Greg Stafford (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Gregory "Greg" Stafford is a retired Australia
n professional Australian rules football
player who played for the Sydney Swans
and the Richmond Football Club
in the Australian Football League
.
, Stafford was not familiar with Australian rules football when he first began playing, he was introduced to the game when he saw it being played in a local field near his home.
After a few seasons in his local competition, talent scouts realised the potential of the big ruckman
who could also kick goals.
He was first recruited by the Sydney Swans
from the local Sydney Football League
as a rookie
outside of the draft. Stafford created much publicity at the time as one of the first Sydneysiders to reach AFL level when he made his first senior appearance with the Swans.
, who were looking to strengthen their ruck division.
In a career without too many accolades, Stafford has been consistent, tough and hard-working in the ruck for both the Tigers and the Swans.
He announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2006 season, before the Round 22 match against West Coast. http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/08/29/1156816900553.html Stafford booted 3 goals in his farewell game, having played 204 AFL matches.
Greg is now the ruck coach at the Essendon Football Club
Greg played in the 2007 Asian Australian Football Championships
for the China Reds.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional 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...
player who played for the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
and the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
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...
.
Sydney career
Having grown up in Ashbury, New South WalesAshbury, New South Wales
Ashbury is a suburb in inner-west Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 10 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district. The suburb lies in the local government area of the City of Canterbury with some areas in Ashfield Municipality...
, Stafford was not familiar with Australian rules football when he first began playing, he was introduced to the game when he saw it being played in a local field near his home.
After a few seasons in his local competition, talent scouts realised the potential of the big ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
who could also kick goals.
He was first recruited by the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
from the local Sydney Football League
Sydney AFL
The "AFL Sydney" is an Australian rules football League, based in metropolitan Sydney, Australia.The AFL Sydney competition comprises 21 clubs playing across 5 senior divisions with 2 under 18 competitions.-History:...
as a rookie
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
outside of the draft. Stafford created much publicity at the time as one of the first Sydneysiders to reach AFL level when he made his first senior appearance with the Swans.
Move to Richmond
Inconsistency and injury eventually saw him traded to the Richmond Football ClubRichmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, who were looking to strengthen their ruck division.
In a career without too many accolades, Stafford has been consistent, tough and hard-working in the ruck for both the Tigers and the Swans.
He announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2006 season, before the Round 22 match against West Coast. http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/08/29/1156816900553.html Stafford booted 3 goals in his farewell game, having played 204 AFL matches.
Greg is now the ruck coach at the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
Greg played in the 2007 Asian Australian Football Championships
Asian Australian Football Championships
The Asian Australian Football Championships are an annual tournament of Australian rules football between mainly expat-Australian teams from around Asia.-History:...
for the China Reds.