A fearless defender/utility who defied two knee reconstructions early in his career to play 120 AFL games with Brisbane and St Kilda. Born in Tasmania, he moved with his family to Melbourne aged four and then to the Gold Coast in 1987. A Southport junior, he was an All-Australian Teal Cup choice and Queensland B&F winner at the national carnival in 1993 and played 50 QAFL games with the Sharks before making his AFL debut in ’95.
He was best afield in his second AFL game against Carlton at the Gabba and won an AFL Rising Star nomination in his fourth game. Major knee surgery in 1995 and ’96 cost him 18 months’ football but he re-established his career in ’97 and in ’98 kicked a career-best five goals against North Melbourne in Round 19, finished sixth in the Bears B&F and won the ‘1%er of the Year’ award. Also was judged ‘Most Improved Player’ in ’99.
Played a total of 81 games with the Bears/Lions before being lured in 2001 to StKilda, where father Barry was a club captain and stalwart. Played 39 AFL games with the Saints in an injury-disrupted stint from 2001-03, but did finish fifth in the B&F in 2002 when given an injury-free run. Represented Queensland twice in ’94 to help launch his AFL career, and was an Allies State of Origin representative in 1998.
Later captained Williamstown in the VFL, representing Victoria, before continuing his career with Port Melbourne.
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