Mark Nicoski
Encyclopedia
Mark Nicoski is an Australian rules football
er currently playing for the West Coast Eagles
in the Australian Football League
.
, and Karen, a Croatian Australian
, Nicoski attended Carine Senior High School
, where he played for the school's football team, as well as the Carine Junior Football Club. He did not play for Western Australia in the Under-18 National Championships due to injury, but made his senior debut for in the West Australian Football League
in round 20 of the 2002 season, playing two more games before his club was eliminated by in the semi-final.
with pick number 25 in the 2003 Rookie Draft
. He had a stand-out season for Subiaco in the WAFL, playing 21 games, including the grand final to , as a half-back flanker. He shared the 2003 WAFL Rookie of the Year Award with Zach Beeck, and was promoted to West Coast's senior list for the 2004 season
.
After spending the first four rounds in the WAFL, Nicoski made his debut for West Coast against in round five of the 2004 season, recording 16 disposals. He played a further 10 consecutive games, as a rebounding defender or on the wing, before injuring his shoulder in round 15 against . He returned for one WAFL game in round 21, but did not play any further AFL games.
Nicoski played for Subiaco for the first two rounds of the 2005 season, before being selected in the Eagles' team for round two against . He played every game for the rest of the season, kicking 12 goals as a rebounding half-back flanker, and was considered one of the Eagles' best in the club's Grand Final loss
to . Nicoski was in career-best form at the beginning of the 2006 season
, and received Brownlow Medal
votes for his games against and , before fracturing his ankle against in round 14. He spent 11 weeks on the sidelines, with Subiaco granted special dispensation from the WAFL to allow him to play for the club in the 2006 WAFL Grand Final in an attempt to prove his fitness for the 2006 AFL Grand Final
. Nicoski played in Subiaco's premiership win over but was not selected to play in West Coast's premiership-winning team.
In an intra-club practice match during the 2006–07 off-season, Nicoski severely dislocated his shoulder, forcing him to miss the first half of the 2007 season
. He returned in round 12 against , but re-injured his shoulder in the next game against . He returned to the side in round 22, playing the last three games of the season before returning to Subiaco, where he again played in a premiership.
Nicoski played 19 of 22 games in the 2008 season
, but was not at his best, and was dropped twice, although he still managed to finish seventh in West Coast's Club Champion Award
. He played 13 of the club's first 15 games in 2009
, before a groin injury forced him to miss the rest of the season. He returned in round one of the 2010 season
, and was switched to a role as a defensive forward, but struggled for form due to his shoulder. He played six games before opting to end his season after round 12 for surgery. He spent spent the rest of the season as a mentor to other small forwards Gerrick Weedon
, Ryan Neates and Lewis Broome
, and was awarded the Chris Mainwaring Medal as the Best Clubman at the Eagles' 2010 Club Champion Awards.
Nicoski returned to the Eagles' side in the 2011 season
as a small forward. He played every game for the club, kicking 41 goals in 25 games including a career-best six goals against Richmond in round 20. Nicoski's form has been described as one of the keys of West Coast's turnaround from 16th place to 4th place over their 2011 season
, with assistant coach Peter Sumich
describing Nicoski as "the most improved player on our list" and a "brand new footballer". He played his 100th game for the club against in round 14.
. He also serves as an ambassador for the Samaritans Crisis Line
, a crisis hotline
. He is currently managed by Corporate Sports Australia.
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 2004
|
| 31
| 11
| 123
| 74
| 49
| 28
| 21
| 1
| 1
| 11.2
| 6.7
| 4.5
| 2.5
| 1.9
| 0.1
| 0.1
|-
| 2005
|
| 31
| 21
| 322
| 202
| 120
| 100
| 38
| 12
| 7
| 15.3
| 9.6
| 5.7
| 4.8
| 1.8
| 0.6
| 0.3
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 2006
|
| 31
| 12
| 222
| 146
| 76
| 49
| 21
| 5
| 3
| 18.5
| 12.2
| 6.3
| 4.1
| 1.8
| 0.4
| 0.3
|-
| 2007
|
| 6
| 5
| 73
| 41
| 32
| 24
| 4
| 0
| 1
| 12.2
| 6.8
| 5.3
| 4.0
| 0.7
| 0.0
| 0.2
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 2008
|
| 6
| 19
| 309
| 185
| 124
| 78
| 31
| 2
| 3
| 16.3
| 9.8
| 6.5
| 4.1
| 1.6
| 0.1
| 0.2
|-
| 2009
|
| 6
| 13
| 192
| 112
| 80
| 34
| 21
| 0
| 3
| 14.8
| 8.6
| 6.2
| 2.6
| 1.6
| 0.0
| 0.2
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 2010
|
| 6
| 6
| 65
| 33
| 32
| 26
| 11
| 0
| 4
| 10.8
| 5.5
| 5.3
| 4.3
| 1.8
| 0.0
| 0.7
|-
| 2011
|
| 6
| 25
| 319
| 214
| 105
| 72
| 70
| 41
| 25
| 12.8
| 8.6
| 4.2
| 2.9
| 2.8
| 1.6
| 1.0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 112
! 1625
! 1007
! 618
! 411
! 217
! 61
! 47
! 14.5
! 9.0
! 5.5
! 3.7
! 1.9
! 0.5
! 0.4
|}
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 currently playing for the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
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...
.
Early career
The son of Don, a Macedonian AustralianMacedonian Australian
Macedonian Australians are Australians of ethnic Macedonian descent. Many have their origins in the 1920s and 1930s although larger numbers came to Australia after World War II and the Greek Civil War...
, and Karen, a Croatian Australian
Croatian Australian
Croatia has been a source of migrants to Australia, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2006, 128,051 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having Croatian ancestry.- History :...
, Nicoski attended Carine Senior High School
Carine Senior High School
Carine Senior High School is a co-educational state secondary school, located in the suburb of Carine, approximately 15 km north-west of Perth.-History:...
, where he played for the school's football team, as well as the Carine Junior Football Club. He did not play for Western Australia in the Under-18 National Championships due to injury, but made his senior debut for in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
in round 20 of the 2002 season, playing two more games before his club was eliminated by in the semi-final.
AFL career
Nicoski was recruited by the West Coast EaglesWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
with pick number 25 in the 2003 Rookie Draft
2002 AFL Draft
The 2002 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and the elevation of rookies. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 2002...
. He had a stand-out season for Subiaco in the WAFL, playing 21 games, including the grand final to , as a half-back flanker. He shared the 2003 WAFL Rookie of the Year Award with Zach Beeck, and was promoted to West Coast's senior list for the 2004 season
2004 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St...
.
After spending the first four rounds in the WAFL, Nicoski made his debut for West Coast against in round five of the 2004 season, recording 16 disposals. He played a further 10 consecutive games, as a rebounding defender or on the wing, before injuring his shoulder in round 15 against . He returned for one WAFL game in round 21, but did not play any further AFL games.
Nicoski played for Subiaco for the first two rounds of the 2005 season, before being selected in the Eagles' team for round two against . He played every game for the rest of the season, kicking 12 goals as a rebounding half-back flanker, and was considered one of the Eagles' best in the club's Grand Final loss
2005 AFL Grand Final
The 2005 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 2005. It was the 109th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, staged to...
to . Nicoski was in career-best form at the beginning of the 2006 season
2006 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final...
, and received Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes for his games against and , before fracturing his ankle against in round 14. He spent 11 weeks on the sidelines, with Subiaco granted special dispensation from the WAFL to allow him to play for the club in the 2006 WAFL Grand Final in an attempt to prove his fitness for the 2006 AFL Grand Final
2006 AFL Grand Final
The 2006 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 2006. It was the 110th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, staged to...
. Nicoski played in Subiaco's premiership win over but was not selected to play in West Coast's premiership-winning team.
In an intra-club practice match during the 2006–07 off-season, Nicoski severely dislocated his shoulder, forcing him to miss the first half of the 2007 season
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
. He returned in round 12 against , but re-injured his shoulder in the next game against . He returned to the side in round 22, playing the last three games of the season before returning to Subiaco, where he again played in a premiership.
Nicoski played 19 of 22 games in the 2008 season
2008 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
, but was not at his best, and was dropped twice, although he still managed to finish seventh in West Coast's Club Champion Award
Club Champion Award
The Club Champion Award is the award given to the West Coast Eagles player determined to have been the "Best and Fairest" throughout an AFL season....
. He played 13 of the club's first 15 games in 2009
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
, before a groin injury forced him to miss the rest of the season. He returned in round one of the 2010 season
2010 AFL season
-Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22...
, and was switched to a role as a defensive forward, but struggled for form due to his shoulder. He played six games before opting to end his season after round 12 for surgery. He spent spent the rest of the season as a mentor to other small forwards Gerrick Weedon
Gerrick Weedon
Gerrick Weedon is an Australian rules footballer current playing with the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League. He was recruited with pick no. 22 in the 2009 National Draft from Claremont Football Club in the WAFL. He had previously represented the Western Australian Under-18 team at...
, Ryan Neates and Lewis Broome
Lewis Broome
Lewis Broome is an Australian rules footballer, who was drafted by the West Coast Eagles with their first selection in 2010 AFL Rookie Draft....
, and was awarded the Chris Mainwaring Medal as the Best Clubman at the Eagles' 2010 Club Champion Awards.
Nicoski returned to the Eagles' side in the 2011 season
2011 AFL season
The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams...
as a small forward. He played every game for the club, kicking 41 goals in 25 games including a career-best six goals against Richmond in round 20. Nicoski's form has been described as one of the keys of West Coast's turnaround from 16th place to 4th place over their 2011 season
2011 West Coast Eagles season
The 2011 season is the West Coast Eagles' 25th season in the AFL. The team played their first match against the new Gold Coast team in Round 11, winning by 18 points.-Leadership group:...
, with assistant coach Peter Sumich
Peter Sumich
Peter Lori Sumich is a former Australian rules footballer who played for in the West Australian Football League and the West Coast Eagles in the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League...
describing Nicoski as "the most improved player on our list" and a "brand new footballer". He played his 100th game for the club against in round 14.
Personal life
Nicoski is currently dating Renae Wauhop, an Australian model and former contestant on The Amazing Race AustraliaThe Amazing Race Australia
The Amazing Race Australia is an Australian reality television game show based on the American reality television series, The Amazing Race that is broadcast on the Seven Network. The series features eleven teams of two who are in a pre-existing personal relationship, and follow the various...
. He also serves as an ambassador for the Samaritans Crisis Line
Samaritans (charity)
Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, often through their telephone helpline. The name comes from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, though the organisation...
, a crisis hotline
Crisis hotline
A crisis hotline is a phone number people can call to get immediate emergency telephone counseling, usually by trained volunteers. Such hotlines have existed in most major cities of the United States at least since the mid-1970s. Initially set up to help those contemplating suicide, many have...
. He is currently managed by Corporate Sports Australia.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct to end of the 2011 season.
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 2004
2004 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St...
|
| 31
| 11
| 123
| 74
| 49
| 28
| 21
| 1
| 1
| 11.2
| 6.7
| 4.5
| 2.5
| 1.9
| 0.1
| 0.1
|-
| 2005
2005 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
|
| 31
| 21
| 322
| 202
| 120
| 100
| 38
| 12
| 7
| 15.3
| 9.6
| 5.7
| 4.8
| 1.8
| 0.6
| 0.3
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 2006
2006 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final...
|
| 31
| 12
| 222
| 146
| 76
| 49
| 21
| 5
| 3
| 18.5
| 12.2
| 6.3
| 4.1
| 1.8
| 0.4
| 0.3
|-
| 2007
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
|
| 6
| 5
| 73
| 41
| 32
| 24
| 4
| 0
| 1
| 12.2
| 6.8
| 5.3
| 4.0
| 0.7
| 0.0
| 0.2
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 2008
2008 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
|
| 6
| 19
| 309
| 185
| 124
| 78
| 31
| 2
| 3
| 16.3
| 9.8
| 6.5
| 4.1
| 1.6
| 0.1
| 0.2
|-
| 2009
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
|
| 6
| 13
| 192
| 112
| 80
| 34
| 21
| 0
| 3
| 14.8
| 8.6
| 6.2
| 2.6
| 1.6
| 0.0
| 0.2
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 2010
2010 AFL season
-Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22...
|
| 6
| 6
| 65
| 33
| 32
| 26
| 11
| 0
| 4
| 10.8
| 5.5
| 5.3
| 4.3
| 1.8
| 0.0
| 0.7
|-
| 2011
2011 AFL season
The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams...
|
| 6
| 25
| 319
| 214
| 105
| 72
| 70
| 41
| 25
| 12.8
| 8.6
| 4.2
| 2.9
| 2.8
| 1.6
| 1.0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 112
! 1625
! 1007
! 618
! 411
! 217
! 61
! 47
! 14.5
! 9.0
! 5.5
! 3.7
! 1.9
! 0.5
! 0.4
|}