Brett Montgomery
Encyclopedia
Brett Montgomery is a retired Australian rules football
player and current assistant coach with the Western Bulldogs
.
, and was recruited by Essendon Football Club (U19's & reserves) but was dropped from their list in 1991. Montgomery was also a talented cricketer, and had captained the under-19s Victorian
team. In 1992 and 1993 he played club cricket in the Durham League and Middlesex League in England, before returning to Australia to refresh his Australian rules football
career. He played with VFL
side Springvale
, playing in a premiership, then being picked up by Footscray
, on their supplementary list. He won their reserves Best and Fairest
, and finally at the end of 1996 was recruited to the Bulldogs' senior list (who had, by the time Montgomery first played in 1997, changed their name to the Western Bulldogs
) for his chance to play at AFL
level.
'Monty' is married to Terri Montgomery and has four children, Owen, Harper, Louie and Willow Montgomery.
, where he won the John Cahill Medal
in his first season there in 2000. He won All-Australian selection in 2002, also playing in the International Rules series of that year.
Montgomery won a premiership medallion when his team won the 2004 Grand Final
to win their first premiership in the AFL
, capping off another solid season. In 2005, despite another strong year and finishing 6th in the John Cahill Medal
, Montgomery was delisted by Port Adelaide
coach Mark Williams, citing a focus on youth in the club's rebuilding phase. But he wasn't keen on retiring. He had only played 9 seasons at the elite level.
, the club he started his AFL career with, picked him up in the 2005 AFL Draft
, and he became an important player in the 2006 season. In the Elimination Final win against Collingwood, he came back from a hard bump in the opening seconds from Brodie Holland
and kicked an important career-best haul of four goals.
and had not played a match since. After being told that his recovery would take 6 to 18 months, he immediately announced his retirement, and has since joined ABC Local Radio as a special comments commentator. After the close of the 2007 season, Montgomery signed as an assistant coach at Port
, where he assumed the role as the defense coach until the end of the 2009 AFL season.
In September 2010, Montgomery made a second return to the Western Bulldogs
, this time as an assistant coach, taking over the role vacated by Leon Cameron
who defected to the Hawthorn Football Club
.
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 current assistant coach with 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...
.
Early life
Montgomery, known as "Monty", was originally recruited from South CroydonSouth Croydon
South Croydon is a locality in Greater London, the area surrounding the valley south of central Croydon about 1 km in radius, centred on the Red Deer public house on the Brighton Road. It is part of the South Croydon post town and in the London Borough of Croydon...
, and was recruited by Essendon Football Club (U19's & reserves) but was dropped from their list in 1991. Montgomery was also a talented cricketer, and had captained the under-19s Victorian
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
team. In 1992 and 1993 he played club cricket in the Durham League and Middlesex League in England, before returning to Australia to refresh his Australian rules football
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...
career. He played with VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
side Springvale
Springvale, Victoria
Springvale is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, approximately 20 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Greater Dandenong...
, playing in a premiership, then being picked up by Footscray
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...
, on their supplementary list. He won their reserves Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
, and finally at the end of 1996 was recruited to the Bulldogs' senior list (who had, by the time Montgomery first played in 1997, changed their name 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...
) for his chance to play at AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
level.
'Monty' is married to Terri Montgomery and has four children, Owen, Harper, Louie and Willow Montgomery.
Western Bulldogs career (1997–1999)
He made his AFL debut in Round 2, 1997, beginning his career at the relatively late age of 23. He quickly adapted to AFL level, becoming a consistent and highly-skilled half-back or running defender.Port Adelaide career (2000–2005)
After 3 seasons at the Bulldogs, he was traded to the Port Adelaide Football ClubPort Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, where he won the John Cahill Medal
John Cahill Medal
The John Cahill Medal, named after Port Adelaide Power's inaugural AFL coach John Cahill, is awarded to the Best and Fairest player every season for the Port Adelaide Football Club.-Recipients:-Multiple Recipients:...
in his first season there in 2000. He won All-Australian selection in 2002, also playing in the International Rules series of that year.
Montgomery won a premiership medallion when his team won the 2004 Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
to win their first premiership in the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, capping off another solid season. In 2005, despite another strong year and finishing 6th in the John Cahill Medal
John Cahill Medal
The John Cahill Medal, named after Port Adelaide Power's inaugural AFL coach John Cahill, is awarded to the Best and Fairest player every season for the Port Adelaide Football Club.-Recipients:-Multiple Recipients:...
, Montgomery was delisted by Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
coach Mark Williams, citing a focus on youth in the club's rebuilding phase. But he wasn't keen on retiring. He had only played 9 seasons at the elite level.
Western Bulldogs return (2006–2007)
The Western BulldogsWestern 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...
, the club he started his AFL career with, picked him up in the 2005 AFL Draft
2005 AFL Draft
The 2005 AFL Draft was the 2005 instance of the AFL Draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.The 2005 Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period...
, and he became an important player in the 2006 season. In the Elimination Final win against Collingwood, he came back from a hard bump in the opening seconds from Brodie Holland
Brodie Holland
Brodie Holland is a former professional Australian rules footballer best known for his playing days at the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League....
and kicked an important career-best haul of four goals.
Retirement
On May 25, 2007, Montgomery announced his retirement after 204 games. He received a knock to the back area in round 1, 2007, against GeelongGeelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and had not played a match since. After being told that his recovery would take 6 to 18 months, he immediately announced his retirement, and has since joined ABC Local Radio as a special comments commentator. After the close of the 2007 season, Montgomery signed as an assistant coach at Port
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, where he assumed the role as the defense coach until the end of the 2009 AFL season.
In September 2010, Montgomery made a second return 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...
, this time as an assistant coach, taking over the role vacated by Leon Cameron
Leon Cameron
Leon Cameron is a former Australian rules footballer, who played in the Australian Football League .Cameron was the 7th selection in the 1988 National Draft for the Footscray Football Club...
who defected to the Hawthorn Football Club
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...
.