Exciting debuts in recent memory

**snajik** · 19th March 2008, 08:30 AM

With all the excitement attached to perceived round 1 debuts I?ve been trying to recall debuts in recent times that have been memorable. Off the top of my head:

Heath Grundy

Sensational debut against Richmond with three goals and a swag of marks at the SCG. Yet to play a game to match it but showed his potential in a comfortable Sydney victory.

Tadhg Kennelly

Looked awkward in the preceding sequence of reserve games that he played prior to his debut, but seemed to have the ball on a string when playing with the big boys racking up possessions at will.

Ed Barlow

18 possessions on debut last season against Brisbane in Round 20. Like Grundy yet to surpass this effort.

Brett Kirk

3 goals on debut back in 1999 in a side that went down to the evil Kangaroos. His career took a bit of a dip in the following couple of seasons as he tried to find his way but has never looked back following the appointment of Roos as coach.

Anyone missing here? I?m thinking first gamers here, not recruits from other clubs playing their first games in the red and white.

**RogueSwan** · 19th March 2008, 08:50 AM

Ryan Fitzgerald?
Didn't Doyle have a good debut or was that just a season opener against the Blues?

**stellation** · 19th March 2008, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by RogueSwan

Ryan Fitzgerald?

Stunning debut. 5 goals, then had a bag of 4 a couple of games later. Ahhh, what could have been. Poor guy

**Plugger46** · 19th March 2008, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by RogueSwan

Ryan Fitzgerald?
Didn't Doyle have a good debut or was that just a season opener against the Blues?

Yeah Fitzgerald kicked 5 against the Saints in the first game of 2000.

Nah, I'm almost certain Doyle's first game was against Richmond at the dome, when we won by a point.

It depends how far you want to go back. O'Loughlin's debut was pretty handy.

**AnnieH** · 19th March 2008, 09:58 AM

Goodesy's debut was inspiring.

**snajik** · 19th March 2008, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Plugger46

Yeah Fitzgerald kicked 5 against the Saints in the first game of 2000.

Nah, I'm almost certain Doyle's first game was against Richmond at the dome, when we won by a point.

It depends how far you want to go back. O'Loughlin's debut was pretty handy.

Yeah there's a couple of fine debuts that eluded me at the time of writing.

I was at Fitzy's debut. Round 1 2000 a victory v the Saints. Our first ever game at Docklands.

Micky O kicked 3? I think in a trouncing of Adelaide at the SCG. He wasn't wearing the 19 then though and a bit on the skinny side. Possibly wore the # 38?

**Plugger46** · 19th March 2008, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by snajik

Micky O kicked 3? I think in a trouncing of Adelaide at the SCG. He wasn't wearing the 19 then though and a bit on the skinny side. Possibly wore the # 38?

Yeah spot on. Behind at 3 qtr time and ended up winning by about 10 goals. Great day, given that we didn't will all that often then!

**AnnieH** · 19th March 2008, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Dr Diabolical

Not even close.

A little kid thrown in the deep-end of the ruck and doing an admirable job not inspriational?

I distinctly remember saying to the bloke who sits next to me at the footy that big things will happen for Adam Goodes. I'm just happy with the knowledge that once again, I was right.

**AnnieH** · 19th March 2008, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Dr Diabolical

He didn't ruck in his first game. I had a few possessions and kicked a goal. Nothing particularly inspirational about that.

It was his v i b e. He has been a class act since day one.

From his player profile on the swans site ...

The best on ground for Horsham/North Ballarat in the 1997 Under-18's grand final was Sydney's third pick - number 43 overall - in the 1997 AFL National Draft. After spending his first year in the reserves, he burst onto the scene in 1999 when filling in for injured ruckman Greg Stafford and won the season's Norwich Rising Star award despite missing three games with a knee injury. He proved extremely reliable playing every game since the second last round in 1999 (168 consecutive matches to the end of 2006) and versatile by playing in the ruck, on a flank or at either end because of his height, mobility, tremendous leap and good hands.

I guess everyone sees everything different.

**Go Swannies** · 19th March 2008, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Annie Haddad

It was his v i b e. He has been a class act since day one.

Weren't there threads here about how Goodes should be Baddes and how he should never play for us again? And they were right - what has he given us since?

Inconsistent.