James Polkinghorne is an 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...

er for the Brisbane Lions

Brisbane Lions

The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...

 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).

Polkinghorne possesses an exceptional leaping ability thanks to his volleyball background with St. Bernard's College

St. Bernard's College, Melbourne

St. Bernard's College is a Roman Catholic Independent school for boys located in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon. The College is named after its patron saint, Bernard of Clairvaux, and is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges.-History:...

 and for the U15 Victorian schoolboys side.

Polkinghorne is a high possession winner and utility player who excels at the stoppages. He represented Vic Metro at the NAB AFL U18 Championships. In 2007 he made his senior debut with Coburg in the Victorian Football League

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...

 as part of a trial program. Runner-up in the Calder Cannons

Calder Cannons

The Calder Cannons are an Australian rules football club from Melbourne, Australia.The club competes in the TAC Cup and fields squads in the U15, 16 and most importantly the U18s. The club was formed in 1995 after the need for two more metropolitan clubs...

' Best and Fairest award for 2007, he is the son of former Hawthorn player Robert Polkinghorne and nephew of Hawks star David Polkinghorne

David Polkinghorne

David Polkinghorne is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the VFL.Polkinghorne was a defender who played on the half back flanks and back pockets for Hawthorn...

.

Polkinghorne made his debut in Round 6, 2008 at the Gabba against Melbourne

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....

.

He is often compared to Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia

Jason Porplyzia

Jason Porplyzia is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He wears the number 40 for the Adelaide Football Club, and is known as a dangerous forward with a strong mark for his size. He is also widely regarded as one of the most accurate kicks for goal in the competition...

  due to similar playing style and scoring ability.

Positions

Polkinghorne usually plays as a midfielder, but recently he has been playing as a forward pocket

Forward pocket

In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...

/half forward flank role for Brisbane Lions.

External links

• Player Profile