List of VFL debuts in 1987

The 1987 Victorian Football League (VFL) season was the ninety-first season of the VFL. The season saw 143 Australian rules footballers make their senior VFL debut and 67 players transfer to new clubs having previously played in the VFL.

Summary

Summary of debuts in 1987
ClubVFL debutsChange of club
Brisbane1031
Carlton80
Collingwood174
Essendon94
Fitzroy123
Footscray113
Geelong80
Hawthorn60
Melbourne73
North Melbourne81
Richmond103
St Kilda65
Sydney53
West Coast267
Total14367

Debuts

NameClubAge at debutRound debutedGamesGoalsNotes
Brad HardieBrisbane Bears24 years, 168 days1[1]1011921985 Brownlow Medallist. Previously played for Footscray.
Michael RichardsonBrisbane Bears28 years, 11 days1[2]8143Brother of Stephen Richardson. Previously played for Collingwood and Essendon.
Matthew CampbellBrisbane Bears23 years, 56 days1[3]7928
David O'KeeffeBrisbane Bears25 years, 35 days1[4]6825Previously played for Geelong.
Mark WilliamsBrisbane Bears28 years, 218 days1[5]6658Coached Port Adelaide to 2004 AFL Premiership. Previously played for Collingwood.
Brenton PhillipsBrisbane Bears24 years, 142 days1[6]6130Previously played for Essendon.
Phil WalshBrisbane Bears27 years, 12 days1[7]6018Previously played for Collingwood and Richmond.
Geoff RainesBrisbane Bears30 years, 229 days1[8]5920Father of Andrew Raines. Previously played for Richmond, Collingwood and Essendon.
Mark RobertsBrisbane Bears21 years, 272 days1[9]5914Previously played for Sydney.
Steve ReynoldsonBrisbane Bears24 years, 202 days1[10]5817Previously played for Geelong.
Bernie HarrisBrisbane Bears24 years, 214 days1[11]5658Brother of Leon Harris. Previously played for Fitzroy.
Michael GibsonBrisbane Bears21 years, 226 days12[12]523Previously played for Fitzroy.
Mark MickanBrisbane Bears26 years, 56 days1[13]4826Inaugural captain of the Brisbane Bears.
Peter BanfieldBrisbane Bears22 years, 65 days1[14]4516Previously played for Essendon.
Cameron O'BrienBrisbane Bears20 years, 180 days1[15]4465Son of Jim O'Brien. Previously played for Collingwood.
Mark WithersBrisbane Bears23 years, 124 days15[16]3629Previously played for Melbourne.
Chris WatersonBrisbane Bears26 years, 1 days1[17]358Previously played for Essendon.
Dale DicksonBrisbane Bears24 years, 267 days1[18]303Previously played for Melbourne.
John FidgeBrisbane Bears20 years, 327 days1[19]2738Brother of Ted Fidge. Previously played for Melbourne.
Michael McCarthyBrisbane Bears29 years, 168 days1[20]279Previously played for Hawthorn.
Darren CarlsonBrisbane Bears20 years, 32 days11[21]257
Jim EdmondBrisbane Bears28 years, 205 days1[22]1742Brother of Bob Edmond. Previously played for Footscray and Sydney.
Ken JudgeBrisbane Bears29 years, 171 days15[23]1718Previously played for Hawthorn.
Neil HeinBrisbane Bears23 years, 293 days1[24]1512
Frank DunellBrisbane Bears29 years, 25 days3[25]154Father of Sam Dunell. Previously played for Essendon.
Ben HarrisBrisbane Bears23 years, 303 days5[26]146
Rod MacPhersonBrisbane Bears23 years, 303 days8[27]73Brother of Stephen MacPherson. Previously played for Footscray.
Gary ShawBrisbane Bears28 years, 50 days2[28]65Previously played for Collingwood.
Tony BeckettBrisbane Bears26 years, 304 days5[29]62
Stephen WilliamsBrisbane Bears25 years, 310 days3[30]41Son of Fos Williams and brother of Mark and Jenny Williams.
Mark BuckleyBrisbane Bears24 years, 237 days4[31]42Grandson of Jack Buckley, son of Brian Buckley and brother of Stephen Buckley. Previously played for Carlton and St Kilda.
Peter SmithBrisbane Bears27 years, 90 days5[32]41Previously played for North Melbourne.
Stuart GlascottBrisbane Bears22 years, 64 days19[33]40Brother of David Glascott.
Neil GaghanBrisbane Bears24 years, 54 days8[34]30Previously played for Carlton.
Adam GartonBrisbane Bears25 years, 133 days10[35]31
Chris StaceyBrisbane Bears21 years, 106 days11[36]35Previously played for Fitzroy.
Craig EvansBrisbane Bears22 years, 108 days12[37]22Previously played for Geelong.
Darryl CoxBrisbane Bears26 years, 68 days2[38]11Father of Montana Cox. Previously played for Fitzroy and Melbourne.
Rick NormanBrisbane Bears23 years, 268 days4[39]10Previously played for North Melbourne.
Allan GiffardBrisbane Bears23 years, 233 days9[40]10
Jamie DuursmaBrisbane Bears23 years, 282 days21[41]10Previously played for Sydney.
Mark NaleyCarlton26 years, 17 days1[42]6574
Ian AitkenCarlton19 years, 323 days2[43]6110
Richard DennisCarlton20 years, 247 days2[44]5740
Peter SartoriCarlton22 years, 155 days1[45]54119
Ian HermanCarlton22 years, 155 days11[46]4839
Jamie DunlopCarlton21 years, 103 days4[47]213
Mark MajerczakCarlton19 years, 40 days10[48]1720
Michael GallagherCarlton21 years, 0 days7[49]1617
Gavin BrownCollingwood19 years, 184 days1[50]254195
Gavin CrosiscaCollingwood18 years, 194 days1[51]24664
Mick McGuaneCollingwood19 years, 215 days18[52]152128
Michael ChristianCollingwood22 years, 219 days1[53]13321
Craig StarcevichCollingwood19 years, 316 days1[54]124162Uncle of Brandon Starcevich.
Alan RichardsonCollingwood21 years, 357 days7[55]11410Coach of St Kilda 2014–2019.
Paul TuddenhamCollingwood19 years, 342 days21[56]4032Son of Des Tuddenham.
Jason CroallCollingwood19 years, 178 days2[57]374
Graeme AtkinsCollingwood23 years, 163 days3[58]2114Previously played for North Melbourne.
Terry KeaysCollingwood20 years, 11 days4[59]2114Grandson of Fred Keays and uncle of Ben Keays.
Athas HrysoulakisCollingwood18 years, 82 days1[60]1915
Grantley FielkeCollingwood25 years, 10 days1[61]1615
Paul MorwoodCollingwood28 years, 26 days1[62]152Brother of Shane and Tony Morwood. Previously played for South Melbourne, Sydney and St Kilda.
Glenn HowardCollingwood24 years, 131 days1[63]144Previously played for Hawthorn.
Brett YorgeyCollingwood26 years, 238 days11[64]117
Tim HarringtonCollingwood26 years, 238 days8[65]80Previously played for North Melbourne.
Mark PerkinsCollingwood23 years, 63 days17[66]812
Mark OrvalCollingwood19 years, 121 days16[67]77
John MrakovCollingwood18 years, 257 days18[68]30
Neil BrindleyCollingwood19 years, 244 days1[69]10
Greg FaullCollingwood18 years, 164 days19[70]10
Gary O'DonnellEssendon22 years, 110 days22[71]24388
Dean WallisEssendon17 years, 262 days8[72]12742
Chris DaniherEssendon21 years, 117 days17[73]12440Brother of Anthony, Neale and Terry Daniher.
Anthony DaniherEssendon24 years, 66 days5[74]11818Brother of Chris, Neale and Terry Daniher and father of Joe and Darcy Daniher. Previously played for Sydney.
John BarnesEssendon17 years, 335 days6[75]5825
David JohnstonEssendon18 years, 36 days8[76]416
Gavin KeaneEssendon21 years, 37 days3[77]2918
Tony AntrobusEssendon24 years, 361 days2[78]22261983 Magarey Medallist.
Peter FrancisEssendon29 years, 71 days1[79]192Previously played for Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond.
David SullivanEssendon29 years, 71 days13[80]1014Previously played for Hawthorn.
Daryl CunninghamEssendon26 years, 186 days10[81]75Brother of Geoff Cunningham. Previously played for St Kilda.
Brendon MooreEssendon18 years, 21 days22[82]71
Geoffrey ParkerEssendon19 years, 94 days15[83]30Also played cricket for South Australia and Victoria.
Brett StephensFitzroy26 years, 036 days1[84]13352
Matt ArmstrongFitzroy20 years, 27 days1[85]13271
Darren KapplerFitzroy22 years, 64 days1[86]8751
David StrooperFitzroy19 years, 185 days22[87]4328
Keith ThomasFitzroy25 years, 230 days4[88]2815
Mark TrewellaFitzroy20 years, 295 days4[89]234
Tony CarafaFitzroy18 years, 333 days17[90]168
Ken HinkleyFitzroy20 years, 192 days3[91]1121
Darren HandleyFitzroy23 years, 177 days12[92]107Previously played for Collingwood.
Robert BolzonFitzroy19 years, 314 days22[93]53
Chris DuthyFitzroy25 years, 282 days1[94]30
Michael RobertsFitzroy27 years, 316 days11[95]21Previously played for St Kilda and Richmond.
Allan SidebottomFitzroy28 years, 169 days13[96]10Brother of Garry Sidebottom. Previously played for St Kilda.
Paul McLeanFitzroy22 years, 205 days17[97]10Son of Tom McLean and brother of Glenn McLean.
Christopher TaylorFitzroy21 years, 76 days20[98]10
Steven KolyniukFootscray17 years, 141 days20[99]177198
Simon AtkinsFootscray18 years, 103 days2[100]12776Brother of Paul Atkins.
Richard CousinsFootscray24 years, 258 days1[101]6021
Troy MoloneyFootscray20 years, 314 days1[102]364
Phil CronanFootscray27 years, 254 days1[103]265Previously played for St Kilda.
Darren CollinsFootscray19 years, 245 days16[104]2437Previously played for Collingwood.
Lynton FitzpatrickFootscray20 years, 182 days16[105]184
Mark AthornFootscray19 years, 190 days8[106]174
Ron JamesFootscray16 years, 157 days3[107]166
Shane WilliamsFootscray27 years, 268 days7[108]139Previously played for Richmond and Geelong.
Brenton VilcinsFootscray20 years, 317 days1[109]80
Cameron WrightFootscray18 years, 208 days3[110]20
Andrew HowlettFootscray19 years, 291 days6[111]21
Frank LesiputtyFootscray19 years, 312 days15[112]21
Garry HockingGeelong18 years, 185 days3[113]274243Brother of Steve Hocking.
Mark BairstowGeelong23 years, 247 days1[114]146172
Gavin ExellGeelong24 years, 177 days3[115]58113
Dwayne RussellGeelong22 years, 24 days1[116]5051
Sean DenhamGeelong18 years, 116 days21[117]4421
Austin McCrabbGeelong22 years, 208 days21[118]364
Gary CameronGeelong20 years, 359 days11[119]2618
Peter BaldwinGeelong18 years, 328 days17[120]51
Andrew CollinsHawthorn21 years, 360 days4[121]21237
Darrin PritchardHawthorn21 years, 56 days8[122]21194
Anthony CondonHawthorn19 years, 182 days11[123]14549
Paul DearHawthorn20 years, 174 days13[124]120801991 Norm Smith Medallist. Brother of Greg Dear.
Paul HardingHawthorn22 years, 333 days6[125]112
Tony SymondsHawthorn25 years, 41 days1[126]31
Jim StynesMelbourne20 years, 353 days3[127]2641301991 Brownlow Medallist. Grandson of Joe Stynes and brother of Brian and David Stynes.
Todd VineyMelbourne20 years, 363 days1[128]23392Caretaker coach of Melbourne in 2011. Father of Jack Viney and brother of Jay Viney.
Glenn LovettMelbourne17 years, 325 days12[129]12774
Earl SpaldingMelbourne22 years, 17 days1[130]10968Played first-class cricket for Western Australia. Brother of Scott Spalding.
Steven O'DwyerMelbourne21 years, 89 days4[131]8445
Warren DeanMelbourne23 years, 19 days1[132]3225
Doug KoopMelbourne26 years, 263 days18[133]245Previously played for Sydney and North Melbourne.
Dean ChironMelbourne26 years, 120 days16[134]171Previously played for St Kilda and Footscray.
Bradley SparksMelbourne19 years, 254 days6[135]44
Peter KielMelbourne28 years, 206 days5[136]10Previously played for St Kilda.
Craig ShollNorth Melbourne19 years, 187 days15[137]235165
Brett AllisonNorth Melbourne18 years, 312 days2[138]228285Son of Tom Allison.
Alastair ClarksonNorth Melbourne19 years, 68 days15[139]9361
Dean McRaeNorth Melbourne18 years, 142 days2[140]8125
Mark HepburnNorth Melbourne18 years, 337 days18[141]5629
Jeff ChandlerNorth Melbourne21 years, 148 days19[142]504
Paul BryceNorth Melbourne18 years, 343 days13[143]4826
Shaun SmithNorth Melbourne17 years, 300 days4[144]4738
John MossopNorth Melbourne27 years, 286 days1[145]3715Previously played for Geelong.
Tony FreeRichmond18 years, 49 days20[146]13346
Michael MitchellRichmond25 years, 124 days1[147]81103
Andy GoodwinRichmond24 years, 47 days20[148]739
Peter WilsonRichmond23 years, 134 days1[149]5439
Michael ThomsonRichmond25 years, 123 days1[150]4215Previously played for Essendon.
Richard NixonRichmond21 years, 227 days12[151]373Not the U.S. president.
Michael LaffyRichmond19 years, 170 days2[152]260Appeared on the second season of the Australian version of The Mole.
Terry WallaceRichmond28 years, 119 days3[153]117Father of Brent Wallace. Previously played for Hawthorn.
Darren BowerRichmond19 years, 158 days14[154]32Brother of Brendan and Nathan Bower.
Peter BurkeRichmond22 years, 363 days9[155]20Previously played for Fitzroy.
David ButtifantRichmond23 years, 80 days9[156]20
Renato DintinosanteRichmond24 years, 90 days21[157]20
Tony PastoreRichmond21 years, 16 days6[158]10
Nathan BurkeSt Kilda17 years, 92 days7[159]323124
Nicky WinmarSt Kilda21 years, 184 days1[160]230283
Dean RiceSt Kilda21 years, 184 days1[161]11643Father of Bailey Rice.
Ken SheldonSt Kilda27 years, 82 days1[162]5324Father of Sam Sheldon. Previously played for Carlton.
Russell JeffreySt Kilda21 years, 141 days14[163]423
Spiro KourkoumelisSt Kilda23 years, 247 days2[164]3515Previously played for Carlton.
Alex MarcouSt Kilda28 years, 265 days1[165]2417Previously played for Carlton.
Robert NealSt Kilda30 years, 137 days1[166]201Previously played Geelong.
Warwick GreenSt Kilda20 years, 203 days17[167]90
Paul TilleySt Kilda23 years, 50 days21[168]20Previously played for Fitzroy.
Rodney GladmanSt Kilda19 years, 128 days14[169]10
Leon HigginsSydney19 years, 57 days21[170]12280
Neil CordySydney28 years, 12 days4[171]964Brother pf Graeme and Brian Cordy and uncle of Ayce and Zaine Cordy. Previously played for Footscray.
Wayne HenwoodSydney24 years, 164 days1[172]7845
Matthew LloydSydney21 years, 274 days7[173]225
Michael PhylandSydney21 years, 244 days10[174]226
Graeme CordySydney24 years, 199 days7[175]216Brother of Brian and Neil Cordy. Previously played for Footscray.
Michael ByrneSydney28 years, 201 days13[176]2112Previously played for Melbourne and Hawthorn.
Peter QuirkSydney20 years, 138 days12[177]71
Chris LewisWest Coast18 years, 12 days1[178]215259
John WorsfoldWest Coast18 years, 205 days4[179]20937Brother of Peter Worsfold.
Chris MainwaringWest Coast21 years, 106 days3[180]20184
David HartWest Coast23 years, 53 days5[181]18495
Michael BrennanWest Coast21 years, 273 days1[182]17920
Dwayne LambWest Coast25 years, 99 days1[183]15144
Andrew LockyerWest Coast21 years, 292 days5[184]7835
Geoff MilesWest Coast25 years, 78 days1[185]7133Father of Teia Miles. Previously played for Collingwood.
Steve MalaxosWest Coast25 years, 283 days1[186]6630Previously played for Hawthorn.
Phil ScottWest Coast26 years, 85 days3[187]6641
John AnnearWest Coast25 years, 285 days1[188]5840Previously played for Collingwood and Richmond.
Dean TurnerWest Coast27 years, 194 days4[189]5628Previously played for Fitzroy.
Paul PeosWest Coast19 years, 60 days1[190]5534
Dean LaidleyWest Coast20 years, 2 days1[191]5211
Adrian BarichWest Coast23 years, 114 days1[192]4727
Ross GlendinningWest Coast30 years, 193 days1[193]40111Previously played for North Melbourne.
Laurie KeeneWest Coast26 years, 56 days1[194]3638
Mark ZanottiWest Coast22 years, 141 days1[195]366
Alex IshchenkoWest Coast22 years, 141 days1[196]3010
John GastevWest Coast22 years, 236 days2[197]3031
Murray WrenstedWest Coast22 years, 215 days1[198]2912
Wally MateraWest Coast23 years, 201 days1[199]2426Brother of Peter and Phillip Matera and father of Brandon Matera.
Don HolmesWest Coast28 years, 83 days1[200]2340
Andrew MacNishWest Coast21 years, 199 days1[201]2336
Michael O'ConnellWest Coast25 years, 85 days3[202]2013Son of John O'Connell, brother of David O'Connell and uncle of John Williams.
Phil NarkleWest Coast26 years, 59 days1[203]1818Brother of Keith Narkle. Previously played for St Kilda.
Robert WileyWest Coast32 years, 19 days3[204]1824Previously played for Richmond.
Darren BennettWest Coast22 years, 79 days1[205]47Member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.
Glen BartlettWest Coast22 years, 298 days2[206]40
Peter DavidsonWest Coast23 years, 212 days1[207]20
Glenn O'LoughlinWest Coast27 years, 316 days8[208]10
Sean KingWest Coast23 years, 63 days22[209]12
Paul MifkaWest Coast22 years, 24 days22[210]10

References