For footy fans, it can be a love-hate relationship with some players. Even coaches have been known to crack the whips at certain players.

They’re the players who get taken at the pointy end of the draft, only to struggle to consistently make the team.

They’re also the players who show a lot of promise one week and then go missing the week after.

Mark Bickley and Jarrod Walsh have put together their list of whipping boys on SEN SA Breakfast.

See who they picked for your club below.

Lachie Murphy

A small forward picked up in the rookie draft who managed 120 games for the Crows.

Bickley: “I think most people would agree to that.”

Eric Hipwood

Drafted as pick 14 in 2015 and has played 199 games. A premiership player who has kicked 287 goals.

Harry McKay

A Coleman medallist who’s had his fair share of the yips in front of goal. A key piece to Carlton’s success in the forward line.

Mason Cox

Everyone will remember 2018 Preliminary Final performance against Richmond. Managed to be a part of the premiership team in 2023 but struggled to keep his spot in the side and was delisted.

Brent Stanton

The 255-gamer was a mainstay in the midfield for the Bombers in a difficult period for the club.

Bickley: “Fans loved to hate him.”

Zac Dawson

Walsh: “Ross Lyon loved Zac Dawson.”

Bickley: “He did, he was the only one!”

Rhys Stanley

Bickley: “He’s a bit polarising. He's been around a long time though.”

Jack Lukosius

Drafted as pick 2 in 2018 and came to the club with a lot of hype about turning around their fortunes. Moved between forward and defensive positions multiple times before being traded to Port Adelaide at the end of 2024.

Stephen Coniglio

Coniglio was recently shown in Channel 7’s GWS doco No Holds Barred to receive a spray from coach Adam Kingsley.

Walsh: “There's a theme, right, with Stephen Coniglio, and I don't know if you remember a couple of years ago that Access All Areas came out and he was getting a dressing down from Leon Cameron.”

Ryan Schoenmakers

Walsh: “Yes, I think he was a big whipping boy. He's a premiership player, but I think he was a whipping boy.

“Also Zac Dawson at Hawthorn, whipping boy.”

Bickley: “Poor old Zac.”

Jack Watts

Pick 1 in the 2008 draft, Watts’ debut game against Collingwood in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday was a notable baptism of fire. Endured one of Melbourne’s worst periods before being traded to Port Adelaide.

Jared Polec

Walsh: “Big contract, went over 7 years and then didn't do much.”

Jasper Pittard

Pick 16 in 2009 who managed 159 games but had a lot of injuries.

Richard Tambling

Bickley: “All time, I think I've got the winner, Richard Tambling.”

Walsh: “Definitely, he was picked before Buddy Franklin.”

Peter Ladhams

Traded from Port Adelaide at the end of 2022 but has struggled to nail a spot at the Swans.

Zac Dawson

Bickley: “He can't be the whipping boy at three clubs, that's unfair.”

“Come on, Zac was a ripper.”

Tim Kelly

Bickley: “Tim Kelly has become a bit of the whipping boy playing in the reserves last week after coming across, I think they paid three 1st round draft picks for him, that's probably why people get a bit upset.”

Will Minson

Bickley: “Now I'm not sure if he's the fans' whipping boy, but he was certainly Rodney Eades' whipping boy.”