1. Wayne Carey
Many scribes say Wayne Carey is the greatest player ever to pull on a football boot and for that reason alone he should have got a bait to the royal wedding, but it is his nickname that gets him on to this list. He started his career as 'The Duck’ but by the time he had skippered North to two premierships and been selected an All Australian seven times, he would forever be known as ‘The King’.
2. Wayne Duke
Westminster Abbey was brimming with dukes on the weekend so surely we can slip in the only Duke who played in the AFL/VFL, Wayne Duke, who played nine games for Fitzroy between 1977 and 1979.
3. George King
There have been 24 Kings who have played in the AFL/VFL and while all would be welcome at a royal wedding, our choice is George King. King George VI was the father of Queen Elizabeth II and has recently been remembered in the movie The King’s Speech. Just as King George had a stuttering problem, George King had a stuttering career, playing just 15 games between 1913 an 1916.
4. The Lord Twins
Lords and ladies are always welcome at regal affairs so football’s most famous Lords, twin brothers Alistair and Stewart who played for the Cats in the early 60s, surely should have received an invitation. There was no lack of bling at the royal do so the brothers could have taken their premiership medallions won in 1963 while Alistair could also wear his 1962 Brownlow medal.
5. Archibald Middleton
Obviously a guest from the bride’s side, we don’t know much about old Archie other than that he played one game for St. Kilda in 1897 and three games for Fitzroy in 1900. Hopefully his listing in the Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers is not an omen for the newly married Kate as it simply reads, "ex-Windsor".
6. Joe Prince
Surely they could have found room for one more prince at the wedding, especially one as small as Little Joe. Originally rejected at St. Kilda where he played one game in both 1908 and 1909, he found a place on the wing at South Melbourne where he played 103 games before finishing his career at Carlton in 1919, where he played 10 games and was one of the Blues' best in the semi-final loss to Collingwood. His playing weight was just 62 kilograms, so not only would he not take up much room, he wouldn’t cost much to feed.
7. Jack Regan
Imagine the outcry from Collingwood supporters if Jack Regan, or 'The Prince Of Full-Backs’ as he was known, was once again overlooked for an important occasion. The black and white army are still up in arms over Regan not being named as full-back in the Australian Football Team of the Century and a further snub could spark an international incident.
8. Dick Reynolds
Dick Reynolds was football royalty, captain -coaching Essendon to four premierships, winning seven best and fairest gongs and three Brownlow Medals along the way. He was known to football fans as King Richard and would have not been out of place sitting with the other royals at the head table on Friday night.
9. Brian Royal
A royal wedding usually has royalty from across the globe in attendance and who could be more royal than Brian Royal. The little Doggies’ champ finished his career on 199 games and 299 goals, so he could do with a nice night out. When the conversation turns to how he got his nickname of ‘Choco,’ he will have to say he was named after a popular Aussie biscuit called a Chocolate Royal, a not particularly regal response.
10. Ray Windsor
Our final invitee shares a surname with the reigning royal family. The current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is a member of the House of Windsor so would undoubtedly be familiar with the fact that Ray played 23 games for the Brisbane Bears between 1990 and 1993. She could probably also tell you that he was recruited from a club in the QAFL called Western Districts.
