL days were over, going to America and competing in the NFL. Sav Rocca and Ben Graham have also successfully made the switch to American Football.
But perhaps the biggest sporting all-rounder of them all was Victor Richardson. Not only did he captain Australia in cricket and South Australia in Aussie Rules, but also represented Australia in baseball, won the South Australian tennis title and represented South Australia in golf.
Among the women, Elysse Perry is a current standout, being a concurrent international in both cricket and soccer. Nova Peris-Kneebone won Olympic gold in hockey and later represented Australia in athletics.
And no doubt there are many others.