Jamie Cripps joins small group of AFL/VFL men to play 250-plus games for a club having begun career elsewhere

Jamie Cripps will this weekend become just the ninth player in AFL/VFL history to notch 250 club appearances having previously played elsewhere. The 33-year-old has become a West Coast favourite, playing an important role in the club’s 2018 premiership triumph and tallying the sixth-most goals (311) in Eagles history. But it often gets forgotten that he started AFL life as a St Kilda player, where he debuted alongside current West Coast coach Andrew McQualter - and under the tutelage of Ross Lyon - in making 16 appearances for the Saints in 2011 and 2012 before returning to his home state. Here’s who else is in the small club of men who became 250-gamers at their second AFL/VFL home. Josh Kennedy Cripps and Kennedy already share plenty in common, as premiership forwards who hail from Northampton, and are now in this exclusive club together. Kennedy was a blue-chip No.4 draft pick in 2005 when he joined Carlton before becoming part of one of the most famous trades in AFL history to head to West Coast as part of the Chris Judd deal at the end of 2007. After 22 games in navy blue, Kennedy went on to play 271 with the Eagles - and break Peter Sumich’s longstanding club goals tally - on his way to becoming an undisputed top-10 player in West Coast history and likely Australian Football Hall of Famer. Josh Kennedy Nope, that’s not a misprint repeat - the ‘other’ Josh Kennedy is in this club, too. Having come from a family of Hawthorn royalty, Kennedy struggled to forge his own path at the Hawks, mustering 13 games across three seasons before a life-changing trade to Sydney. He became a heart-and-soul Swan synonymous with the ‘Bloods’ culture on his way to 277 appearances in red and white, including five seasons as skipper, three best-and-fairests, and a 2012 grand final victory against his old club. Nathan Buckley As one of Collingwood’s most beloved figures as a player and coach, it’s sometimes overlooked that Buckley came to the Pies off the back of a one-and-done stint with the Brisbane Bears. Buckley won the first-ever Rising Star award in 1993 and finished second in the Bears’ best-and-fairest award, but always wanted to play in footy’s Victorian heartland and forced his way via trade to the Magpies. There, he became a six-time club champion across 260 games, and is one of just six men in the AFL era to have won both a Brownlow Medal (2003) and Norm Smith Medal (2002). Shaun Burgoyne Burgoyne had a stint at Port Adelaide that most would be thrilled with as a complete career: 157 games, an All-Australian nod, and a role in the 2004 Power premiership. Then, he casually added on another 250 appearances at Hawthorn. The silky-smooth mover was a vital cog in the Hawks’ premiership three-peat from 2013-15 and is the sole player to have featured in 150-plus games at one club and 200-plus at another. Terry Daniher Before his 15-season, 294-game career at Essendon, the oldest of the four famous Daniher brothers was a South Melbourne teenager. Daniher spent two years at the Swans in 1976-77 before going on to play a significant role in Bombers history, holding up the premiership cup as skipper in 1984 and 1985. Justin Madden Speaking of famous Essendon brothers: Justin Madden began his VFL career at the Bombers, alongside his more-established older sibling Simon. But amid a concern around playing time following his 45 appearances in red and black, Madden made the move to Carlton in 1983. He was a ruck star in the Blues’ 1987 and 1995 flags before retiring in 1996 with 287 Carlton appearances to his name. Callan Ward Ward was a Bulldog on the rise when he walked out on the club after 60 games, inking a deal to be a co-captain with the start-up Giants for their inaugural 2012 campaign. He’s been there ever since, racking up 267 appearances and setting the standard for leadership and determination across a career short of bulk individual accolades but one that has commanded no shortage of respect from his rivals across the competition. Scott Thompson Thompson began his AFL journey under Neale Daniher at Melbourne, but requested a trade back to his home state to be closer to his ill brother. He thrived as a mainstay of the Crows’ engine room across 269 games, and remains the club’s all-time leading Brownlow vote-getter with 152.