The First Time – Jeff White

It is only a matter of time until the analysis of former number one pick, Jeff White goes mainstream.

Those with an appetite for intelligent dissection of the game have already found his content via his YouTube Channel – First Use, and relish having some genuine, tactical appraisal of the AFL.

White has also embarked in an online venture, coaching and mentoring young players via his website, firstuse.com.au as he grows his reach across the football landscape.

Jeff was the number one overall pick in the 1994 AFL Draft, and went on to play 268 games in the league for both Fremantle and Melbourne, picking up All-Australian, and Best and Fairest honours in 2004. His son, Kalani, will continue his legacy when he joins Melbourne as a father/son pick in the 2025 AFL Draft.

Every journey starts somewhere, and it dotted with first times along the way. In this article, we look at where it started for Jeff White, as he opens up and tells us about the experiences that helped shape him, and his footy career.

 

The First Time – Jeff White.

 

What is your first footy memory? How did the game become part of your life?

My dad’s friend was a Cats supporter and encouraged me to try footy when I was eight. He’d seen me play basketball and noticed I could jump, so being a Cats fan, he suggested I join Pearcedale near Frankston, where we lived at the time. That first season was cut short, though—I broke the aerial on the roof of our house, and Dad grounded me for the rest of the year. I think I only managed six or eight games before my “suspension,” haha.

The following year I joined the Frankston Rovers, who wore Hawthorn colours, and that’s where my proper footy journey began, continuing through until the Under 15s.

 

Who was the first person to influence your love of footy?

Definitely my dad. I was a very keen basketballer, and he always encouraged me to pursue any sport I enjoyed. Basketball came naturally to me because of my vertical leap, but one of the biggest influences in my life was also Michael Jordan. Back then, without social media or streaming like we have today, I had to rely on sports stores and libraries to learn about him—his passion, motivation, and training all inspired me. Still, my father was the biggest driving force behind it all.

 

Do you remember the first game you played? Maybe the first season?

Yes, it was with the Frankston Rovers during a Lightning Carnival at the start of my U/9s. The coach didn’t know much about my ability, so he put me at full back. I still remember a high ball coming in, and I leapt over the full forward to take the mark. It happened right near the point post—after jumping on his head, I lost balance, fell backwards, and hit my head on the post. From that moment on, the coach shifted me into the ruck, and that’s where my ruck journey began.

 

How did that first season play out?

Pretty good, I’d say. I was really fortunate to be part of a very strong junior side. From U/11s through to U/15s, we only lost one game. We went undefeated in U/11s, U/12s, U/13s, and U/14s, winning four premierships in a row. In U/15s, we dropped just one match during the season—to Chelsea—but met them again in the Grand Final and beat them by 12 goals.

By U/16s, I couldn’t play for Frankston Rovers anymore because I was with the Dandenong Stingrays. That same Rovers side went on to lose only one game for the year and still won the flag. I think our team broke an Australian record. We won 72 games straight.

 

Who was the first player to truly capture your imagination?

Gary Ablett Snr. was my favourite—I loved taking hangers, and as a kid I’d hold my breath every time he went up for one, hoping to see something spectacular. I also loved watching Nicky Winmar—being a Saints supporter growing up—soaring for those big marks on the wing. Another Saint I admired was David Grant, who could also take a hanger. And with my dad being best mates with Trevor Barker, watching him launch for marks was a huge inspiration for me as well.

 

Who was the first player you tried to emulate when you played?

I loved using my vertical leap to take big marks, so I’d say it was a mix of the players I mentioned earlier that inspired me to put on a show. Honestly, my motivation going into every game was simple—take a hanger, that was it. Obviously, other things progressed as I got older, but that was my strongest motivation as a kid.

 

Who was the first team or player you really hated?

I never really hated any team or player, but when I came to Melbourne the biggest challenge for me was always Richmond. Between the intensity of their crowd and the way I often found myself being targeted, they became the one team I had on my radar every year.

 

When was the first time you met your first footy hero?

When I was in Year 7, Robert Harvey was in Year 12 at my school and already playing senior footy for the Saints. As a big Saints supporter, I was always trying to sneak over and have a kick with ‘Bob’ on the main oval, even though the Year 7s were kept separate from the senior school. I’d usually end up getting in trouble for it, haha.

 

What is your favourite memory of going to a game?

Round 20, 1990—I was 13 at the time. A mate of mine, a diehard Richmond supporter, convinced me to go watch his team take on Geelong at the MCG. That day Gary Ablett Snr kicked 12.2, Geelong won by 64 points, and my mate left the ground in tears. For me though, it lit a fire and pushed my motivation to pursue footy even further.

 

When was the first time the game broke your heart?

I think from my first real injury when I was 13. Playing for a rep side, I went for a high-flying mark, came down awkwardly, and broke my right wrist. Not being able to play footy, basketball, or any sport at all really fuelled my hunger. It also completely changed the way I handballed. I’d always been a right-hander, but with my wrist in a cast, I started practicing with my left. I worked on it so much that it became second nature, and from then on throughout my career, most of my handballs came from my left side without me even thinking about it.

 

When was the first time you felt the game let you down?

I don’t think the game ever let me down. I’ve always been an optimistic person, and my dad taught me to find positives in any situation. So whenever things didn’t go my way or as planned, I would reassess, learn, and work on becoming better and smarter.

 

Who would be the first player you can think of from your era, or your favourite era, that would fit perfectly into the modern game?

Peter Matera, Nicky Winmar, Robert Harvey, just to name a few. Guys with speed, can take a mark and have great lateral awareness.

 

What would be the first thing you would change about the way the game is now played?

That the rucks must jump into each other at centre bounces.

 

Who would be the first five players picked in your all-time team? (If you could add a sentence about each, that’d be perfect)

Chris Judd: Powerful from stoppages, with the ability to hit teammates lace-out at speed. Exceptional decision-maker.
Max Gawn: The best ruckman I’ve ever seen. His off-the-ball running is better than most midfielders.
Gary Ablett Snr: Quick, could lead at full speed, excellent below the knees, and could jump on your head if caught behind. Brilliant set-shot kicker.
Gary Ablett Jnr: A remarkable father-son combination. Possibly the best player I’ve seen cleanly use the ball below their knees. Incredible core strength, reads the play perfectly, and an outstanding decision-maker.
Matthew Lloyd: Hands down, the best set of hands I ever played with or against. I played with him on the Victorian sides, and his hands were unmatched.

 

What was the first great moment you had in your career?

Round 5, 1998. Jim Stynes was injured, so I went into the game as the only ruck. Had 19 possessions and kicked four on the MCG.

 

What do you remember most about your first game at the highest level? How nervous were you?

Very nervous. Was against Fitzroy at Whitten Oval. Friends and family attended the game, was awesome. The first kick was a goal and I kicked it to all my friends and family behind the goals.

 

When was the first time an opponent really got the better of you?

1996 playing against Corey McKernan at the MCG. I only played on him in parts of that game, but he was in career best form and it was a great learning experience. I did however take a big hang on him which I have framed.

 

Who was the first coach that really connected with you?

I only had one coach, Neale Daniher. No words needed about how special that man is.

 

When was the first time you knew footy was the direction your life was going to take?

When I was 16, a year before my draft, a recruiting officer told my dad at a training camp that if it were my draft year, I’d be the number one pick. Twelve months later, that prediction became reality.

 

Do you remember the first time you were the best player on the ground?

Round 19, 1996, playing for Fremantle against Collingwood at the WACA—I had 22 possessions and took 11 marks. I remember a teammate telling me after the game, ‘Nathan Buckley asked me, “Who’s that kid? He’s a freak—he’s putting Monky [Damien Monkhorst] into early retirement.”’

The next day, The Western Australian ran a back-page headline: “This WHITEMAN CAN Jump”—a play on the movie “White Men Can’t Jump.” That’s how my nickname, Whiteman, came about.

 

Once you started playing at the highest level, who was the player you looked up to most?

David Neitz. He became my big brother. I aspired to earn his respect at training, on and off the field.

 

If you could pick one game or moment that would best sum up the way you played the game, which one would you show people?

Even though my Round 21, 2001 game against Fremantle was strong—33 possessions and 11 marks, 22 hit outs and 2 goals and against my old club—my Round 7, 2000 match against West Coast was me in full flight. I took 12 marks,19 hit outs, ran everywhere, and leapt on heads—it just felt incredible. There were plenty of standout games in 2004 against the Kangaroos, Saints, Carlton, and Bulldogs, but that West Coast game in 2000 was pure magic.

 

Who is the first player in the game right now that reminds you of yourself? How?

Probably Luke Jackson. Basketball background, can jump, run, good below his knees, can take a big mark, kicks goals and can play ruck. 

 

I’d like to thank Jeff for his openness and honesty in answering questions for us. He continues to kick goals in life after retirement, and if you have not had a look at his First Use YouTube account, I suggest that you do so – it is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to the modern game, the tactics, and who is doing things well.

Thanks for your time and effort, Jeff – HB.

You can follow Jeff on X here (a great tactical follow of AFL Footy), and don’t forget to visit Jeff’s site, First Use for some of the best support and advice to rucks and midfielders in the caper.