Mark Porter (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Porter is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Carlton
and the Kangaroos
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
Originally from northern Victoria, Porter began his senior career as a teenager in the Ovens & King Football League
, playing originally for Wangaratta, then King Valley. In 1994, at the age of just seventeen, and while playing for King Valley as a ruckman, Porter won the Baker Medal as the league's senior best and fairest. In 1995, Porter moved to Melbourne, and was recruited to the VFA
by the Coburg Football Club. In his first season with the Lions, he won the Fothergill-Round Medal
as the league's most promising young talent. Porter played two seasons for Coburg.
After the 1996 season, Porter was recruited to the AFL
as a rookie by the Carlton Football Club
, which was looking for another ruckman with the emerging retirement of Justin Madden
.> Porter was the first player Carlton had recruited under the newly established rookie list
. He made his AFL debut late in the 1997 season
after Madden's mid-year retirement, and got regular games in 1998 as the second ruckman
to Matthew Allan
.
Porter suffered a knee injury in a practice match prior to the 1999 AFL season, which saw him miss the entire season. He returned to the team in late 2000 and took part in their finals campaign. In 2001 he was a regular selection as Carlton's first choice ruckman, due to an injury to Allan, and he performed admirably, finishing seventh in the league for hit-outs with 381.
After 2001, Carlton sought to improve its forward-line, and Porter was traded to the Kangaroos
along with first and second round draft picks (#14 and #30 overall), in exchange for key forward Corey McKernan
and second and third round draft picks (#23 and #39 overall). Porter played all but two games in 2002, alternating with Matthew Burton
in the ruck and added another 19 games in 2003. Porter was delisted by the Kangaroos at the end of the 2004 season.
In 2005, Porter played with North Ballarat
in the VFL. In 2006 he moved back to northern Victoria, and played for Benalla
in the Goulburn Valley Football League
., playing there until 2007, before retiring.
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 Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
and the Kangaroos
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
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).
Originally from northern Victoria, Porter began his senior career as a teenager in the Ovens & King Football League
Ovens & King Football League
300px|thumb|right|O&K 2007 Thirds Grand Final between Whorouly and North WangarattaThe Ovens & King Football League is a minor country Australian rules football league based in Northeastern Victoria in the vicinity of Wangaratta and more recently Benalla....
, playing originally for Wangaratta, then King Valley. In 1994, at the age of just seventeen, and while playing for King Valley as a ruckman, Porter won the Baker Medal as the league's senior best and fairest. In 1995, Porter moved to Melbourne, and was recruited to the VFA
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
by the Coburg Football Club. In his first season with the Lions, he won the Fothergill-Round Medal
Fothergill-Round Medal
The Fothergill-Round Medal is a VFL award that is presented to the most promising young talent in the VFL competition. Named after Des Fothergill and Barry Round, the only two players who have won both the J. J. Liston Trophy and the Brownlow Medal, the medal has been awarded annually since...
as the league's most promising young talent. Porter played two seasons for Coburg.
After the 1996 season, Porter was recruited to the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
as a rookie by the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
, which was looking for another ruckman with the emerging retirement of Justin Madden
Justin Madden
Madden was 206 cm tall, and one of the tallest men ever to play Australian Rules football, and his potential in this area was fully utilized by Carlton, who used him as their main ruckman. Over the next fifteen seasons, Madden became a mainstay of the Carlton side, and one of the most...
.> Porter was the first player Carlton had recruited under the newly established rookie list
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
. He made his AFL debut late in the 1997 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 ....
after Madden's mid-year retirement, and got regular games in 1998 as the second ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
to Matthew Allan
Matthew Allan
Matthew Allan is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.He joined with the Carlton Football Club in 1992, and debuted in 1994 as the 1000th player to represent Carlton...
.
Porter suffered a knee injury in a practice match prior to the 1999 AFL season, which saw him miss the entire season. He returned to the team in late 2000 and took part in their finals campaign. In 2001 he was a regular selection as Carlton's first choice ruckman, due to an injury to Allan, and he performed admirably, finishing seventh in the league for hit-outs with 381.
After 2001, Carlton sought to improve its forward-line, and Porter was traded to the Kangaroos
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
along with first and second round draft picks (#14 and #30 overall), in exchange for key forward Corey McKernan
Corey McKernan
Corey McKernan is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Carlton Blues in the Australian Football League...
and second and third round draft picks (#23 and #39 overall). Porter played all but two games in 2002, alternating with Matthew Burton
Matthew Burton
Matthew "Spider" Burton was an Australian rules footballer. He played as a ruckman and began his Football career at Subiaco. "Spider" Burton, as he's commonly known, because of his towering 210 cm frame, was formerly the AFL's tallest player Matthew "Spider" Burton (born 19 May 1970) was an...
in the ruck and added another 19 games in 2003. Porter was delisted by the Kangaroos at the end of the 2004 season.
In 2005, Porter played with North Ballarat
North Ballarat Football Club
North Ballarat Football Club, nicknamed The Roosters, is an Australian rules football club based at Northern Oval in Ballarat. The club is locally known as the Roosters and plays in the Victorian Football League are current competition premiers and one of only four clubs based outside of Melbourne...
in the VFL. In 2006 he moved back to northern Victoria, and played for Benalla
Benalla Football Club
The Benalla Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Goulburn Valley Football League.The club is based in Benalla, Victoria....
in the Goulburn Valley Football League
Goulburn Valley Football League
The Goulburn Valley Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria, Australia...
., playing there until 2007, before retiring.