Kepler Bradley
Encyclopedia
Kepler Bradley is an Australian rules football
er. In November 2007 he was selected by Fremantle
in the 2007 AFL Draft
. He previously played with Essendon
in the Australian Football League
. He was delisted by that club at the end of the 2007 season.
Bradley was taken high in the 2003 AFL Draft
, with Essendon's first selection at no. 6 overall. He made his AFL debut in the first game of the 2004 season – Essendon's 96-point loss to Port Adelaide – and finished with 5 games in his debut year. A very tall and agile player, Bradley has played as a forward, defender, wingman, ruckman and even ruck rover.
2005 saw Bradley mainly used in key defensive positions by coach Kevin Sheedy and he became a more permanent fixture in the side. In 2006 he was selected for all but one game, however the first half of 2007 saw Bradley's opportunities limited to just two appearances, largely due to the recruiting of former Brisbane
star Mal Michael
and the meteoric rise of young Paddy Ryder, both playing key roles in the Essendon defence with veteran Dustin Fletcher
, leaving little room for another tall player in the backline.
Bradley's fall from grace was put down by many to his crucial mistakes in The ANZAC Day clash
, where his risky kick across goal was intercepted by Tarkyn Lockyer
, costing the Bombers a goal. After this match, his disposal skills were put under increased scrutiny.
Nevertheless, as a versatile player, he was prominent as a forward for the Bendigo Bombers
.
At the end of the 2007 season Bradley was one of four players delisted after a deal to trade him to Fremantle Dockers
was not able to be made during trade week.
He then returned to Western Australia and began training with the Dockers, who selected him with their 5th round selection (69th overall) in the National Draft. He made his debut for Fremantle in Round 8 of 2008 in the Dockers 3 point loss to the Western Bulldogs
at Subiaco Oval
, where he collected 21 possessions and a goal.
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. In November 2007 he was selected by 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...
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 previously played with Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
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...
. He was delisted by that club at the end of the 2007 season.
Bradley was taken high in the 2003 AFL Draft
2003 AFL Draft
The 2003 AFL Draft was the 2003 instance of the AFL Draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
, with Essendon's first selection at no. 6 overall. He made his AFL debut in the first game of the 2004 season – Essendon's 96-point loss to Port Adelaide – and finished with 5 games in his debut year. A very tall and agile player, Bradley has played as a forward, defender, wingman, ruckman and even ruck rover.
2005 saw Bradley mainly used in key defensive positions by coach Kevin Sheedy and he became a more permanent fixture in the side. In 2006 he was selected for all but one game, however the first half of 2007 saw Bradley's opportunities limited to just two appearances, largely due to the recruiting of former Brisbane
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...
star Mal Michael
Mal Michael
Malcolm Roberto "Mal" Michael is a former Australian rules footballer. He is notable for his successful professional Australian Football League career. Following a career spanned 238 games and three clubs in two Australian states he is best known as a triple premiership full-back with the...
and the meteoric rise of young Paddy Ryder, both playing key roles in the Essendon defence with veteran Dustin Fletcher
Dustin Fletcher
Dustin Fletcher is an Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club. He is renowned as one of the finest defenders in the AFL, and has played at full-back for his team for many years. He is the son of former Bombers captain Ken Fletcher...
, leaving little room for another tall player in the backline.
Bradley's fall from grace was put down by many to his crucial mistakes in The ANZAC Day clash
The ANZAC Day clash
The Anzac Day clash is an annual Australian rules football match between Australian Football League teams Collingwood and Essendon, held on Anzac Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground .-Early history of Australian rules on Anzac Day:...
, where his risky kick across goal was intercepted by Tarkyn Lockyer
Tarkyn Lockyer
Tarkyn Lockyer is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League .- Early life :...
, costing the Bombers a goal. After this match, his disposal skills were put under increased scrutiny.
Nevertheless, as a versatile player, he was prominent as a forward for the Bendigo Bombers
Bendigo Bombers
The Bendigo Bombers Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League .-Brief history:...
.
At the end of the 2007 season Bradley was one of four players delisted after a deal to trade him to Fremantle Dockers
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...
was not able to be made during trade week.
He then returned to Western Australia and began training with the Dockers, who selected him with their 5th round selection (69th overall) in the National Draft. He made his debut for Fremantle in Round 8 of 2008 in the Dockers 3 point loss to 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 Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
, where he collected 21 possessions and a goal.