Brad Green (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Brad Green is a professional Australian rules football
player and the current captain
of the Melbourne Football Club
's in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
and soccer as a teenager. He captained the Australian under-15 cricket team. During his early soccer-playing days as a teenager he was scouted by Manchester United
. After spending a month at Old Trafford
, the 15-year-old Green trained with Walsall
, a lower division English club, and was offered a contract but turned it down, choosing to finish his schooling in Tasmania
. Green remains a soccer fan and supporter of the Melbourne Victory. Surprisingly Green only began playing Australian Rules seriously in his mid teens – after returning from England
– but his talent was obvious. Green decided to focus his sporting attention on the local game and was subsequently drafted to Melbourne in the 1999 AFL Draft
.
, but were ultimately unsuccessful, losing to Essendon
.
After working his way into a greater role in the midfield in 2004, Green found plenty of the ball both forward and through the midfield in 2005. His penetrating and very accurate left foot kicking was effective to leading forwards or in front of goals. He often sets up Melbourne's marking forwards. He played in 21 of a possible 23 games in 2005, consolidating himself as an integral part of the Demons outfit in 2006 with consistent displays in the midfield and excelling as part of the leadership group. Green wears the number 18 guernsey for Melbourne.
Described as a "soft" player early in his career, Green noticeably toughened himself up late in 2006, attacking the football with renewed vigour and courage. This resulted in him taking a higher number of contested marks in 2007. In the 2007 season, he played very good football both in defence, the midfield, and in the forward line. Green continued his solid form into the 2008 season, being one of Melbourne's few highlights in a miserable season. It took time for Green to decide if he wanted to go on and play with the Demons in 2009 but eventually signed a contract and agreeing to stay red and blue for another 3 years.
In 2010, Green had his best season to date, kicking 55 goals and taking 153 marks, both ranked sixth in the AFL, in a young Melbourne side to make the All-Australian squad and win his first Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
. Green finished on 295 votes to win the award from James Frawley
(277) and Mark Jamar
(231). He also won the Ron Barrassi Leadership Award and the "Heart and Soul" Award, pushing his case to be the next captain of the Demons, after the retirement of James McDonald
.
The 2011 started successfully for Green as he was named the new Melbourne captain
in late January. Succeeding James McDonald
, who retired at the end of 2010, Green described being named captain as a "surreal experience". After a relatively successful first year as captain of the club, Green was named captain of the Australian International rules football team for the 2011 Series
in Australia. Green was the only Australian to kick a goal during the 2011 International Rules Series, many commentators named this goal a 'captain's goal'.
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...
player and the current captain
Captain (Australian rules football)
A captain of an Australian rules football team, sometimes known as a skipper is a player who, during the course of a match and off the field, has several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player....
of the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
's 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).
Early life
A natural sportsman, Green played representative cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and soccer as a teenager. He captained the Australian under-15 cricket team. During his early soccer-playing days as a teenager he was scouted by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. After spending a month at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, the 15-year-old Green trained with Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, a lower division English club, and was offered a contract but turned it down, choosing to finish his schooling in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Green remains a soccer fan and supporter of the Melbourne Victory. Surprisingly Green only began playing Australian Rules seriously in his mid teens – after returning from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
– but his talent was obvious. Green decided to focus his sporting attention on the local game and was subsequently drafted to Melbourne in the 1999 AFL Draft
1999 AFL Draft
The 1999 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. 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.In 1999 there...
.
AFL career
Green made his AFL debut in 2000. Melbourne had a highly successful year in 2000 and in his first year of AFL football Green played an important role in the Melbourne forward line. Melbourne made the Grand Final2000 AFL Grand Final
The 2000 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 2 September 2000. It was the 104th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian...
, but were ultimately unsuccessful, losing to Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
After working his way into a greater role in the midfield in 2004, Green found plenty of the ball both forward and through the midfield in 2005. His penetrating and very accurate left foot kicking was effective to leading forwards or in front of goals. He often sets up Melbourne's marking forwards. He played in 21 of a possible 23 games in 2005, consolidating himself as an integral part of the Demons outfit in 2006 with consistent displays in the midfield and excelling as part of the leadership group. Green wears the number 18 guernsey for Melbourne.
Described as a "soft" player early in his career, Green noticeably toughened himself up late in 2006, attacking the football with renewed vigour and courage. This resulted in him taking a higher number of contested marks in 2007. In the 2007 season, he played very good football both in defence, the midfield, and in the forward line. Green continued his solid form into the 2008 season, being one of Melbourne's few highlights in a miserable season. It took time for Green to decide if he wanted to go on and play with the Demons in 2009 but eventually signed a contract and agreeing to stay red and blue for another 3 years.
In 2010, Green had his best season to date, kicking 55 goals and taking 153 marks, both ranked sixth in the AFL, in a young Melbourne side to make the All-Australian squad and win his first Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Melbourne Football Club player judged Best and Fairest for the season.It is named in honor of Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, a former dual premiership player and World War II fighter ace killed in 1943....
. Green finished on 295 votes to win the award from James Frawley
James Frawley (Australian rules footballer)
James Frawley is a professional Australian rules footballer, playing with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
(277) and Mark Jamar
Mark Jamar
Mark "Russian" Jamar is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Early life:...
(231). He also won the Ron Barrassi Leadership Award and the "Heart and Soul" Award, pushing his case to be the next captain of the Demons, after the retirement of James McDonald
James McDonald (footballer)
James McDonald is an Australian rules footballer, currently contracted to in the Australian Football League . He previously played for and captained the Melbourne Football Club.- Career :...
.
The 2011 started successfully for Green as he was named the new Melbourne captain
Captain (Australian rules football)
A captain of an Australian rules football team, sometimes known as a skipper is a player who, during the course of a match and off the field, has several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player....
in late January. Succeeding James McDonald
James McDonald (footballer)
James McDonald is an Australian rules footballer, currently contracted to in the Australian Football League . He previously played for and captained the Melbourne Football Club.- Career :...
, who retired at the end of 2010, Green described being named captain as a "surreal experience". After a relatively successful first year as captain of the club, Green was named captain of the Australian International rules football team for the 2011 Series
2011 International Rules Series
The 2011 International Rules Series was the 13th International Rules Series contested between Gaelic footballers from Ireland and Australian rules footballers from Australia. The series was played over two test matches, with Ireland winning the series by 130-65 points on aggregate...
in Australia. Green was the only Australian to kick a goal during the 2011 International Rules Series, many commentators named this goal a 'captain's goal'.