Clive Waterhouse
Encyclopedia
Clive Waterhouse is a former Australian rules football
er. He played in the Australian Football League
for the Fremantle Football Club
as a half-forward flanker. His main attributes on the field were his pace, long kicking and ability to do the impossible, but often not to do the expected, which often ended in comical results.
after an outstanding season for Port Adelaide Magpies
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL), including being a member of the 1995 premiership team.
Waterhouse made his debut in round 3, 1996 against the reigning premiers Carlton Football Club
. Despite Carlton being on an 18 game winning streak, Fremantle won by 53 points. Waterhouse was quiet, with only 2 kicks, but did manage a goal. He was in and out of the team for the remainder of the year, finishing with 11 games for 9 goals.
star full forward, Tony Modra
to Fremantle. Modra and Waterhouse would make a dangerous pairing for the following two seasons, combining for over 100 goals each year. Waterhouse played all bar one game and finished 3rd in the best and fairest
award in those two seasons before injuries took their toll from 2001 onwards. He also represented Australia in the International rules series against Ireland in 1999. Round 21, 2000 would be Waterhouse's greatest on-field moment. In the infamous Demolition Derby against West Coast, Waterhouse sparked a last half comeback from being 42 points behind 6 minutes into the 3rd quarter. His career high seven goals earned him three Brownlow Medal
votes and helped Fremantle to their greatest ever comeback to win by 1 point.
would delay his start to the 2001 season until round 3 and repeated hamstring
strains would restrict him to only six games and 10 goals for the season. 2002 was even worse, with an anterior cruciate ligament
injury also occurring during a preseason game at Fremantle Oval ruling him out for the entire season. Waterhouse made his return to AFL football in round 4 2003, but he couldn't recapture his form from 1999 or 2000 and was dropped after kicking only seven goals from eight games. Having played 99 games to this point, and with Fremantle going on to make the finals for the first time, many thought that Clive would be marooned one game short of the century. However, Waterhouse was named to play in the first game of 2004 to reach the milestone. He played a further six games in 2004 for seven goals before poor form, injuries and the desire of Fremantle officials to rebuild the team forced him from the squad.
Even after the end of his AFL career, Waterhouse was the subject of controversy when he deserted his West Australian Football League
feeder team Claremont
, on the eve of the 2004 WAFL Grand Final. Waterhouse had been arguably the best player for the club that season, and Claremont lost the Grand Final.
In 2007 he again injured his anterior cruciate ligament
while playing in the SANFL.
In 2009 he played for the Mannum Roos in South Australia's River Murray Football League.
Wearing Guernsey number 26 from throughout his AFL career, he was the first player to score 100 goals for Fremantle. He retired with 178 goals, a then-club record (until Matthew Pavlich
surpassed this in 2006).
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. He played 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...
for the Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
as a half-forward flanker. His main attributes on the field were his pace, long kicking and ability to do the impossible, but often not to do the expected, which often ended in comical results.
Early career
Despite being a late starter to game, having mainly played soccer until the age of 17, he was the first selection in the 1995 AFL Draft1995 AFL Draft
The 1995 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1995 Australian Football League season.The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football clubs that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.Clubs receive picks based...
after an outstanding season for Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL), including being a member of the 1995 premiership team.
Waterhouse made his debut in round 3, 1996 against the reigning premiers Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. Despite Carlton being on an 18 game winning streak, Fremantle won by 53 points. Waterhouse was quiet, with only 2 kicks, but did manage a goal. He was in and out of the team for the remainder of the year, finishing with 11 games for 9 goals.
Inconsistency
1997 and 1998 would also be inconsistent seasons, with Waterhouse being dropped or injured numerous times. Despite only playing 16 games in 1998, Waterhouse was Fremantle's leading goalkicker with 30 goals.Career peak
1999 saw the recruiting of Adelaide CrowsAdelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
star full forward, Tony Modra
Tony Modra
Anthony 'Tony' Dale Modra is a former Australian rules football player, known for his spectacular marks. He played for the Adelaide Football Club and Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League, mainly at full forward. Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best...
to Fremantle. Modra and Waterhouse would make a dangerous pairing for the following two seasons, combining for over 100 goals each year. Waterhouse played all bar one game and finished 3rd in the best and fairest
Doig Medal
The Doig Medal is the best and fairest award given out to the player considered best and fairest during a season for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL....
award in those two seasons before injuries took their toll from 2001 onwards. He also represented Australia in the International rules series against Ireland in 1999. Round 21, 2000 would be Waterhouse's greatest on-field moment. In the infamous Demolition Derby against West Coast, Waterhouse sparked a last half comeback from being 42 points behind 6 minutes into the 3rd quarter. His career high seven goals earned him three Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes and helped Fremantle to their greatest ever comeback to win by 1 point.
Injuries and career decline
A broken collarbone sustained during a pre-season game against Geelong at Fremantle OvalFremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval is a stadium in the centre of Fremantle, Western Australia. It currently has a capacity of 17,500 with terracing and a members area holding 750. Fremantle Oval was originally used for cricket, but in 1895 hosted its first game of Australian rules football...
would delay his start to the 2001 season until round 3 and repeated hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
strains would restrict him to only six games and 10 goals for the season. 2002 was even worse, with an anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury also occurring during a preseason game at Fremantle Oval ruling him out for the entire season. Waterhouse made his return to AFL football in round 4 2003, but he couldn't recapture his form from 1999 or 2000 and was dropped after kicking only seven goals from eight games. Having played 99 games to this point, and with Fremantle going on to make the finals for the first time, many thought that Clive would be marooned one game short of the century. However, Waterhouse was named to play in the first game of 2004 to reach the milestone. He played a further six games in 2004 for seven goals before poor form, injuries and the desire of Fremantle officials to rebuild the team forced him from the squad.
Even after the end of his AFL career, Waterhouse was the subject of controversy when he deserted his West Australian Football League
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...
feeder team Claremont
Claremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
, on the eve of the 2004 WAFL Grand Final. Waterhouse had been arguably the best player for the club that season, and Claremont lost the Grand Final.
In 2007 he again injured his anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
while playing in the SANFL.
In 2009 he played for the Mannum Roos in South Australia's River Murray Football League.
Post-AFL career
Despite rumors that Carlton were looking to extend the career of Waterhouse by selecting him with their last pick in the 2004 National Draft, he returned to Adelaide in 2005 where he continued to play in the SANFL for the Port Adelaide Magpies, winning the Mapgie's leading goalscorer award with 71 goals.Wearing Guernsey number 26 from throughout his AFL career, he was the first player to score 100 goals for Fremantle. He retired with 178 goals, a then-club record (until Matthew Pavlich
Matthew Pavlich
Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
surpassed this in 2006).