Jason Gram
Encyclopedia
Jason Gram is an Australian rules football
er for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
, Gram quit football for basketball with a view to making the elite level in that sport. It took one phone call from the Power coach of the day, dual Essendon
premiership player Darren Bewick
, to reverse his decision.
. But in two years, both of which culminated in Lions' premierships, Gram was chosen for only two games, amounting to 20 minutes of total playing time.
His last minutes as a Brisbane player would prove unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. His attempted clearance was smothered and led to a goal that lost the Lions the lead against Fremantle
late in a game.
Gram cherished his brief moments of senior footy at Brisbane but was ready to go home, where he felt he would have more opportunities.
for draft pick 23.
, playing two games for the 2004 season.
After playing five senior games in 2005, Gram played in all of s 23 matches in the 2006 season, including his first finals match in the 2006 elimination finals.
He averaged 20.5 possessions per game in 2006, finishing second in the Trevor Barker Award
– St Kilda Football Club's Best & Fairest award – and at the conclusion of the season it was announced that Gram had signed for a further two years. He accepted the Number 1 guernsey from the retiring Justin Peckett
.
for his best on ground performance during St Kilda's 2008 NAB Cup
win.
He played in all of St Kilda Football Clubs matches in the 2008 season – averaging 20.5 possessions per game in 25 matches including three finals matches.
. He averaged 23.9 possessions per game in the 2009 season.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final after qualifying and preliminary finals wins over Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs. St Kilda were defeated in the 2009 AFL Grand Final
by 12 points.
He was among the best players on the ground in the grand final, in which St Kilda lost to Geelong
. He finished equal on votes in the Norm Smith Medal
vote with Paul Chapman of Geelong, with Chapman receiving the medal on a countback. Chapman was awarded the medal on the basis of a greater number of 3 votes, as per the rules of the medal. However Gram was the only player to have received votes from all five judges.
At the end of the 2009 season, Gram had played in seven finals matches including one grand final and one pre-season cup final.
was charged with rape. This is relation to an incident that happened at Gram's Port Melbourne apartment on the night of the 23 December 2009. Jason Gram is currently giving evidence in the Andrew Lovett rape trial at the Victorian County Court.
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 St Kilda Football Club 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).
AFL career
As a junior with Gippsland Power in the TAC CupTAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
, Gram quit football for basketball with a view to making the elite level in that sport. It took one phone call from the Power coach of the day, dual Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
premiership player Darren Bewick
Darren Bewick
Darren Bewick is a former dual premiership Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the AFL. Bewick was known for his game breaking pace and goal sense in the forward 50. His ability to take high flying marks was a spectacle amongst Bomber fans, not to mention his...
, to reverse his decision.
Brisbane
Gram was drafted by the Brisbane Lions as the 19th pick in the 2001 AFL Draft2001 AFL Draft
The 2001 AFL Draft consisted of a national draft, a rookie draft, a pre-season draft and a trade period. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League .In 2001 there were 83...
. But in two years, both of which culminated in Lions' premierships, Gram was chosen for only two games, amounting to 20 minutes of total playing time.
His last minutes as a Brisbane player would prove unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. His attempted clearance was smothered and led to a goal that lost the Lions the lead against Fremantle
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...
late in a game.
Gram cherished his brief moments of senior footy at Brisbane but was ready to go home, where he felt he would have more opportunities.
St Kilda Football Club
Gram was recruited by in 2003 from BrisbaneBrisbane 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...
for draft pick 23.
2004: Debut
He made his debut wearing No. 15 guernsey for in Round 15 of the 2004 AFL Premiership Season against MelbourneMelbourne 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....
, playing two games for the 2004 season.
After playing five senior games in 2005, Gram played in all of s 23 matches in the 2006 season, including his first finals match in the 2006 elimination finals.
He averaged 20.5 possessions per game in 2006, finishing second in the Trevor Barker Award
Trevor Barker Award
The Trevor Barker Award is an Australian rules football award for the player voted the St Kilda Football Club Club Champion during the home and away season in the Australian Football League by a voting panel....
– St Kilda Football Club's Best & Fairest award – and at the conclusion of the season it was announced that Gram had signed for a further two years. He accepted the Number 1 guernsey from the retiring Justin Peckett
Justin Peckett
Justin "Frankie" Peckett is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .Picked up by the Saints as an impressive 16-year-old, in 1990 Peckett won the St Kilda under 19's best and fairest and remained on the list for the 1991 season, before he was delisted at the end of the...
.
2008: NAB Cup and Michael Tuck Medal
Gram's 2008 started well when he was awarded the Michael Tuck MedalMichael Tuck Medal
Since 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final. It is named after Michael Tuck, the current AFL games record holder who played 426 senior matches for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1972 and 1991....
for his best on ground performance during St Kilda's 2008 NAB Cup
2008 NAB Cup
The 2008 NAB Cup was the Australian Football League pre-season competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 2008 Premiership season began...
win.
He played in all of St Kilda Football Clubs matches in the 2008 season – averaging 20.5 possessions per game in 25 matches including three finals matches.
2009: Minor premiership and grand finalist
Gram played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the 2009 finals, winning the club’s third minor premiership2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
. He averaged 23.9 possessions per game in the 2009 season.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final after qualifying and preliminary finals wins over Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs. St Kilda were defeated in the 2009 AFL Grand Final
2009 AFL Grand Final
The 2009 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the St Kilda Football Club and the Geelong Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 September 2009...
by 12 points.
He was among the best players on the ground in the grand final, in which St Kilda lost to Geelong
Geelong 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...
. He finished equal on votes in the Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
vote with Paul Chapman of Geelong, with Chapman receiving the medal on a countback. Chapman was awarded the medal on the basis of a greater number of 3 votes, as per the rules of the medal. However Gram was the only player to have received votes from all five judges.
At the end of the 2009 season, Gram had played in seven finals matches including one grand final and one pre-season cup final.
2010 season
Gram played 18 games in 2010, a season in which he was hampered by injury, and averaged 21 possessions – including a career-high 35 possessions against Essendon in Round 18, followed by 34 possessions against North Melbourne in Round 20.2011 season
Gram played a total of 20 games in the 2011 season, including the elimination final loss to the Swans. Gram had a season-high, thirty-three disposal game against the Bombers in Round 3, which earned him a Brownlow vote. Gram gathered twenty or more disposals on fourteen occasions in season 2011. He kicked five goals for the season.Career highlights
- St Kilda Minor Premiership Team 2009
- St Kilda 2008 NAB Cup2008 NAB CupThe 2008 NAB Cup was the Australian Football League pre-season competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 2008 Premiership season began...
Winning Team, 2008 - Michael Tuck MedalMichael Tuck MedalSince 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final. It is named after Michael Tuck, the current AFL games record holder who played 426 senior matches for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1972 and 1991....
ist, 2008 - 2nd Trevor Barker AwardTrevor Barker AwardThe Trevor Barker Award is an Australian rules football award for the player voted the St Kilda Football Club Club Champion during the home and away season in the Australian Football League by a voting panel....
, 2006
Andrew Lovett rape trial
On 15 February 2010, Andrew LovettAndrew Lovett
Andrew Lovett is an Aboriginal Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League for Essendon between 2005 and 2009...
was charged with rape. This is relation to an incident that happened at Gram's Port Melbourne apartment on the night of the 23 December 2009. Jason Gram is currently giving evidence in the Andrew Lovett rape trial at the Victorian County Court.