Mark Orchard (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Orchard is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Collingwood
and the Sydney Swans
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
Orchard was from East Ballarat
and was playing for the town's Under-18s when Collingwood selected him in the 1994 AFL Draft
. He made six appearances in each of his first two seasons and was then given up by Collingwood in order to secure Sydney's Anthony Rocca
. Orchard, Ben Wilson
and two draft picks ended up at Sydney.
Despite his new club coming off a successful 1996 campaign where they were grand finalists, Orchard managed to find a place for himself in their midfielder and played in the first 19 rounds in the 1997 AFL season
as well as a qualifying final against the Western Bulldogs
. He participated in finals again at the end of the 1998 season, where he added another 21 games.
After two years with Sydney, Orchard requested to be traded back to Collingwood. He was part of a trade in the 1998 AFL Draft
which saw Sydney also lose Paul Licuria
and a draft pick in exchange for the third pick of the draft, Nic Fosdike
.
He averaged 15 disposals a game in 1999 and missed several games mid season with a torn hamstring. The following year he put together 18 appearances but was de-listed by Collingwood.
Orchard has recently taken on an assistant coaching role at the Learmonth Football Club in the Central Highlands Football League.
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 who played with Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
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).
Orchard was from East Ballarat
East Ballarat Football Club
The East Ballarat Football Club were an Australian rules football club which competed in the Ballarat Football League.They merged with Golden Point in 2001 to form the East Point Football Club.-Notable players:*Graham Donaldson*Danny Frawley*Sean Simpson...
and was playing for the town's Under-18s when Collingwood selected him in the 1994 AFL Draft
1994 AFL Draft
The 1994 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. 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 1994 there...
. He made six appearances in each of his first two seasons and was then given up by Collingwood in order to secure Sydney's Anthony Rocca
Anthony Rocca
Anthony Rocca is a former Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the Australian Football League...
. Orchard, Ben Wilson
Ben Wilson (Australian footballer)
Ben Wilson is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League ....
and two draft picks ended up at Sydney.
Despite his new club coming off a successful 1996 campaign where they were grand finalists, Orchard managed to find a place for himself in their midfielder and played in the first 19 rounds in the 1997 AFL season
1997 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1997.The Port Adelaide Power joined the competition.The Brisbane Lions also joined the competition after the merger of the and ....
as well as a qualifying final 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...
. He participated in finals again at the end of the 1998 season, where he added another 21 games.
After two years with Sydney, Orchard requested to be traded back to Collingwood. He was part of a trade in the 1998 AFL Draft
1998 AFL Draft
The 1998 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. 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 1998 there...
which saw Sydney also lose Paul Licuria
Paul Licuria
Paul Licuria is an Australian rules footballer, formerly in the Australian Football League. His father is Italian and his mother is Spanish.-Sydney Football Club:...
and a draft pick in exchange for the third pick of the draft, Nic Fosdike
Nic Fosdike
Nicholas "Nic" Fosdike is a South Australian-born former Australian rules footballer. Picked at number three in the 1998 AFL Draft, Fosdike played for the Sydney Swans 1999-2008 and was one of the best players on field during the Swan's 2005 grand final triumph with 26 disposals.Fosdike injured...
.
He averaged 15 disposals a game in 1999 and missed several games mid season with a torn hamstring. The following year he put together 18 appearances but was de-listed by Collingwood.
Orchard has recently taken on an assistant coaching role at the Learmonth Football Club in the Central Highlands Football League.