| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | August 4, 1976 , |
| Recruited from | Port Adelaide (SANFL) |
| Height and weight | 180 cm (5'11") 83 kg (183 lb) |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 6, May 5, 1995, Adelaide vs. Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Port Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as simply Port or the Power is an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 This page is for the Australian Rules Football Club in Adelaide Melbourne, at Football Park |
| Team(s) | Adelaide (1995-) 285 games, 259 goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of Round 3, 2008 season | |
| Career highlights | |
*Port Adelaide premiership side (SANFL) 1994
| |
Andrew Luke McLeod (born August 4, 1976) is an Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League of Aboriginal descent, and is number 23 of the Adelaide Football Club. This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. This page is for the Australian Rules Football Club in Adelaide The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match Best and Fairest (also known as Fairest and Best in some competitions notably the Australian Football League) is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe The All-Australian Team is an All star team of Australian rules footballers selected by a panel at the end of each season The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. Since 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final The Australian rules football Indigenous Team of the Century was selected to recognise the role of Indigenous Australians in the sport Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Australian (rules football, or simply known as football, footy or Aussie rules, is a Team sport played between two teams of 18 players The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest This page is for the Australian Rules Football Club in Adelaide One of the game's elite players, his blistering pace and smooth skills have made him one of the most damaging players in the league.
Contents |
Career
Early years
Moving from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia, McLeod started his career at the Darwin Football Club, before playing in the SANFL in 1994, playing for the Port Adelaide Football Club where he became known as an exciting young forward with electrifying pace. The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the center of the mainland continent as well as the central northern regions Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia with a South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country Clubs Several clubs share their nicknames with AFL/VFL clubs This is purely coincidental the teams are not named after each other Port Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as simply Port or the Power is an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia McLeod capped off a solid debut year for the Magpies with a Premiership medallion, bagging two goals in Port's 37-point win over Woodville-West Torrens in the 1994 SANFL Grand Final. Woodville-West Torrens Eagles is an Australian rules football club playing in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL
In the 1994 offseason period McLeod was recruited by the newly established Fremantle Football Club as part of their inaugural squad. Fremantle Football Club, unofficially nicknamed The Dockers and known informally as "Freo" is one of 16 teams in the Australian Football League (AFL However, Fremantle would later agree to exchange McLeod to the Adelaide Crows for promising forward Chris Groom in what many now consider to be one of the most lopsided trades in Australian rules football history. Chris Groom (born 28 August 1973 is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League.
In an interview with Australian men's magazine Alpha[1] in September 2005, McLeod would later reveal that he refused to play for Fremantle after feeling insulted and belittled by Fremantle coach Gerard Neesham who had not actually seen him play before. Gerard Neesham (born 11 December 1954 was an Australian rules footballer in the WAFL and VFL as well as coach in the WAFL and AFL.
1995
In his first year with the Adelaide Crows, McLeod began his AFL career quietly, appearing tentative and nervous during pre-season games. However, in a round 9 match against Hawthorn at Football Park, a confident McLeod began to emerge. Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL founded in 1902 In the dying seconds of the game with Adelaide trailing by 4 points, McLeod raced into an open forward line while being hotly pursued by his opponent. Swooping onto the loose ball, he calmly laid it on his foot under pressure, dribbling it through for a miraculous goal from a tight angle at the Northern End of the ground to give his side a remarkable 2-point victory after they had trailed by 34 points at half-time. The Crows were able to avenge their worst ever home loss in history the year before (Round 9 1994 by 97 points to Hawthorn).
McLeod would later be named as an AFL rising star nominee late in the 1995 season after a string of consistent performances in a struggling Adelaide side which only managed a 9-13 record.
1997
After two tumultuous years under Robert Shaw, legendary footballer Malcolm Blight took over as coach of Adelaide. Robert Shaw (born 6 January 1955 is a former Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club and coach in the VFL/AFL. Malcolm Jack Blight AM (16 February 1950 - is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach and current television commentator The Crows would begin the season slowly as they adjusted to Blight's long-kicking and direct style of football before claiming a finals berth for the first time since 1993.
In the preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs, McLeod, who had been playing primarily as a forward or half-back flanker was placed into the midfield in the second half by Blight in an effort to spark the Crows side who trailed by 31 points at half-time. The Western Bulldogs, formerly referred to as the Footscray Football Club, is an Australian Football League (AFL club based at the Whitten Oval in It would be the first time in McLeod's career that he would play in the middle and in a thrilling contest, McLeod and the Crows would win the match by 2 points to reach the Grand Final for the first time in the club's history.
In the Grand Final against St. Kilda, McLeod would take his first significant step in his journey towards joining the game's elite. The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia Accumulating 31 disposals, he was judged best on ground against the Saints, winning the prestigious Norm Smith Medal while helping his team win the AFL premiership. The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match This was followed shortly thereafter with a gold jacket when he was named as the Crows best and fairest for the 1997 season.
1998
Having caught the eye of football followers with his magical feats in the 1997 finals, McLeod would continue to dazzle crowds with his pace and agility in 1998 before being named All-Australian for the season.
In a preliminary final rematch against the Bulldogs, McLeod would kick a career-high 7 goals while being opposed to Tony Liberatore who was reputed to be the most ferocious tagger in the game at the time. Anthony (Tony Liberatore (born 11 February 1966 is a former Australian rules footballer He is the only player to have won the best-and-fairest medals in the Victorian under-19 In the following game, against Grand Final favourites, the Kangaroos, the Crows would win by 35 points with McLeod emulating his feats a year earlier. North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. Gathering 30 disposals and winning back-to-back Norm Smith Medals, McLeod became the first player to win two Norm Smith Medals since Gary Ayres in 1986 and 1988. Gary Ayres (born 28 September 1960 is a former Australian rules footballer for the Hawthorn Football Club and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne
2001
McLeod had perhaps the finest season of his career in 2001, controversially being named runner-up in the Brownlow Medal Count. Having been made a permanent fixture in the Crows midfield by coach Gary Ayres, McLeod averaged a career-best 24. 7 disposals [2]. He would win the Leigh Matthews Trophy to be recognised as the Most Valuable Player in the league as voted by his peers in the AFL Players Association as well as his second best and fairest award from the club. The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. The AFL Players' Association or AFLPA is the representative body for all current and past professional Australian Football League players
McLeod, however, would be denied the AFL's greatest individual honour in the 2001 Brownlow Medal. For the list of winners of the award see List of Brownlow Medal winners. Trailing by two votes in the last round to Jason Akermanis of the Brisbane Lions, many believed he would receive votes after amassing a best-afield 37 disposals against Fremantle in the final round. Jason "Aka" Akermanis (born 24 February 1977 is an Australian rules footballer who currently plays for the Western Bulldogs. Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane Instead, the umpires decided not to award McLeod with any votes for the game (the main reason is that Adelaide lost this game) leaving him stunned as he looked on while the medal was presented to the flamboyant Akermanis. Adding further fuel to the fire, the short highlight package that summarized the best players in each round of football specifically stated that McLeod was named best-on-ground for that particular match. To this day it is considered by the majority of the South Australian football public to be one of the worst Brownlow voting decisions ever made; many remain adamant that the medal went home with the wrong player that night.
2002 to 2004
Having established himself as one of the league's premier players in 2001, McLeod had to contend with increasing attention and pressure from opposition players over the following seasons. Combined with various personal off-field problems, McLeod grew increasingly frustrated and struggled to recapture his best form. However, he was still able to provide sporadic bursts of brilliance, as seen when he was awarded the 2003 Michael Tuck Medal for being best on ground in a pre-season Grand Final win against the Collingwood Magpies. Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League.
2005
In 2005, under coach Neil Craig, McLeod made a return to the half-back line to provide his side with run and drive from defense using his sublime skills. Neil P Craig (born January 11 1956 is a former Australian rules footballer fitness advisor and is currently the coach of the Adelaide Football Club in In round 2 against Collingwood and the scores tied late in the game and the Crows desperately needing a win, McLeod kicked an unbelievable left-foot goal from the boundary line from about 35m out to seal the deal. This win would be the Crows' first in 6 years vs the Pies and spur Adelaide to a minor premiership by the end (top spot after 22 rounds) of the season. McLeod polled 11 votes in the 2005 Brownlow Medal. For the list of winners of the award see List of Brownlow Medal winners.
In October, McLeod was named co-captain of the Australian International rules football team against Ireland. International rules football (Peil na rialacha idirnáisiunta also known as inter rules in Australia and compromise rules in Ireland is a hybrid Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world In what became a somewhat spiteful match, Australia would win comfortably while McLeod was named best player and awarded the Jim Stynes Medal.
2006
After a year under Neil Craig's system, McLeod would return to some of his best form. Teaming with the younger Graham Johncock at half-back, the duo would be part of a stingy Adelaide defense, regularly streaming from the back lines, evading opponents and delivering the ball with precision to teammates up the ground. His form would eventually lead to his 4th All-Australian selection.
Against the Essendon Football Club in round 10, McLeod played his 250th game at AAMI Stadium where he tallied 18 disposals while soaring for a spectacular mark in a 138-point demolition of the Bombers. Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League.
For much of the season, however, McLeod played with a painful bursa in his left foot. A bursa (plural bursae or bursas; Latin: Bursa synovialis) is a small fluid-filled sac made of white fibrous tissue and lined with Synovial After round 16, the decision was made for him to undergo surgery to remove the bursa, an operation expected to keep him out for a few weeks.
McLeod made a relatively earlier than expected return to the side in round 19. However, by round 21, after a disappointing loss to Port Adelaide, his foot was heavily infected and the club announced that he would require further surgery along with the disappointing news that he would more than likely miss the rest of the season and Finals. Port Adelaide Football Club, often referred to as simply Port or the Power is an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia [3]
Despite rating himself just a "two out of ten" chance to return for the finals [4], McLeod made a surprise return to the side in the preliminary final against the West Coast Eagles. West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. After a promising first half, however, McLeod and the Crows were swamped by the West Coast midfield in the second half to eventually lose by ten points. McLeod kicked a superb boundary line goal from the southwest pocket which bought the crowd to its feet but it couldn't give Adelaide the momentum back. Mcleod polled 7 votes in the 2006 Brownlow Medal. For the list of winners of the award see List of Brownlow Medal winners.
2007
Prior to the start of the AFL 2007 season, McLeod won the Polly Farmer Medal after being the best for the Indigenous All-Stars in a disappointing 50-point loss to Essendon. Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. McLeod, the side's captain, kicked two goals to be his team's leading goalkicker.
McLeod played most of 2007 again as a half-back flanker, sweeping up loose balls and creating his trademark run out of defense with his smooth skills. McLeod, however, was well held in his final game of the season, finishing with just 12 disposals after being heavily tagged by Hawthorn's Richard Vandenberg in Adelaide's thrilling loss to the Hawks in the elimination final. Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL founded in 1902 Richard "Richie" Vandenberg (born 14 January 1977 was an Australian Rules Footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian
Nevertheless, McLeod had a fine season. His average of 23. 9 disposals was his highest since finishing runner-up for the Brownlow Medal in 2001. This was duely acknowledged when he was announced as a 2007 All-Australian on the half-back flank as well as captain of the 2007 All-Australian team. [5] McLeod polled 15 votes in the 2007 Brownlow Medal and won the club's Best and Fairest award. The 2007 Brownlow Medal was held at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne Victoria on September 24, 2007.
Personal life and controversies
Despite separating for a short while in 2004, Andrew is still currently married to Rachael. Rachael was rumored to be responsible for an alleged feud between the McLeod's and Tyson Edwards and Tyson's wife, Mandy. Tyson Caleb Edwards (born 6 August 1976 is an Australian rules footballer with the Adelaide Football Club.
McLeod was also apparently involved in a feud with long-time best friend and No. 1 Crows ticketholder Lleyton Hewitt, who is understood to be good friends with the Edwards. Lleyton Glynn Hewitt ( IPA: /ˈleɪtʌn ˈhjuːʌt/ (born 24 February 1981 is a former World No McLeod was reported (in Australian newspapers) to refuse footage of a sacred Aboriginal site to be used on a DVD of Hewitt's. Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. [6]
External links
- Andrew McLeod profile on the Official AFL Website of the Adelaide Football Club
- Andrew McLeod's statistics from AFL Tables
References
- ^ Alpha magazine, September 2005
- ^ "Andrew McLeod career statistics", FootyWire.
- ^ "McLeod sidelined with foot infection", ABC Sport.
- ^ "McLeod almost out of time", AFL. com. au.
- ^ "McLeod chosen as All Australian skipper", ABC News.
- ^ "Hewitt - love him or hate him", The Age.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Glenn Archer | Norm Smith Medallist 1997-1998 | Succeeded by Shannon Grant |
| Preceded by Matthew Liptak | Adelaide Best and Fairest winner 1997 | Succeeded by Mark Ricciuto |
| Preceded by Anthony Koutoufides | Leigh Matthews Trophy 2001 | Succeeded by Luke Darcy, Michael Voss |
| Preceded by Simon Goodwin | Adelaide Best and Fairest winner 2001 | Succeeded by Ben Hart |
| Preceded by Brad Johnson | All-Australian Team Captain 2007 | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Simon Goodwin | Adelaide Best and Fairest winner 2007 | Succeeded by Incumbent |
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic