Gary Ablett jnr and Gary Ablett snr are two of the greatest players to ever play the game. Picture: AFL Photos

THE FINN Maginness hype-o-meter went into overdrive this week as the first-year running machine outlasted Hawthorn's time trial king Isaac Smith.

Maginness' is a familiar father-son storyline, even though history tells us to be wary in these cases.

The son of dual Hawks premiership defender Scott was their second pick (No.29 overall) in last year's NAB AFL Draft, once they matched North Melbourne's bid on him.

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That followed Maginness being the standout performer at the NAB AFL Draft Combine and him putting together an impressive NAB League campaign for the Sandringham Dragons.

The 18-year-old was one of three father-son draftees, including Port Adelaide pair Trent Burgoyne (son of Peter) and Jackson Mead (son of Darren), to bolster the League's active tally to 30.

It was an emotional night in the Mead household as Jackson Mead became our second ever father-son draftee 👏 #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/NkK2RsyoIq — Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) November 29, 2019

Maginness is just the fourth father-son selection in Hawthorn's history, with the Langford brothers – Will and Lachie, sons of club great Chris – nabbed separately in the rookie draft.

None of the previous three was particularly successful, at least at the Hawks: Steven Greene played 42 games, Travis Tuck 20 and Josh Kennedy just 13.

Kennedy, of course, was traded to Sydney in 2009 and became one of the game's best midfielders across 233 more games – and counting.

Josh Kennedy (centre) with grandfather John Kennedy snr (left) and John Kennedy jnr (right). Picture: AFL Phots

He co-captains the Swans, finished third in the 2017 Brownlow Medal, has won three club best and fairests, was a pivotal part of the 2012 premiership and also made three All-Australian teams.

Kennedy is one of 31 father-son draftees to play 100-plus games, out of the 99 whose AFL dream was achieved via this route.

He joins Rhyce Shaw, Sean Dempster, Nick Davis, Brett Peake, Tom Mitchell, David Sierakowski and David Clarke in reaching the milestone at a second club.

Jarrod Molloy is technically a different case, because Fitzroy merged with Brisbane and his century of matches came between them, before he also played for Collingwood.

Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher is all concentration. Picture: AFL Photos

FATHER-SON SELECTIONS TO PLAY 100+ GAMES PLAYER CLUB/S GAMES FATHER Dustin Fletcher Essendon 400 Ken Fletcher Gary Ablett jnr* Geelong/Gold Coast 235/110 (345) Gary Ablett snr Heath Shaw* Collingwood/GWS 173/135 (308) Ray Shaw Matthew Scarlett Geelong 284 John Scarlett Matthew Richardson Richmond 282 Alan G. Richardson Ben Cousins West Coast/Richmond 238/32 (270) Bryan Cousins Joel Bowden Richmond 265 Michael Bowden Tom Hawkins* Geelong 256 Jack Hawkins Jonathan Brown Brisbane 256 Brian Brown Travis Cloke Collingwood/Western Bulldogs 246/10 (256) David Cloke Josh Kennedy* Hawthorn/Sydney 13/233 (246) John Kennedy jnr Jarrad Waite Carlton/North Melbourne 184/60 (244) Vin Waite Ashley McIntosh West Coast 242 John McIntosh Rhyce Shaw Collingwood/Sydney 94/143 (237) Ray Shaw Luke Darcy Western Bulldogs 226 David Darcy Sean Dempster Sydney/St Kilda 54/168 (222) Graham Dempster Jobe Watson Essendon 220 Tim Watson Lance Whitnall Carlton 216 Graeme Whitnall Jarrod Molloy Fitzroy/Brisbane Lions/Collingwood 59/61/49 (169) Shane Molloy Nick Davis Collingwood/Sydney 71/97 (168) Craig Davis Brett Ebert Port Adelaide 166 Russell Ebert Mitch Wallis* Western Bulldogs 133 Steven Wallis Tom Liberatore* Western Bulldogs 132 Tony Liberatore Lachie Hunter* Western Bulldogs 128 Mark Hunter Jack Viney* Melbourne 119 Todd Viney Brett Peake Fremantle/St Kilda 75/43 (118) Brian Peake Tom Mitchell* Sydney/Hawthorn 65/46 (111) Barry Mitchell Luke McDonald* North Melbourne 109 Donald McDonald Joe Daniher* Essendon 104 Anthony Daniher David Sierakowski St Kilda/West Coast 93/10 (103) Brian Sierakowski David A. Clarke Geelong/Carlton 89/12 (101) David E. Clarke

*current player

However, the reality is the high expectations on father-son draftees, especially the offspring of champions, don't align with the numbers.

That's despite clubs having an extended period to weigh up whether they want access or not to eligible sons of guns.

Travis Cloke was just one of David Cloke's three sons to play AFL. Picture: AFL Photos

The crop above were mostly hits, while others such as Darcy Moore (71 matches) and Jed Bews (83) – both of whom will likely reach 100 and beyond – are also success stories.

Yet 11 of them came and went without a senior appearance; Simon Fletcher played 90 games overall but none originally for the Cats; and another five active father-sons, excluding the new batch, also haven't debuted.

Another 16 who did play a game managed only 15 matches or fewer before departing.

Jobe Watson with father and fellow Essendon legend Tim Watson. Picture: AFL Photos

So, the evidence suggests it's only slightly more likely a father-son draftee will play triple-digit games rather than sub-15.

Maginness may well be the footballer who breaks the father-son mould for Hawthorn and becomes a quality contributor for the next decade.

Then again, he might not.