The 1989 VFL season was the 93rd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL). The season saw 84 Australian rules footballers make their senior VFL debut and a further 25 players transfer to new clubs, having previously played in the VFL. 
Summary
Debuts
| Name
 | 
Club
 | 
Age at debut
 | 
Round debuted
 | 
Games
 | 
Goals
 | 
Notes
 | 
| Marcus Ashcroft
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
17 years, 243 days
 | 
9[1]
 | 
318
 | 
145
 | 
 | 
| John Gastev
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
24 years, 233 days
 | 
1[2]
 | 
113
 | 
41
 | 
Previously played for West Coast.
 | 
| Martin Leslie
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
26 years, 135 days
 | 
1[3]
 | 
107
 | 
11
 | 
 | 
| David Bain
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
22 years, 334 days
 | 
1[4]
 | 
86
 | 
44
 | 
 | 
| Mark Zanotti
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
24 years, 199 days
 | 
9[5]
 | 
64
 | 
5
 | 
Previously played for West Coast.
 | 
| Alex Ishchenko
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
26 years, 362 days
 | 
1[6]
 | 
42
 | 
15
 | 
Previously played for West Coast.
 | 
| Lachlan Sim
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
19 years, 136 days
 | 
2[7]
 | 
21
 | 
5
 | 
 | 
| Chris O'Sullivan
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
21 years, 34 days
 | 
9[8]
 | 
8
 | 
2
 | 
 | 
| Simon Hose
 | 
Brisbane Bears
 | 
21 years, 361 days
 | 
2[9]
 | 
5
 | 
2
 | 
 | 
| Fraser Brown
 | 
Carlton
 | 
18 years, 226 days
 | 
1[10]
 | 
177
 | 
91
 | 
Son of Joyce Brown and grandson of Doug Anderson.
 | 
| Andrew Phillips
 | 
Carlton
 | 
19 years, 92 days
 | 
5[11]
 | 
42
 | 
26
 | 
Uncle of Tom and Ed Phillips.
 | 
| Simon Verbeek
 | 
Carlton
 | 
22 years, 3 days
 | 
1[12]
 | 
38
 | 
33
 | 
 | 
| Glenn Hawker
 | 
Carlton
 | 
28 years, 15 days
 | 
1[13]
 | 
27
 | 
26
 | 
Previously played for Essendon.
 | 
| Simon Minton-Connell
 | 
Carlton
 | 
20 years, 80 days
 | 
15[14]
 | 
19
 | 
50
 | 
Nephew of Peter Hudson and cousin of Paul Hudson.
 | 
| Dominic Fotia
 | 
Carlton
 | 
19 years, 148 days
 | 
6[15]
 | 
18
 | 
4
 | 
 | 
| Andrew McKinnon
 | 
Carlton
 | 
20 years, 247 days
 | 
1[16]
 | 
15
 | 
7
 | 
 | 
| Ashley Matthews
 | 
Carlton
 | 
19 years, 252 days
 | 
18[17]
 | 
9
 | 
3
 | 
 | 
| Paul Payne
 | 
Carlton
 | 
24 years, 41 days
 | 
3[18]
 | 
5
 | 
0
 | 
Previously played for Melbourne.
 | 
| Peter White
 | 
Carlton
 | 
18 years, 313 days
 | 
8[19]
 | 
3
 | 
1
 | 
 | 
| Craig Kelly
 | 
Collingwood
 | 
22 years, 310 days
 | 
4[20]
 | 
122
 | 
43
 | 
Grandson of Bert Kelly.
 | 
| Colin Alexander
 | 
Collingwood
 | 
18 years, 354 days
 | 
1[21]
 | 
24
 | 
28
 | 
 | 
| Heath Shephard
 | 
Collingwood
 | 
19 years, 220 days
 | 
3[22]
 | 
11
 | 
16
 | 
Son of Graeme Shephard.
 | 
| Murray Wrensted
 | 
Collingwood
 | 
24 years, 247 days
 | 
5[23]
 | 
10
 | 
4
 | 
Previously played for West Coast.
 | 
| Brendan Tranter
 | 
Collingwood
 | 
18 years, 114 days
 | 
19[24]
 | 
8
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Terry Hecker
 | 
Collingwood
 | 
19 years, 239 days
 | 
22[25]
 | 
6
 | 
1
 | 
 | 
| Mark Bayliss
 | 
Collingwood
 | 
23 years, 152 days
 | 
7[26]
 | 
4
 | 
6
 | 
 | 
| Simon Taylor
 | 
Collingwood
 | 
18 years, 256 days
 | 
21[27]
 | 
2
 | 
1
 | 
 | 
| Michael Long
 | 
Essendon
 | 
19 years, 181 days
 | 
1[28]
 | 
190
 | 
143
 | 
 | 
| David Grenvold
 | 
Essendon
 | 
23 years, 25 days
 | 
1[29]
 | 
112
 | 
18
 | 
 | 
| Kieran Sporn
 | 
Essendon
 | 
22 years, 215 days
 | 
1[30]
 | 
72
 | 
65
 | 
Brother of Rachael Sporn.
 | 
| Michael Werner
 | 
Essendon
 | 
19 years, 331 days
 | 
6[31]
 | 
40
 | 
60
 | 
 | 
| Andrew Manning
 | 
Essendon
 | 
22 years, 256 days
 | 
18[32]
 | 
25
 | 
20
 | 
Previously played for St Kilda.
 | 
| Craig O'Brien
 | 
Essendon
 | 
19 years, 175 days
 | 
21[33]
 | 
21
 | 
16
 | 
 | 
| Andrew Underwood
 | 
Essendon
 | 
21 years, 260 days
 | 
1[34]
 | 
12
 | 
4
 | 
 | 
| Jason Baldwin
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
19 years, 215 days
 | 
11[35]
 | 
125
 | 
36
 | 
 | 
| Darren Wheildon
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
18 years, 197 days
 | 
9[36]
 | 
70
 | 
160
 | 
 | 
| Brendan McCormack
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
18 years, 277 days
 | 
1[37]
 | 
44
 | 
27
 | 
 | 
| Wally Matera
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
22 years, 125 days
 | 
1[38]
 | 
32
 | 
39
 | 
Brother of Peter and Phillip Matera and father of Brandon Matera. Previously played for West Coast.
 | 
| Carl Dilena
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
22 years, 15 days
 | 
1[39]
 | 
23
 | 
15
 | 
 | 
| Peter Bourke
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
22 years, 355 days
 | 
7[40]
 | 
22
 | 
3
 | 
Previously played for Essendon.
 | 
| Tony Woods
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
19 years, 287 days
 | 
3[41]
 | 
13
 | 
4
 | 
 | 
| Kevin Caton
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
23 years, 333 days
 | 
2[42]
 | 
9
 | 
8
 | 
Previously played for West Coast.
 | 
| Brad Edwards
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
21 years, 38 days
 | 
1[43]
 | 
6
 | 
1
 | 
 | 
| Dean Lupson
 | 
Fitzroy
 | 
20 years, 175 days
 | 
19[44]
 | 
6
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Nigel Kellett
 | 
Footscray
 | 
19 years, 224 days
 | 
17[45]
 | 
101
 | 
41
 | 
 | 
| Justin Charles
 | 
Footscray
 | 
19 years, 332 days
 | 
21[46]
 | 
36
 | 
24
 | 
Son of John R. Charles and nephew of Norm Charles.
 | 
| Tim Harrington
 | 
Footscray
 | 
25 years, 216 days
 | 
4[47]
 | 
18
 | 
0
 | 
Previously played for North Melbourne and Collingwood.
 | 
| John Georgiades
 | 
Footscray
 | 
23 years, 88 days
 | 
1[48]
 | 
15
 | 
27
 | 
Father of Mitch Georgiades.
 | 
| Mark Williams
 | 
Footscray
 | 
22 years, 240 days
 | 
1[49]
 | 
14
 | 
13
 | 
Son of John Williams. Previously played for Carlton.
 | 
| Phillip O'Keeffe
 | 
Footscray
 | 
22 years, 105 days
 | 
1[50]
 | 
9
 | 
19
 | 
 | 
| Tony Evans
 | 
Footscray
 | 
23 years, 83 days
 | 
4[51]
 | 
3
 | 
1
 | 
Previously played for St Kilda.
 | 
| Ken Hinkley
 | 
Geelong
 | 
22 years, 184 days
 | 
1[52]
 | 
121
 | 
58
 | 
Cousin of Gary Rohan. Previously played for Fitzroy.
 | 
| Andrew Rogers
 | 
Geelong
 | 
24 years, 264 days
 | 
6[53]
 | 
75
 | 
2
 | 
Previously played for Essendon.
 | 
| Spiro Malakellis
 | 
Geelong
 | 
21 years, 120 days
 | 
7[54]
 | 
67
 | 
18
 | 
Brother of Tony Malakellis.
 | 
| Adrian Fletcher
 | 
Geelong
 | 
18 years, 289 days
 | 
8[55]
 | 
23
 | 
10
 | 
 | 
| Ray Sterrett
 | 
Geelong
 | 
24 years, 16 days
 | 
2[56]
 | 
20
 | 
7
 | 
 | 
| Tim Bourke
 | 
Geelong
 | 
19 years, 353 days
 | 
1[57]
 | 
5
 | 
0
 | 
Brother of Damian Bourke and uncle of Jordan Bourke.
 | 
| Greg Madigan
 | 
Hawthorn
 | 
19 years, 139 days
 | 
11[58]
 | 
40
 | 
4
 | 
 | 
| Lawrence Bingham
 | 
Hawthorn
 | 
19 years, 308 days
 | 
1[59]
 | 
3
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Matthew Bourke
 | 
Hawthorn
 | 
20 years, 268 days
 | 
10[60]
 | 
1
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Darren Bennett
 | 
Melbourne
 | 
24 years, 96 days
 | 
3[61]
 | 
74
 | 
208
 | 
Previously played for West Coast.
 | 
| Luke Beveridge
 | 
Melbourne
 | 
18 years, 263 days
 | 
7[62]
 | 
42
 | 
41
 | 
2016 AFL Premiership coach. Grandson of Jack Beveridge.
 | 
| John Howat
 | 
Melbourne
 | 
18 years, 317 days
 | 
9[63]
 | 
20
 | 
10
 | 
 | 
| Dannie Seow
 | 
Melbourne
 | 
21 years, 317 days
 | 
1[64]
 | 
7
 | 
2
 | 
Previously played for Collingwood.
 | 
| John Ahern
 | 
Melbourne
 | 
18 years, 203 days
 | 
1[65]
 | 
2
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Tom Kavanagh
 | 
Melbourne
 | 
19 years, 22 days
 | 
7[66]
 | 
2
 | 
1
 | 
Son of Brent Crosswell.
 | 
| Anthony Stevens
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
18 years, 41 days
 | 
19[67]
 | 
292
 | 
127
 | 
 | 
| Wayne Carey
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
18 years, 14 days
 | 
11[68]
 | 
244
 | 
671
 | 
 | 
| Liam Pickering
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
20 years, 309 days
 | 
15[69]
 | 
22
 | 
8
 | 
Son of Michael Pickering.
 | 
| Warwick Angus
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
19 years, 275 days
 | 
3[70]
 | 
13
 | 
3
 | 
 | 
| Derek Kickett
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
26 years, 213 days
 | 
6[71]
 | 
12
 | 
12
 | 
Uncle of Lance Franklin, Jarrod Garlett, Dale Kickett and Byron Pickett. Cousin of Nicky Winmar.
 | 
| Leigh Tudor
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
19 years, 272 days
 | 
13[72]
 | 
8
 | 
6
 | 
 | 
| Andrew Krakouer
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
18 years, 20 days
 | 
17[73]
 | 
8
 | 
8
 | 
Brother of Jim and Phil Krakouer and uncle of Andrew Krakouer.
 | 
| Tim McGrath
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
18 years, 231 days
 | 
9[74]
 | 
7
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Steven Venner
 | 
North Melbourne
 | 
19 years, 209 days
 | 
1[75]
 | 
4
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Barry Young
 | 
Richmond
 | 
18 years, 303 days
 | 
4[76]
 | 
53
 | 
23
 | 
 | 
| Stuart Griffiths
 | 
Richmond
 | 
20 years, 67 days
 | 
2[77]
 | 
17
 | 
14
 | 
 | 
| Cory Young
 | 
Richmond
 | 
18 years, 166 days
 | 
20[78]
 | 
6
 | 
1
 | 
 | 
| Mark Stockdale
 | 
Richmond
 | 
20 years, 284 days
 | 
18[79]
 | 
6
 | 
2
 | 
 | 
| Richard Lounder
 | 
Richmond
 | 
22 years, 100 days
 | 
5[80]
 | 
4
 | 
5
 | 
 | 
| Mark McLeod
 | 
Richmond
 | 
20 years, 165 days
 | 
11[81]
 | 
3
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Brett Mahony
 | 
Richmond
 | 
19 years, 60 days
 | 
10[82]
 | 
2
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Craig Devonport
 | 
St Kilda
 | 
19 years, 92 days
 | 
5[83]
 | 
94
 | 
80
 | 
 | 
| Lazar Vidovic
 | 
St Kilda
 | 
24 years, 105 days
 | 
15[84]
 | 
80
 | 
13
 | 
 | 
| Paul Harding
 | 
St Kilda
 | 
24 years, 301 days
 | 
1[85]
 | 
62
 | 
7
 | 
Previously played for Hawthorn.
 | 
| Danny Craven
 | 
St Kilda
 | 
21 years, 333 days
 | 
1[86]
 | 
33
 | 
10
 | 
 | 
| Peter Russo
 | 
St Kilda
 | 
29 years, 168 days
 | 
3[87]
 | 
33
 | 
20
 | 
Previously played for Hawthorn.
 | 
| Ian Dargie
 | 
St Kilda
 | 
25 years, 249 days
 | 
16[88]
 | 
10
 | 
1
 | 
 | 
| Brian Winton
 | 
St Kilda
 | 
25 years, 359 days
 | 
16[89]
 | 
5
 | 
4
 | 
Previously played for Richmond and Essendon.
 | 
| Robert Handley
 | 
St Kilda
 | 
24 years, 118 days
 | 
6[90]
 | 
4
 | 
2
 | 
Previously played for Hawthorn.
 | 
| Sanford Wheeler
 | 
Sydney Swans
 | 
19 years, 30 days
 | 
6[91]
 | 
43
 | 
7
 | 
 | 
| Robert Teal
 | 
Sydney Swans
 | 
21 years, 356 days
 | 
3[92]
 | 
18
 | 
18
 | 
 | 
| Glenn Page
 | 
Sydney Swans
 | 
19 years, 161 days
 | 
22[93]
 | 
18
 | 
3
 | 
 | 
| Tim Barling
 | 
Sydney Swans
 | 
24 years, 39 days
 | 
17[94]
 | 
13
 | 
2
 | 
Previously played for Richmond.
 | 
| Darren Ogier
 | 
Sydney Swans
 | 
26 years, 115 days
 | 
9[95]
 | 
8
 | 
16
 | 
Previously played for Carlton and North Melbourne.
 | 
| Paul Holdsworth
 | 
Sydney Swans
 | 
19 years, 58 days
 | 
3[96]
 | 
6
 | 
3
 | 
 | 
| Peter Sumich
 | 
West Coast
 | 
21 years, 79 days
 | 
1[97]
 | 
150
 | 
514
 | 
 | 
| Don Pyke
 | 
West Coast
 | 
20 years, 116 days
 | 
1[98]
 | 
132
 | 
70
 | 
Son of Frank Pyke and brother of James Pyke.
 | 
| Craig Turley
 | 
West Coast
 | 
23 years, 219 days
 | 
1[99]
 | 
115
 | 
91
 | 
 | 
| Scott Watters
 | 
West Coast
 | 
20 years, 100 days
 | 
6[100]
 | 
46
 | 
13
 | 
 | 
| Stevan Jackson
 | 
West Coast
 | 
19 years, 52 days
 | 
5[101]
 | 
38
 | 
68
 | 
 | 
| Todd Breman
 | 
West Coast
 | 
23 years, 154 days
 | 
1[102]
 | 
23
 | 
15
 | 
Played first-class cricket for Western Australia.
 | 
| Shane Ellis
 | 
West Coast
 | 
28 years, 185 days
 | 
1[103]
 | 
10
 | 
8
 | 
 | 
| Peter Melesso
 | 
West Coast
 | 
27 years, 137 days
 | 
3[104]
 | 
6
 | 
4
 | 
Previously played for South Melbourne and St Kilda.
 | 
| Clinton Browning
 | 
West Coast
 | 
27 years, 47 days
 | 
4[105]
 | 
4
 | 
5
 | 
 | 
| Peter Higgins
 | 
West Coast
 | 
22 years, 243 days
 | 
11[106]
 | 
4
 | 
0
 | 
 | 
| Richard Geary
 | 
West Coast
 | 
25 years, 211 days
 | 
4[107]
 | 
2
 | 
0
 | 
Previously played for Richmond.
 | 
| Shane Cable
 | 
West Coast
 | 
19 years, 115 days
 | 
12[108]
 | 
1
 | 
0
 | 
Son of Barry Cable.
 | 
References
 | 
|---|
| VFL debuts | 
- 1897
 
- 1898
 
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  | 
|---|
| AFL debuts |  | 
|---|