John Meesen
Encyclopedia
John Meesen is a former Australian rules football
player who played for the Melbourne Football Club
and Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League
(AFL). Drafted with the 8th selection in the 2004 Draft
, Meesen had a long wait to play his first senior game for the Adelaide Crows. Playing for Norwood
in the South Australian National Football League
, Meesen was a leading ruckman in the senior side, but was incapable of surpassing Rhett Biglands
, Ben Hudson
and Matthew Clarke for a spot in the Crows team. Following Biglands' 2007 season-ending injury in the 2006 preliminary final and Clarke's move to St Kilda, it was thought that Meesen would begin season 2007 as back-up ruckman to Hudson. However an injury-plagued pre-season saw Jonathon Griffin
and Ivan Maric
move ahead of him in the pecking order.
Meesen finally made his debut in round 20 of 2007 against the Western Bulldogs
at AAMI Stadium
in the Sunday twilight fixture. He came in at the expense of Griffin. It was thought that he may have made his debut a week earlier in his home town of Geelong against the Cats
due to Hudson's club-imposed suspension, but the club decided that having an inexperienced ruckman playing alongside a debut ruckman wouldn't be a suitable situation. In October 2007 Meesen was traded to the Melbourne Football Club for the 37th selection in the 2007 AFL Draft
. He made his debut for Melbourne in Round 3, 2009
.
Meesen was delisted at the end of the 2009 season along with Michael Newton
; both were re-drafted as mature age rookies. After failing to play a senior match in 2010 due to injury, Meesen was delisted at season's end. Melbourne subsequently appointed Meesen to the role of part-time development coach.
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 Melbourne Football Club
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....
and Adelaide 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). Drafted with the 8th selection in the 2004 Draft
2004 AFL Draft
The 2004 AFL Draft, concerning player acquisitions in the 2004/05 Australian Football League off-season, consisted of a trade period, a national draft, a pre-season draft, and the elevation of rookies...
, Meesen had a long wait to play his first senior game for the Adelaide Crows. Playing for Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
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....
, Meesen was a leading ruckman in the senior side, but was incapable of surpassing Rhett Biglands
Rhett Biglands
Rhett Biglands is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Career:He made his debut as an 18 year old in the SANFL with Woodville West Torrens kicking 5 goals in his first match....
, Ben Hudson
Ben Hudson
Ben Hudson is an Australian rules footballer who played 143 games for the Adelaide Crows and Western Bulldogs and currently plays for the Brisbane Lions.-Early life:...
and Matthew Clarke for a spot in the Crows team. Following Biglands' 2007 season-ending injury in the 2006 preliminary final and Clarke's move to St Kilda, it was thought that Meesen would begin season 2007 as back-up ruckman to Hudson. However an injury-plagued pre-season saw Jonathon Griffin
Jonathon Griffin
Jonathon Griffin is a part Indigenous Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League and the Central District Bulldogs in the South Australian National Football League...
and Ivan Maric
Ivan Maric
Ivan Maric is an Australian rules football player of Croatian descent in the Australian Football League and was the number 20 of the Adelaide Crows Football Club. He currently plays for the Richmond Football Club.- Early career :...
move ahead of him in the pecking order.
Meesen finally made his debut in round 20 of 2007 against 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...
at AAMI Stadium
AAMI Stadium
Football Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia...
in the Sunday twilight fixture. He came in at the expense of Griffin. It was thought that he may have made his debut a week earlier in his home town of Geelong against the Cats
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...
due to Hudson's club-imposed suspension, but the club decided that having an inexperienced ruckman playing alongside a debut ruckman wouldn't be a suitable situation. In October 2007 Meesen was traded to the Melbourne Football Club for the 37th selection in the 2007 AFL Draft
2007 AFL Draft
The 2007 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2007/08 Australian Football League off-season. These were trade week, the National Draft, the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft.- Trades :...
. He made his debut for Melbourne in Round 3, 2009
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
.
Meesen was delisted at the end of the 2009 season along with Michael Newton
Michael Newton (Australian rules footballer)
Michael Newton is an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Australian Football League .-Career:Originally from Whorouly, Newton was taken at pick 43 in the 2004 AFL Draft...
; both were re-drafted as mature age rookies. After failing to play a senior match in 2010 due to injury, Meesen was delisted at season's end. Melbourne subsequently appointed Meesen to the role of part-time development coach.