
In
Australian rules football, a player can
score a goal by kicking the oval ball between the two central goal posts. 298 players are recognised to have scored a goal with their first kick in the sport's premier competition, the
Australian Football League (AFL), known before 1990 as the Victorian Football League (VFL). These players are often said to have joined an "elite" and "exclusive" club.
Rarer still are players who have scored goals from their first two kicks – a mere 40 of these players have been recorded. Of these players, just ten have also scored a goal with their third kick.
Clen Denning (debuted 1935),
Richard Lounder (1989) and
Daniel Metropolis (1992) are the only VFL/AFL players documented to have scored four goals from as many kicks. Denning followed up with goals from his fifth and sixth kicks, an effort that remains unmatched.
On occasion, players have mistakenly been omitted from – and included in – the AFL's official records of the accomplishment. For example,
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...
's
Dave McGlashan scored a goal with his first kick during the
1981 VFL season
The 1981 VFL season was the 85th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 28 March until 26 September, and comprised a ...
. However, his achievement was not recognised until 2010, when he was prompted to come forward after the club's website published an article examining Melbourne players who accomplished the feat. In a contrasting event in 2002,
Essendon Essendon may refer to:
Australia
*Electoral district of Essendon
*Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington
*Essendon, Victoria
**Essendon railway station
**Essendon Airport
*Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League
United King ...
's
Shane Harvey
Shane Harvey is a former Australian rules footballer.
Career
He was drafted by the Essendon Football Club in the 2001 AFL Draft at pick 18 in the first round from the Northern Knights. He played 11 games with Essendon before being delisted a ...
was briefly recognised to have scored goals with his first two kicks, before an Essendon fan pointed out Harvey had in fact kicked a
clearing ball just a few seconds into his debut, prior to his first goal.
Goal with first kick
Multiple goals with first kicks
Notes
References
{{Australian Football League
Goal with first kick
History of Australian rules football
VFL/AFL players