The Top 10 Father-Son Combinations In The Game

It's Father's Day, so it's worth having the day to celebrate the dads who have etched out a handy footy career.

There's a lot of romance about the fathers of the AFL, forging out an excellent career at AFL level and then having it continue through their son years on.

There are some sensational players running around at the moment who are there thanks to their sensational fathers, so we've ranked the best currently in the league.

1. Gary Ablett snr and Gary Ablett jnr

You'll be hard pressed to find someone who can argue the Abletts don't belong at the top. Both can mount a claim to being the best player of their era, let alone all time. Ablett snr kicked a lazy 1030 goals across 248 games, winning three Coleman Medals, a Norm Smith Medal and an AFL Team of the Century spot. His son might have a better CV yet: 302 games, 386 goals, eight All-Australians in a row, two premierships and two Brownlows.

2. Tim Watson and Jobe Watson

Both the Watsons have been terrific for the Bombers. Tim made his debut at 15 and won three flags and four best and fairests over a long career. Jobe losing his 2012 Brownlow Medal due to Essendon's doping scandal will cloud his best, but despite that he has been a sensational player and leader for the Dons.

3. David Cloke and Travis Cloke

Both the Clokes more than made their name in the AFL. David was excellent across 333 games for Richmond, Collingwood and then Richmond again. Out of David's three sons, Travis has been the best, playing 256 games and kicking 452 goals, including four leading goalkicker awards, two All-Australian nods and a premiership in 2010.

4. John Kennedy jnr and Josh Kennedy

Both the Kennedys continued the strong lineage started by John Kennedy snr, who played and coached for Hawthorn. Kennedy jnr made Hawthorn's hall of fame with 241 games and four flags, while Josh changed direction, moving to Sydney for more opportunity and forging his own name, with three best and fairests, three All-Australian nods, a premiership, an inaugural Gary Ayres Medal last year as well as the captaincy this season.

5. John Murphy and Marc Murphy

There was no father-son rule activated here - Marc passed on Brisbane and went to Carlton as the number one pick in 2005 instead - but that doesn't discredit the careers both have had. John Marc has skippered the Blues for five years, winning All-Australian honours as well as an AFLCA award in 2011

6. Jack Hawkins and Tom Hawkins

Tom Hawkins had a handy career of his own, playing 182 games for the Cats between 1973 and 1981. Tom has already surpassed that, though. He's already cracked 208 games, kicking an impressive 435 goals, with 328 of those over the last six years. It includes two premierships, five leading goalkicker awards, an All-Australian spot and a best and fairest.

7. Tony Liberatore and Tom Liberatore

Tony earned his way into the Western Bulldogs' team of the century, playing 283 excellent games for the Western Bulldogs, including a Brownlow Medal in 1990 and a best and fairest the year after. Tom won a best and fairest in 2014 too, and did what Tony couldn't, winning a premiership in 2016 and giving one of the better post-match interviews you'll see.

8. Barry Mitchell and Tom Mitchell

Barry was a top player at Sydney, Collingwood and Carlton across a 221-game career, including an All-Australian spot and a best and fairest with the Swans in 1991. Tom has definitely inherited those ball-magnet genetics, earning a gig in the All-Australian midfield after setting the record for most disposals in a home and away season.

9. Todd Viney and Jack Viney

Todd earned his way into Melbourne's team of the century for his hardness, skippering the side and winning two best and fairests in his 233 games at the Dees. Those traits certainly didn't miss Jack: he's already been named co-captain of the Demons and won a best and fairest, all before he turned 23 in April this year.

10. Anthony Daniher and Joe Daniher

Anthony had a great career across six years at Sydney and seven at Essendon, earning All-Australian honours. Joe, remarkably, has won four leading goalkicker awards at the Bombers in five seasons, capped off by a brilliant 2017, in which he became one of the best forwards in the game and was named in the All-Australian team.