Aaron Edwards
Encyclopedia
Aaron Edwards is an Australian rules football
er for the North Melbourne Football Club
.
to a Samoan mother and New Zealand
er father. He migrated with his family to Australia at the age of two (1986) and played rugby union
until the age of 13. He played Rugby Union for Endeavour Hills where the current Quensland Reds winger Digby Ioane originated from. Aaron Edward's first cousin, Siliva Siliva currently play's for the Western Force and also played for the Australian school boy's and also, Australia A. He then played soccer before trying Aussie Rules.
He played his junior football with the Hampton Park Football Club and the Seaford Football Club
before being selected to play for the Dandenong Stingrays
in the TAC Cup
. In 2001, while still a junior playing in the Mornington Peninsula
region, Edwards represented Samoa, playing for the Samoa national team in an international match against Nauru during Nauru's tour of Australia.
. After teammates were forced onto the long-term injury list, he was elevated from the rookie list for a few games at senior level.
Had an influential debut game in West Coast's victory against Richmond
in Round 11, 2005.
A combination of less impressive performances in his following three games, along with knee surgery, found Edwards de-listed from West Coast
at the end of the 2005 season.
.
Edwards had a sensational 2006 season with the Frankston Dolphins winning the Frosty Miller Medal for kicking the most goals in the home and away season. Described in the VFL record as the "Goalkicking Gladiator", he then reached his final tally of 100 goals in the Dolphins' semi-final. He also collected the J. J. Liston Trophy
as the VFL's Best & Fairest player for 2006 with eighteen votes.
selected Aaron Edwards in the 2006 AFL Draft
with their sixth round selection (82nd overall pick) effectively giving Edwards a rare second chance at elite level.
In 2007, Edwards began the season solidly, earning himself a spot in the senior side as a leading full-forward in the absence of Nathan Thompson
. His game features hard leading and he has managed to kick more than a goal a game on several occasions as well as drawing attention for taking spectacular contested marks including a nomination for the Mark of the Year
. Commentators consistently draw comparisons of Aaron Edwards game to Melbourne Demons small forward star Russell Robertson
.
During the 2008 season, Edwards broke his leg playing against the Sydney Swans
, after which he would miss most of the season and fortunately return in round 20.
Edwards form lapsed, managing just 14 goals from 10 goals in 2009. Despite starting 2010 strongly he was eventually dropped to the VFL before returning to some form for North Ballarat in the reserves, impressing with a seven goal haul and spectacular mark against Collingwood.
In 2011, Edwards has finally cemented his spot in the team with a 6 goal haul against Melbourne and 5 goals against Gold Coast. After round 12, he has kicked 22 goals and only 2 behinds (92%)
In May 2009, Edwards had his licence revoked for four years for drink driving and fined $1,500 for refusing a breath test.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
.
Early life
Edwards was born in SamoaSamoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
to a Samoan mother and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
er father. He migrated with his family to Australia at the age of two (1986) and played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
until the age of 13. He played Rugby Union for Endeavour Hills where the current Quensland Reds winger Digby Ioane originated from. Aaron Edward's first cousin, Siliva Siliva currently play's for the Western Force and also played for the Australian school boy's and also, Australia A. He then played soccer before trying Aussie Rules.
He played his junior football with the Hampton Park Football Club and the Seaford Football Club
Seaford Football Club
The Seaford Football Club was born in late 1921, when formation meetings were held at Armstrong’s Grocery Store, Martins Garage and Weatherley’s Milk Bar....
before being selected to play for the Dandenong Stingrays
Dandenong Stingrays
The Dandenong Stingrays are an Australian rules football team in a Victorian under 18s league called the TAC Cup.1992 saw the birth of the ‘Southern Stingrays’ and they were developed under the leadership of Steve Kennedy and Ron Roach with the home base located at the Ben Kavanagh Reserve,...
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
. In 2001, while still a junior playing in the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
region, Edwards represented Samoa, playing for the Samoa national team in an international match against Nauru during Nauru's tour of Australia.
West Coast Eagles career
Edwards began his AFL at West Coast, after being taken in the AFL rookie draftAFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
. After teammates were forced onto the long-term injury list, he was elevated from the rookie list for a few games at senior level.
Had an influential debut game in West Coast's victory against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in Round 11, 2005.
A combination of less impressive performances in his following three games, along with knee surgery, found Edwards de-listed from West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
at the end of the 2005 season.
Post-West Coast career
In 2006 Edwards signed up with the Frankston Dolphins in the VFLVFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
.
Edwards had a sensational 2006 season with the Frankston Dolphins winning the Frosty Miller Medal for kicking the most goals in the home and away season. Described in the VFL record as the "Goalkicking Gladiator", he then reached his final tally of 100 goals in the Dolphins' semi-final. He also collected the J. J. Liston Trophy
J. J. Liston Trophy
The J. J. Liston Trophy is awarded to the best and fairest senior player in the Victorian Football League .-History:The VFA awarded the Recorder Cup from 1923 to 1941, and also ran a different award known as the VFA Medal .After a hiatus in 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, a best and fairest award...
as the VFL's Best & Fairest player for 2006 with eighteen votes.
North Melbourne career
On 25 November 2006 the North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
selected Aaron Edwards in the 2006 AFL Draft
2006 AFL Draft
The 2006 AFL Draft is a recent national draft of the Australian Football League. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League....
with their sixth round selection (82nd overall pick) effectively giving Edwards a rare second chance at elite level.
In 2007, Edwards began the season solidly, earning himself a spot in the senior side as a leading full-forward in the absence of Nathan Thompson
Nathan Thompson
Nathan Thompson is a former Australian rules footballer, who previously played with the Hawthorn and North Melbourne Football Clubs in the Australian Football League. He is currently a part of the Panel on the Sunday Footy Show....
. His game features hard leading and he has managed to kick more than a goal a game on several occasions as well as drawing attention for taking spectacular contested marks including a nomination for the Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
. Commentators consistently draw comparisons of Aaron Edwards game to Melbourne Demons small forward star Russell Robertson
Russell Robertson
Russell "Robbo" Robertson is a professional Australian rules footballer, who last played for the Melbourne Football Club....
.
During the 2008 season, Edwards broke his leg playing against the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, after which he would miss most of the season and fortunately return in round 20.
Edwards form lapsed, managing just 14 goals from 10 goals in 2009. Despite starting 2010 strongly he was eventually dropped to the VFL before returning to some form for North Ballarat in the reserves, impressing with a seven goal haul and spectacular mark against Collingwood.
In 2011, Edwards has finally cemented his spot in the team with a 6 goal haul against Melbourne and 5 goals against Gold Coast. After round 12, he has kicked 22 goals and only 2 behinds (92%)
Off field controversies
In January 2009, Edwards was caught driving way over the speed limit by police and found to have alcohol in his system. He was immediately suspended by the club for the first four matches of the 2009 AFL premiership season and fined $5,000.In May 2009, Edwards had his licence revoked for four years for drink driving and fined $1,500 for refusing a breath test.