The 1997 AFL season was the one hundred and first season of the Australian Football League/Victorian Football League. Ninety eight players made their senior debut in the 1997 season, while another 56 players debuted for a new club having previously played in the AFL.

Debuts

Name Club Age at debut Round debuted Games Goals Notes 275162 All-Australian 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2009. Adelaide captain 2008–2010. 76 26 Previously played for Collingwood. Brother of Roger James. 42 2 Previously played for Melbourne. 24 16 Previously played for Melbourne. 23 16 13 23 Previously played for Footscray. 8 5 7 4 6 1 Brother of Clark Keating. 3 1 205 105 Brisbane Lions captain 2007. All-Australian 2002 and 2004. Previously played for Fitzroy. 61 104 Son of Shane Molloy. Previously played for Fitzroy. 35 11 Brother of Michael Voss. 24 17 Previously played for Fitzroy 15 8 Previously played for Fitzroy. 12 3 8 1 Previously played for Fitzroy. 5 1 Previously played for Fitzroy. 5 0 Previously played for Fitzroy. 216 348 Carlton captain 2007, All-Australian 2000, Carlton Best and Fairest 2006 and AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 1). 110 56 AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 10). 105 26 55 13 44 21 40 6 16 5 3 1 Previously played for Collingwood. 1 0 1 0 220 404 Collingwood Leading Goalkicker 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2007. Brother of Saverio Rocca. Previously played for Sydney. 61 23 AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 18). 36 0 29 26 Previously played for Fitzroy, Sydney and Footscray. 19 8 19 12 8 4 Previously played for North Melbourne. 4 0 Previously played for Fitzroy and Hawthorn. 2 0 Previously played for Fitzroy. 184 109 Best and Fairest 2001 and 2005. All-Australian 2001. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998. 126 151 AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 13). 123 46 19 8 13 5 6 0 3 1 1 0 138 61 AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 4). 50 26 AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 5). 33 1 Brother of Nathan Carroll. 11 1 1 0 292 94 All-Australian 2007. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 22). 61 75 AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 6). Brother of Damian and Ryan Houlihan. 53 6 34 9 20 12 Previously played for Hawthorn. 11 2 203 282 Son of Joe Dixon. 149 12 All-Australian 2001. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 5). 93 136 Hawthorn leading goalkicker 1999. Previously played for Geelong. 44 5 Previously played for Collingwood. 29 21 Brother of Shane Crawford. Previously played for Sydney. 22 6 AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 17). Brother of Chris Scott. 2 0 Previously played for Essendon and Fremantle. 1 0 251 56 Melbourne captain 2008–2010. All-Australian 2006. Melbourne Best and Fairest 2006 and 2007. Brother of Anthony and Alex McDonald. 228 428 Melbourne Best and Fairest 2003. Melbourne leading goalkicker 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 14) 138 63 Brownlow Medallist 2000. Melbourne Best and Fairest 2000. AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 10) 110 3 104 41 Brother of Alex and James McDonald 77 29 19 8 Previously played for North Melbourne and Collingwood. 13 6 4 0 Previously played for Adelaide. 120 81 All-Australian 1999. AFL Rising Star 1998. 81 19 Previously played for Melbourne and Fitzroy. 44 6 Previously played for Fitzroy. 33 22 20 19 Previously played for Fitzroy. 5 1 Previously played for Adelaide and Fremantle. 3 5 3 0 255 549 Port Adelaide captain 2006-2008, All-Australian 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2009. Port Adelaide leading goal kicker 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 7). 240 193 Brother of Shaun Burgoyne. 234 182 All-Australian 2006, 2007. Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 2006. AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 192 51 AFL Rising Star winner 1997. 180 245 Port Adelaide leading goalkicker 2002. AFL Rising Star nominee 1998 (Round 13). 173 138 Port Adelaide captain 1997-2000. All-Australian 2001 and 2003. Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 2003. Previously played for Essendon. 170 47 Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 1998. 156 72 All-Australian 2002 147 87 Brother of Brett James. 138 20 Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 1999. Previously played for Fitzroy. 137 76 Port Adelaide captain 2001 – 2005, Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 2002 and All-Australian 2001 and 2002. Grandson of Reg Hickey. Previously played for Fitzroy. 122 8 Port Adelaide Best and Fairest 1997. 90 12 Previously played for West Coast. 86 44 Previously played for Melbourne and Brisbane Bears. 58 2 57 11 Brother of Troy Bond. Previously played for West Coast. 56 45 55 19 54 29 Previously played for Geelong. 50 45 AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 3). 37 102 Port Adelaide leading goalkicker 1997. Previously played for Essendon. 37 1 Previously played for Sydney. 24 11 22 18 Previously played for Adelaide. 20 3 19 6 16 13Previously played for Melbourne and Carlton. 10 0 9 5 Previously played for Fitzroy. 7 2 Previously played for West Coast. 5 4 5 0 4 4 1 0 1 0 Previously played for North Melbourne. 166 34 28 26 6 2 Previously played for Fitzroy. 4 1 2 0 Previously played for Fitzroy. 1 0 1 0 Also represented Victoria in cricket. Son of Tony Jewell. 234 14 221 93 St Kilda Best and Fairest 2000. 60 163 St Kilda leading goalkicker 1997 and 1998. Previously played for West Coast. 22 2 18 5 Previously played for Fitzroy. 9 2 Previously played for Sydney. 198 45 AFL Rising Star nominee 1999 (Round 20). 84 4 Previously played for Fitzroy. 78 45 43 11 AFL Rising Star Award nominee 1997 (Round 11) 41 5 Previously played for Collingwood. 10 2 6 1 4 0 Previously played for Collingwood. 2 0 Previously played for Footscray and the Brisbane Bears. 228 66 AFL Rising Star Award nominee 1997 (Round 14) and 1998 (Round 1). 129 87 All-Australian team 2003. AFL Rising Star nominee 1997 (Round 19). 96 18 33 4 23 15 Previously played for Footscray. 4 0 2 1 Previously played for Fitzroy. Great-grandson of Joe Johnson, son of Percy Cummings and brother of Robert Cummings. 137 206 All-Australian team 2001 and 2002. Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker 2002 and 2003. 108 214 All-Australian team 1998. Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker 1998 and 1999. Previously played for Hawthorn. Son of Peter Hudson. 78 68 63 10 Previously played for Fitzroy. 45 8 3021 2553 Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker 1997. Previously played for Carlton, Sydney and Hawthorn. 20 Son of Barry Round.

References