With no shortage to choose from, CW has compiled a list of Australian sport’s best mullets right now.
Love it or hate it, the mullet has been in vogue for a few years, which certainly hasn’t been lost on a growing number of Australian athletes sporting the eye-grabbing look.
The AFL’s best mullets
Bailey Smith
Not since Patrick Swayze or Rob Lowe in the late 1980s has a mullet looked as good as it does on Bulldogs young gun Bailey Smith. It’s been an integral part of the young midfielder’s rockstar look since he debuted in 2019.
Lachie Jones
Pairing a mullet pulled straight from a bush league in the 1980s with one of the seediest moustaches going around, 19-year-old Port Adelaide defender Lachie Jones has a magnificent mullet that stands out on the field like few can.
After winning an SANFL premiership with Woodville-West Torrens last year as an 18-year-old, the mulleted young man is now playing his first year of AFL.
Shout outs to his Port Adelaide teammate Scott Lycett, who has a ripping mullet, but just missed this list.
Karen Paxman
Melbourne midfielder and five-time AFL Women’s All-Australian team member Karen Paxman decided to fashion her long hair into a mullet in the middle of Melbourne’s three-month COVID-19 lockdown last year.
“In terms of time spent doing hair, it certainly saves me a lot,” Paxman told ALDS Tech News.
“I actually had it done and then afterwards I was watching telly and the AFL was on and there were a lot of blokes with mullets; little did I know they were coming back (in fashion), so it was good timing.”
Caleb Poulter
Another South Australian lad with an outstanding mullet, Collingwood midfielder Caleb Poulter’s chop closely resembles that of his former Woodville teammate, Lachie Jones, sans moustache.
Sam Draper
Essendon big man Sammy Draper’s rough chop evokes the legendary Mr Burns quote “Mattingly, I thought I told you to trim those sideburns”.
Imagine looking up and seeing that menacing mullet staring you down at a centre bounce.
Honourable mention – Taylor ‘Tex’ Walker
A bit of a throwback today, but hats off to Adelaide Crows forward Tex Walker, who did the mullet long before Gen Z made it cool again.
Starting out as a bet between Tex and former Crows teammate Ivan Maric as to who would rock their mullet the longest, a few seasons later in 2013, Tex shaved off his hair to raise $50,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.
The NRL’s best mullets
Josh Papalii
Nothing beats seeing the Raiders big man charge off the back fence for a hit-up or bump off a tackle with his glorious mullet flowing in the wind.
Originally grown out with some of his Green Machine teammates for Mullets for Mental Health in 2020, Papalii has kept his going this year, much to the delight of the wider NRL fanbase.
As a Canberra publication, this masthead is unashamedly pro-Papalii, and will proudly declare his mullet the best in Australian sport. Don’t @ me.
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Known for his blistering speed, smarts, and skills on the field, 23-year-old Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen’s dirty blonde mullet is nearly as famous as his footy exploits.
Spikey up top, short on the sides and slicked at the back, Papenhuyzen has had his signature mullet throughout his entire NRL journey from bench player to 2020 Clive Churchill Medallist.
Zac Cini
The mullet sported by West Tigers fringe outside back Zac Cini gives off strong Tiger King energy.
His strawberry blonde mullet, paired with a matching dodgy moustache, earned him cult status earlier this year when the ‘Mullet Man from Minchinbury’ scored a try on debut.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
While big Tino’s hairstyle seems to change with the weather, the Titans monster middle forward comfortably has the neatest and most styled mullet on the list. Hats off to his barber for keeping it fresh.
Andrew Fifita
Having spent the last few years in and out of NRL, like Tex Walker, Cronulla big man Andrew Fifita is one of Australian sport’s O.G. mullet men.
Paired with his menacing tattoos and imposing stature, it’s easy to see why just a few years ago he was one of the NRL’s most feared front-rowers. It was sad to see he’d chopped it off this year.
Honourable mention – Jai Arrow
Quite possibly the most atrocious haircut of all time, Jai Arrow rocked an outrageous mullet in his last season at the Gold Coast Titans. Upon arriving at the burrow, Souths coach Wayne Bennett had the clippers ready to go.
Arrow has just recently gone one better doing the classic male pattern baldness buzz in the Queensland hub.
The best of the rest
Rhyan Grant – A-League
Having sported the look since 2018, Sydney FC and Socceroos defender Rhyan Grant’s ginger mullet has gained cult status amongst Australian soccer fans.
In February, the Socceroos defender clipped his mullet to raise $26,000 for the Leukemia Foundation.
Jarrod Kenny – NBL
New Zealand-born Cairns Taipans point guard Jarrod Kenny’s mullet was a thing of beauty.
He made a promise in 2020 that his mullet would come off if his Otago Nuggets won the New Zealand National Basketball League title, which sadly (for his mullet) they did.
Money raised went toward establishing a Dunedin basketball hardship fund to support youth players who need financial help in the game. Fair play!
Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments below.
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