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Whateley

Peter Blucher | 300 Gamers - Footy Nerd Central (29.04.26)

29 Apr 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

1.364 - 11.639 Gerard Whateley

Whiteley on SEN. The climax of our Wednesdays is nerdy stats. Peter Blucher puts all of this together for us. Hello to you, Pete. How are you, Gerard? I'm well.

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Chapter 2: What is the significance of the 300 gamers in footy?

11.659 - 17.948 Gerard Whateley

300 gamers, the mark of longevity and excellence in our game is our topic today.

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17.988 - 35.569 Peter Blucher

Yeah, of course, prompted by the fact that Lachie Neal and Mark Blitzer have become number 111 and 112 players. To this mark last week, they represent 0.09% of more than 13,300 players all time. So they're a very, very, very elite bunch. Love it.

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35.83 - 37.772 Gerard Whateley

Who was the first one to get there?

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38.594 - 52.715 Peter Blucher

The first one to name that a lot of people will know very, very well was Gordon Coventry. Of course, back in 1937, at the age of 35, he played his 300th. Very interesting character and obviously... a great, great, great of the game.

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52.895 - 75.799 Peter Blucher

Eighth of 10 children of Henry and Jane Coventry, born in Diamond Creek, attended Millenvik State School, but not for very long because he went to work in his father's orchard. He played at Diamond Creek in the High River District Leeds, which popped up after World War I. Made his debut at 18 at Harford as Collingwood searched for a replacement for the great Dick Leeds.

75.819 - 79.903 Peter Blucher

Losed a full 40 in 1923 and then just took all before him.

79.985 - 83.59 Gerard Whateley

So he had a whole list of significant firsts, didn't he?

84.031 - 109.165 Peter Blucher

Yeah, not just the first 300 games. He was the first to kick 100 goals in the season. He did it four times. And, of course, the really big one was the first of 1,000 goals, 239 games. It took him in 1934. 1299 all-time was the record until Tony Lockett comes along in 1999. And he played in 10 grand finals. I mean, it's just freaky. In the 10 grand finals, we think two or three is a lot these days.

109.347 - 128.508 Peter Blucher

Lost the first four, won the next five, lost the last one. But he also missed one in 1936 when they won. He was suspended for striking for the only time in his career. He had a whole bunch of boils on his neck. And Richmond defender Joe Murdoch kept hitting him there. So he retaliated, got caught, bang, missed.

Chapter 3: Who was the first player to reach 300 games in footy history?

128.608 - 147.231 Peter Blucher

He missed out on the grand final. But he took Coventry 18 seasons to get to 300 games. Simon Madden was 15 seasons. And Coventry still had the benefit. in that 300 games, the 31 finals. So it just shows, I mean, those days they started out while playing 12, 14, 16 games a season. It's a different business now.

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147.751 - 152.876 Gerard Whateley

And for a long time, until Fred Fanning kicked his 18, he had the most goals in a game too.

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153.476 - 166.928 Peter Blucher

Yeah, he kicked 17 in his 171st game against Fitzroy Vic Park. As I said, Fred Fanning came along in 1947 with 18 and his 17 was equaled by Dunstall in 1992.

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167.161 - 174.213 Gerard Whateley

The first player was Gordon Coventry. Who got there? What was the progression of it?

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175.134 - 177.758 Peter Blucher

Well, at first, it just shows the greats.

Chapter 4: What notable achievements did Gordon Coventry accomplish?

177.778 - 197.337 Peter Blucher

These really are greats and greats of the games. It was Coventry, Jack Dyer, Dick Reynolds, Ted Witten, John Nicholls. Kevin Murray, John Rantel, Kevin Barber, Len Thompson. And then I guess one that people think of as not just a footballer, he was more than that, but Sam Newman was the 10th in 1980. So it's been a real flood since then.

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197.975 - 207.05 Gerard Whateley

Yes, and that's why the marker is so revered. When those 10 players are the first to reach it, it ripples through the years. Okay, so the youngest to get there?

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207.09 - 222.391 Peter Blucher

The youngest to get there, which I'm disorganised today. I can tell you, the youngest was... It was Simon Madden. He's the only one below 31. He was 30 years, 241. Mark Rusciuto, Russell Green and Nathan Burke were the next three.

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222.992 - 224.153 Gerard Whateley

Most possessions?

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224.834 - 235.927 Peter Blucher

This puts Lockie Neal in perspective. He got to 300 games, 8,217, just ahead of, or well ahead of Scott Pendleby, Robert Harvey and Sam Mitchell.

236.888 - 238.891 Gerard Whateley

Most goals, obviously, Gordon Coventry.

239.632 - 248.822 Peter Blucher

Coventry, 1,273. Lance Franklin, 944. Lee Matthews, 817. Jack Riewoldt, 706.

249.122 - 250.304 Gerard Whateley

Most brown low votes.

251.545 - 272.346 Peter Blucher

Again, this is an interesting one that really does say a bit about Neil as well. Dangerfield tops the list, 236, from Gary Ablett Jr., 232, and Gary Dempsey, 229. Neil had 225 to the end of last year. I reckon he's got at least another six or seven, so he's going to be right pressing up between Ablett and Dangerfield at the top of the list.

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