NOTBALE RECENT AUSTRALIAN FATHER-SON COACH AND PLAYER COMBINATIONS
LINDSAY AND ANDREW GAZE (NBL)
The pick of the lot and one of few success stories. Andrew only ever played under Lindsay at NBL level as the pair won two championships for the Melbourne Tigers. The shooting guard also played in his first Olympics in 1984 under his father, before going on to play in another four. Lindsay is the only male Australian coach in the FIBA Hall of Fame, with Andrew the only male Australian player.
BRANKO AND JASON CULINA (A-League)
Socceroo Jason made his professional debut under father Branko at Sydney United in the NSL days of 1996-97, but missed the grand final in his rookie season after being dropped by the coach. He later left to play overseas, before the pair were meant to be reunited at the Newcastle Jets in 2011-12.
DENIS AND RYAN PAGAN (AFL)
The long-time North Melbourne coach has since admitted debuting his son Ryan was the beginning of the end for him at the Kangaroos in 2000. Ryan played his only three top-level games for the Kangaroos that season, but Pagan later said he couldn’t win either way with selection.
JOHN AND MARTIN LANG (NRL)
The NRL’s ultimate father-son combination after they followed each other from Cronulla to Penrith at the end of the 2001 season. Martin played his entire 176-game career under John. Won a premiership together at the Panthers in 2003, before the forward retired through injury at the end of 2004 and John later coached South Sydney.
ALISTAIR EDWARDS AND SONS RYAN AND CAMERON (A-League)
Alistair was sacked by the Perth Glory midway through the 2013-14 A-League season after he lost the senior playing group due to selections, notably the call ups of his sons. Both Ryan and Cameron were brought to the club for that season, and Ryan’s selection came at the expense of angry ex-Socceroo and captain Jacob Burns. Alistair was eventually axed in the first season of a three-year deal.
IVAN AND NATHAN CLEARY (NRL)
Different to several other doomed father-son combinations in that Nathan is already an established player at Penrith prior to Ivan’s arrival on a five-year deal. However his prominence as the Panthers’ key playmaker for the next five years also makes the situation a unique one only comparable to the Gazes. Their legacy will be determined on whether they deliver a premiership during their combination.