One of football's most famous families will equal another for most games, combined, between a grandfather, father and son at the highest level this weekend.
Jack Silvagni, playing in his 144th match of AFL football, will take the total amount of games played between him, his famous father Stephen, and Stephen's famous father, Sergio, to 695, a number matched only by the revered Kennedys.
It's the latest, timely reminder of the serendipity and romance attached to the father-son draft concession, and, it's as fitting a time as any to take a stroll down memory lane and appreciate the generational greatness that bonds families - players and fans alike.
***Disclaimer: this list is specific to grandfather-father-son or father-son lineages. Bands of brothers, such as the Danihers and Selwoods, cousins, such as the Riewoldts, and marital bonds, such as the one that famously joined the Tuck and Ablett clans have not been considered as one unit.***
1. Abletts
There could really only be one surname atop this list, right?
The Gary Abletts are both consensus top 10, if not top five players in league history.
Absolute freaks with the football in hand, possessing other-worldly balance, field vision, and the uncanny ability to regularly pull off acts other players would not dare to attempt. These two inspired the imagination of fans, irrespective of club allegiances, and have found themselves in the Australian Football Hall of Fame because of this.
"Senior", in 248 games, the bulk of which were in Geelong's hoops, never won a premiership or a Brownlow, but boasts a Norm Smith Medal, three Coleman Medals and the distinction of being part of the prestigious 1000+ goal club.
"Junior", in his 357 games, won two Brownlows (very nearly three), two premierships, five Leigh Matthews trophies as the AFLPA's Most Valuable Player, and was three times the Coaches Association's Champion Player of the Year.
There's also a lazy seven best and fairests between them, as well as 605 games, some 12 All-Australian nods (likely more, if not for the late introduction of the concept in its current form), and another 12 club-leading goalkicker gongs too.
Throw in Gary Jnr's brother Nathan, and the totals jump to 639 games, with an extra premiership to boot. What's in a name, hey?
