How far can Australian football really travel? Apparently, much farther than most fans would expect. Long before modern AFL players competed for kicking-distance records, footballers were launching enormous kicks across grounds using techniques that have largely disappeared. Some historical measurements are debated, but several efforts still stand out. From Albert Thurgood’s astonishing place kick to Fred Fanning’s huge drop kick, these moments show why long kicking has always been one of Australian football’s most entertaining skills.
Here Are The Longest Kicks Of AFL History You Must Know About!
1) Fred Fanning – 105.5 Metres
If distance is the only thing that matters, Fred Fanning’s 105.5-metre drop kick is the standout entry in historical records. Fanning produced the remarkable effort while playing for Melbourne Seconds against Richmond in the 1939 Seconds Grand Final at the MCG. A drop kick was very different from the modern punt, making the distance even more eye-catching. It remains one of the wildest examples of how far Australian football could be launched during the sport’s earlier years.
2) Albert Thurgood – 95.71 Metres
Albert Thurgood was not simply a great player; he was a genuine long-kicking specialist. In 1893, while playing for Essendon VFA against Carlton, he reportedly sent a place kick 95.71 metres. That was more than 100 yards, an astonishing distance by any standard. Thurgood also produced several other huge kicks throughout his career, helping build his reputation as one of the earliest superstars of Australian football. His remarkable kicking ability earned him a place in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
3) Albert Thurgood – 98.48 Metres
Thurgood makes another appearance, and this one happened away from match pressure. On June 22, 1899, he recorded a 98.48-metre place kick at East Melbourne Cricket Ground during practice. That is more than 107 yards, putting it among the longest distances ever attributed to an Australian football kick. Interestingly, historical sources differ over which effort should be called the ultimate record, partly because old measurements and kicking conditions were not always documented as precisely as they are today.
4) Dave McNamara – 96.52 Metres
Known as “Long Dave,” Dave McNamara certainly earned his nickname. In 1914, he recorded a 96.52-metre place kick during practice at the Junction Oval while playing for St Kilda. His long-distance reputation was so notable that a football associated with the 1914 effort was preserved and displayed by the St Kilda Heritage Museum. McNamara appears repeatedly among historical long-kicking records, showing that Thurgood was not the only player capable of sending the ball extraordinary distances.
5) Jack Leith – 92.05 Metres
Jack Leith’s 92.05-metre place kick deserves attention because it came during a match. Playing for Melbourne VFA against Geelong at Corio Oval in 1896, Leith launched the ball more than 100 yards. His effort sits alongside several other enormous kicks from the same era, when place-kicking was an important part of Australian football. These historic distances also came during a period when the football itself and the game’s equipment differed from what AFL players use today, making direct comparisons with modern kicking records tricky.
In Summary
The story of AFL’s longest kicks is really a trip through football history. The biggest numbers belong mostly to players from an era of place kicks, drop kicks, larger balls, and very different equipment. Fred Fanning’s 105.5 metres leads the commonly cited historical list, while Albert Thurgood and Dave McNamara appear repeatedly among the giants of long-distance kicking. These records may come with a few historical question marks, but they certainly prove one thing: footballers have been bombing the ball enormous distances for generations.
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