Col Hutchinson
timeon Our AFL history guru answers your queries.
NAME GAME
AFL mystery men
Kings of clubs
� The monarch featured much in the creation of names during the Middle Ages. On current lists there are two Kings, a surname which started out as a nickname for someone who acted in a kingly manner or who had played the part of a king in one of the many medieval pageants or, rarely, someone who had served in the king’s household. However, a player with a royal name that is not so obvious is Ben Cunnington. Cunnington is a variation of Conington, the name of two English villages. But Conington itself derives from the Old English words cyning (king) and tun (“enclosure”), which became the modern word “town”. So, Cunnington is King’s Town and is equivalent to Kingston, the name of several League players, notably the fine Magpie premiership half-back of the 1950s, Ron Kingston. King was a nickname given to Wayne Carey; and was used in newspapers for Dick Reynolds (‘King Richard’) and Graham Arthur (‘King Arthur’). KEVAN CARROLL
70 AFL RECORD visit aflrecord.com.au
Jack Louis Cliff � Cliff played 32 matches and kicked eight goals for St Kilda from 1940-42. He played as a back pocket, half-back fl anker and half-forward fl anker and wore No. 26. During his first season, he earned two Brownlow Medal votes. He was born on May 23, 1919, and played his early football with West Broken Hill.
FAMILY FEUD: Former Carlton
player Cory McGrath and brother Toby were on opposing teams in last month’s state match between the VFL and the WAFL.
Last month, when the WAFL played the VFL at Leederville, the McGrath brothers (Toby and Cory) were in the opposing teams. Has that happened previously in a state match? DAVE CLEMENT, APPLECROSS, WA
CH: At this stage, I have just
investigated encounters played under the State of Origin banner (1977-2008). There has been just one case of siblings being selected in opposing squads. During the Bicentenary Carnival played in Adelaide, on March 4, 1988, at Norwood Oval,
the Riewoldt brothers were fierce rivals. Chris, the father of Richmond spearhead Jack, played for Tasmania and his brother, Peter, represented Queensland, with the team from the Apple Isle winning by 12 points. Chris and Peter are uncles of St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt. WRITE TO ANSWER MAN The Slattery Media Group 140 Harbour Esplanade Docklands, 3008 or email michaell@slatterymedia.com
Carl Norman Schaefer � Born in 1894 at St Kilda, Schaefer made one appearance for the Saints as a wingman in round nine, 1920, against Fitzroy at the Junction Oval, after being recruited from Oakleigh. He is one of three Schaefers to play at the elite level. Keith represented South Melbourne 102 times between 1947 and 1953, and Robert played 11 games for Richmond in 1993.
Should you have any further information regarding the above mystery men, including their date of death, contact Col Hutchinson on (03) 9643 1929 or col.hutchinson@afl.com.au.