Andrew McDougall
Encyclopedia
Andrew McDougall is a former Australian rules football
er who last played for the Western Bulldogs
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
in Perth
, Western Australia
.
He was seen as a potential professional player from a young age as his height made him stand out on the football field. He won the junior football league's Best and Fairest award at under 14s level.
He was touted as a potential number one draft pick. However, a torn calf muscle did not allow him to perform to his full potential at the AFL draft camp and as a result Nick Riewoldt
was selected as the number one pick.
McDougall was recruited as the number 5 draft pick in the 2000 AFL Draft
from Perth
.
in Round 22, 2002 against the Kangaroos
in Canberra
. He was plagued by injuries and indifferent form, and was much maligned by West Coast
supporters for being an underachieving talent. 2004 was McDougall's best season at West Coast, in which he kicked 35 goals from 21 games. This included a four-goal haul against then-Brisbane Lions defender Mal Michael
at The Gabba before half time.
McDougall was selected in round 1, 2005 despite a shoulder injury limiting his pre-season. He re-injured the shoulder early in the game and was sidelined until round 16.
He only managed one AFL game in 2006, forcing his way into the team after a string of good performances in the WAFL
, only to be dropped after West Coast's defeat to Collingwood
.
At the end of the 2006 season West Coast offered McDougall a one year contract, but due to lack of opportunities at the club he opted to be traded to the Western Bulldogs
who had shown an interest in McDougall over the past few years.
, a deal was struck between the Western Bulldogs and West Coast. The Eagles received the Western Bulldogs' second and fourth round draft picks in exchange for McDougall, and the Eagles owned second and fourth round picks. Before the 2007 season commenced, Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade
said the additions of new recruits Andrew McDougall and Jason Akermanis
would make the team genuine premiership chances over the next three years.
He played five games for the Bulldogs in his short career. McDougall's best game was against Hawthorn
in round 21 where he received four votes in the Bulldogs' 2007 Best and Fairest Award. The cult following he generated among some Bulldogs fans was highlighted by the standing ovation he received when Master of Ceremonies Craig Willis
announced the votes.
However, McDougall was unable to break into the Bulldogs team the following season and announced his retirement from the club on 17 July 2008.
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 who last played for the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Junior football and Draft
McDougall played his junior football at the South Perth Junior Football Club and his school football at Wesley CollegeWesley College, Perth
Wesley College, informally known as Wesley, is an independent, day and boarding school for boys and girls , situated in South Perth, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
He was seen as a potential professional player from a young age as his height made him stand out on the football field. He won the junior football league's Best and Fairest award at under 14s level.
He was touted as a potential number one draft pick. However, a torn calf muscle did not allow him to perform to his full potential at the AFL draft camp and as a result Nick Riewoldt
Nick Riewoldt
Nick Riewoldt is an Australian rules footballer who is the current captain of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League . He was the first draft selection in the 2000 AFL Draft.-Early life:...
was selected as the number one pick.
McDougall was recruited as the number 5 draft pick in the 2000 AFL Draft
2000 AFL Draft
The 2000 AFL Draft was the annual draft of talented Australian rules football players by teams that participate in the Australian Football League. It consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation....
from Perth
Perth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
.
Career at West Coast
McDougall made his debut for the West Coast EaglesWest 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...
in Round 22, 2002 against the Kangaroos
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...
in Canberra
Manuka Oval
Manuka Oval is a 13,550 capacity ground located in the suburb of Griffith, adjacent to Manuka, a business district of Canberra, Australia's capital....
. He was plagued by injuries and indifferent form, and was much maligned by 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...
supporters for being an underachieving talent. 2004 was McDougall's best season at West Coast, in which he kicked 35 goals from 21 games. This included a four-goal haul against then-Brisbane Lions defender Mal Michael
Mal Michael
Malcolm Roberto "Mal" Michael is a former Australian rules footballer. He is notable for his successful professional Australian Football League career. Following a career spanned 238 games and three clubs in two Australian states he is best known as a triple premiership full-back with the...
at The Gabba before half time.
McDougall was selected in round 1, 2005 despite a shoulder injury limiting his pre-season. He re-injured the shoulder early in the game and was sidelined until round 16.
He only managed one AFL game in 2006, forcing his way into the team after a string of good performances in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
, only to be dropped after West Coast's defeat to Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
At the end of the 2006 season West Coast offered McDougall a one year contract, but due to lack of opportunities at the club he opted to be traded to the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
who had shown an interest in McDougall over the past few years.
Career at the Western Bulldogs
On day four of the 2006 Trade Week2006 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....
, a deal was struck between the Western Bulldogs and West Coast. The Eagles received the Western Bulldogs' second and fourth round draft picks in exchange for McDougall, and the Eagles owned second and fourth round picks. Before the 2007 season commenced, Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade
Rodney Eade
Rodney "Rocket" Eade is a former Australian rules footballer and the former coach of the Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League...
said the additions of new recruits Andrew McDougall and Jason Akermanis
Jason Akermanis
Jason Dean Akermanis is an Australian rules football player. He is a Brownlow Medallist and triple premiership player who played for the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs...
would make the team genuine premiership chances over the next three years.
He played five games for the Bulldogs in his short career. McDougall's best game was against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in round 21 where he received four votes in the Bulldogs' 2007 Best and Fairest Award. The cult following he generated among some Bulldogs fans was highlighted by the standing ovation he received when Master of Ceremonies Craig Willis
Craig Willis
Craig Willis is an Australian announcer who has appeared as the voice of many of the Seven Network's AFL Grand Final broadcasts. He is known to many as the 'voice of the AFL'...
announced the votes.
However, McDougall was unable to break into the Bulldogs team the following season and announced his retirement from the club on 17 July 2008.