Brett Backwell
Encyclopedia
Brett Backwell is an Australian rules football
player who achieved some international notoriety in 2005 when he opted to have a finger removed to enable him to continue his chosen sport.
. He was drafted to the elite AFL competition at number 67 selection in the 1998 AFL Draft
, turning down offers from American universities to play American college football
. His father Owen was a winner of the QAFL's Grogan Medal
in 1971 and 1975.
Backwell debuted in the opening Round of the 1999 season. Played primarily as a small forward, he showed some opportunist play and in his 18 games managed a creditable 12 goals. He was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award
.
He spent much of 2001 playing in Carlton's stand-alone reserves team in the VFL
, where he won the J. J. Liston Trophy
for best and fairest http://www.footysa.com/article.php?sid=341&mode=&order=0&thold=0. He was delisted at the end of the 2001 season.
in an effort to rekindle his AFL career, Backwell quickly shone at this lower level of competition, finishing 4th in the Magarey Medal
.
In 2003 Backwell moved to Glenelg, joining his former team mate from Carlton, Heath Culpitt
. Selection in SANFL State teams followed 2003, 2005–2006, included the 2003 win over Western Australia, earning him the Fos Williams Medal
for a best-on-ground performance http://www.sanfl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=98288.
In 2006 Backwell won the highest individual award in the League, the Magarey Medal
, a testament heightened by the decision to sacrifice a finger to continue playing football a year earlier. In post-award interviews he said he has not given up hope of again playing in the AFL, and hoped his Magarey win will spark interest from other clubs http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200610/s1756838.htm, but this did not eventuate and he continued to play with Glenelg until 2009. In seven seasons for the Tigers, Backwell played more than 150 games.
Backwell spent the 2009/10 summer playing in the Northern Territory Football League
for Waratah; as a result of playing for Waratah instead of participating in Glenelg's preseason, Backwell was sacked by his SANFL club. He sat out the 2010 SANFL season, then returned in 2011 for North Adelaide.
to appear on the September 22 episode of The Late Show with David Letterman http://www.usfooty.com/usfooty/newsitem.aspx?id=574
The finger had caused him constant pain and restricted movement since injuring it in 2002. Surgeons offered him the option of fusing the bones in his finger, but he declined this as it would not have allowed him to continue playing.
He has since continued to play football without any complications from missing the finger, and in 2010 headed north to continue his career.
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 who achieved some international notoriety in 2005 when he opted to have a finger removed to enable him to continue his chosen sport.
AFL career
Backwell played his junior football in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. He was drafted to the elite AFL competition at number 67 selection in the 1998 AFL Draft
1998 AFL Draft
The 1998 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 1998 there...
, turning down offers from American universities to play American college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. His father Owen was a winner of the QAFL's Grogan Medal
Grogan Medal
The Grogan Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the best and fairest player in home and away rounds of each season's QAFL/Queensland State League competition. It was first awarded in 1946, previously the league's best player won the De Little Medal.-Winners:-External links:*...
in 1971 and 1975.
Backwell debuted in the opening Round of the 1999 season. Played primarily as a small forward, he showed some opportunist play and in his 18 games managed a creditable 12 goals. He was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award
AFL Rising Star award
The NAB AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a standout young player in the Australian Football League. Since 2007 the winner has been presented with the Ron Evans Medal and was first awarded in 1993...
.
He spent much of 2001 playing in Carlton's stand-alone reserves team in the VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
, where he won 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...
for best and fairest http://www.footysa.com/article.php?sid=341&mode=&order=0&thold=0. He was delisted at the end of the 2001 season.
SANFL career
Lured to South Australia by West AdelaideWest Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
in an effort to rekindle his AFL career, Backwell quickly shone at this lower level of competition, finishing 4th in the Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
.
In 2003 Backwell moved to Glenelg, joining his former team mate from Carlton, Heath Culpitt
Heath Culpitt
Heath Culpitt is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Australian Football League.-Sources:*Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim . The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 8th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing....
. Selection in SANFL State teams followed 2003, 2005–2006, included the 2003 win over Western Australia, earning him the Fos Williams Medal
Fos Williams Medal
The Fos Williams Medal has been awarded since 1981 to the best Australian rules football player from South Australia during Inter-State or Inter-Competition matches. The medal is named in honour of legendary South Australian National Football League player and coach Fos Williams.Originally the...
for a best-on-ground performance http://www.sanfl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=98288.
In 2006 Backwell won the highest individual award in the League, the Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
, a testament heightened by the decision to sacrifice a finger to continue playing football a year earlier. In post-award interviews he said he has not given up hope of again playing in the AFL, and hoped his Magarey win will spark interest from other clubs http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200610/s1756838.htm, but this did not eventuate and he continued to play with Glenelg until 2009. In seven seasons for the Tigers, Backwell played more than 150 games.
Backwell spent the 2009/10 summer playing in the Northern Territory Football League
Northern Territory Football League
The Northern Territory Football League is an 8 team Australian rules football semi-professional league operating in Darwin in the Northern Territory.The premier grade is the largest Australian rules football league in the Northern Territory...
for Waratah; as a result of playing for Waratah instead of participating in Glenelg's preseason, Backwell was sacked by his SANFL club. He sat out the 2010 SANFL season, then returned in 2011 for North Adelaide.
Finger amputation
In 2005 Backwell enjoyed a brief period of international celebrity status when he announced that he was to have part of his left ring finger amputated http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200509/s1458815.htm. He was flown to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to appear on the September 22 episode of The Late Show with David Letterman http://www.usfooty.com/usfooty/newsitem.aspx?id=574
The finger had caused him constant pain and restricted movement since injuring it in 2002. Surgeons offered him the option of fusing the bones in his finger, but he declined this as it would not have allowed him to continue playing.
He has since continued to play football without any complications from missing the finger, and in 2010 headed north to continue his career.
External sources
- www.blueseum.org summary of Carlton career
- ABC Sport Australian Broadcasting Commission article about the finger amputation
- SANFL News article on transfer to Glenelg
- FootySA summary of V/AFL career