Matthew Pavlich
Encyclopedia
Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules football
er currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
A versatile player, Pavlich is widely regarded as one of the premier AFL centre half-forward
s of the modern era, achieving All-Australian selection six times between 2002 and 2008, twice representing Australia in the International Rules Series and representing the Dream Team in the 2008 Hall of Fame Tribute Match.
Pavlich has played his AFL entire career at Fremantle where he is a six time best and fairest
winner and club captain since 2007.
Born in South Australia
, he made his AFL debut in 2000 and wears guernsey number 29.
and also coached at junior and reserve level.
Pavlich played school football at Sacred Heart College in Adelaide and followed the footsteps of his father, playing senior football for the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles before he was drafted into the AFL.
. Pavlich had nominated for the 1998 draft, but was overlooked by several clubs. Most notably the Adelaide Crows
instead drafted 17 year old Ken McGregor
who went on to play 158 games between 1999 to 2008, and cross town rival Port Adelaide
who instead chose 17 year old Adam Morgan
who played only 3 games between 2002 to 2003 for Port.
The 2001 Season saw Pavlich spend more time in the Forward line. He managed to underline his potential with some eye catching performances including two 4-goal hauls against the Brisbane Lions which earned him 2 brownlow votes, the first of his career. Pavlich went on to play 21 games for the season, finishing with a respectable 28 goals. In an otherwise disappointing season for Fremantle, Pavlich was the shining light as he started to realise his true potential.
moved Pavlich into a defensive role. Playing against some of the power forwards of the competition, Pavlich underlined his versatility and talent as a footballer, as he displayed a smooth transition into the role. He showed the uncanny ability of shutting down opponents, while gathering plenty of possession and setting up play further up the ground. This saw him earn his first All-Australian selection
at fullback at the age of 20.
In the 2003 season he was again called upon to play a different role, Pavlich was this time thrust into a midfield role, while also pushing up to half forward. This allowed him to gather multiple possessions forward of centre and develop into a strong goal-kicking midfielder. Playing all 23 games for the season, including the club's first final, Pavlich finished off averaging 18.7 possessions per game, and executed his damaging midfield role perfectly with 37 goals. He was rewarded with a second selection in the All-Australian team for the 2003 season, this time named on the Half Forward Flank.
as Fremantle's best and fairest player. In the 2005 Brownlow Medal
count, Pavlich was tipped as a contender, but like Tredrea in 2004, the power forwards did not get the votes of the umpires and Pavlich finished equal ninth; receiving more votes than any other Fremantle player.
He has been selected in the All-Australian Team
s six times: in 2002 (fullback), 2003 (half forward flank), 2005 (centre half forward), 2006 (interchange), 2007 (full forward) and 2008 (interchange). He was a member of the Australian International rules
team in 2002 and 2003, and was a Rising Star nominee in 2000. On 13 December 2006 Pavlich was named the captain of the Fremantle Football Club, succeeding Peter Bell.
Despite the additional burden of captaincy, Pavlich performed well throughout the 2007 season, leading an otherwise disappointing Fremantle side. He kicked a club record 72 goals, came second in the Coleman Medal
and was named full-forward
in the All-Australian team for 2007.
On 14 August 2007 Pavlich signed a new, 3-year contract with the Fremantle Football club, which ended speculation that he may join the Adelaide Crows
or Port Adelaide
. The contract is rumoured to be worth $2.5 million.
In 2008, despite Fremantle again missing the finals, Pavlich won his fifth Doig Medal
, as well as being Fremantle's leading goalkicker, the Ross Glendinning Medal
in both Western Derbies and his sixth All-Australian selection.
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 with the Fremantle Football Club
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 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).
A versatile player, Pavlich is widely regarded as one of the premier AFL centre half-forward
Centre half-forward
In Australian rules football, the centre half-forward is a position on the half-forward line of a football field. The directly opposing player is a Centre-Half-Back....
s of the modern era, achieving All-Australian selection six times between 2002 and 2008, twice representing Australia in the International Rules Series and representing the Dream Team in the 2008 Hall of Fame Tribute Match.
Pavlich has played his AFL entire career at Fremantle where he is a six time best and fairest
Doig Medal
The Doig Medal is the best and fairest award given out to the player considered best and fairest during a season for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL....
winner and club captain since 2007.
Born in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, he made his AFL debut in 2000 and wears guernsey number 29.
Early life
Pavlich was born in Adelaide, South Australia and is a fifth generation Australian. His mother is of Scottish and German descent and father Steve is of Scottish, Irish and Croatian descent. Steve played along with Matthew's two uncles at the West Torrens Football ClubWest Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
and also coached at junior and reserve level.
Pavlich played school football at Sacred Heart College in Adelaide and followed the footsteps of his father, playing senior football for the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles before he was drafted into the AFL.
Drafting
Pavlich was recruited by Fremantle (the Dockers) with the fourth selection in the 1999 AFL national draft1999 AFL Draft
The 1999 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 1999 there...
. Pavlich had nominated for the 1998 draft, but was overlooked by several clubs. Most notably the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
instead drafted 17 year old Ken McGregor
Ken McGregor (footballer)
Ken McGregor is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He was drafted at Pick 75 in the 1998 AFL Draft.. He is currently a journalist for the Adelaide Advertiser and playing at SAAFL club Henley....
who went on to play 158 games between 1999 to 2008, and cross town rival Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
who instead chose 17 year old Adam Morgan
Adam Morgan
Adam Morgan is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League.-Port Adelaide career :...
who played only 3 games between 2002 to 2003 for Port.
Early career (2000–2001)
Since his first game for Fremantle, Pavlich has consistently shown all the attributes of a key forward: physical size (a height of 192 cm and a weight of 101 kg), strength, speed and agility. However, it was not until 2005 that he played primarily at centre half forward. Although still developing physically, Pavlich managed to stamp his authority on Fremantle initially in his debut season. Making his debut in round 5 2000 against Melbourne, Pavlich achieved the rare feat of kicking 2 goals with his first 2 kicks in the AFL. He went on to play 18 games for the season, earning himself a Rising star nomination while contributing consistently.The 2001 Season saw Pavlich spend more time in the Forward line. He managed to underline his potential with some eye catching performances including two 4-goal hauls against the Brisbane Lions which earned him 2 brownlow votes, the first of his career. Pavlich went on to play 21 games for the season, finishing with a respectable 28 goals. In an otherwise disappointing season for Fremantle, Pavlich was the shining light as he started to realise his true potential.
Rising career (2002–2004)
2002 was the season that would set up Matthew Pavlich for the rest of his career. In a widely unexpected move, new Fremantle coach Chris ConnollyChris Connolly
Chris Connolly is the current Melbourne Football Club football manager as well as assistant coach.-Playing career:...
moved Pavlich into a defensive role. Playing against some of the power forwards of the competition, Pavlich underlined his versatility and talent as a footballer, as he displayed a smooth transition into the role. He showed the uncanny ability of shutting down opponents, while gathering plenty of possession and setting up play further up the ground. This saw him earn his first All-Australian selection
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
at fullback at the age of 20.
Career high (2005–2008)
The 2005 season saw Matthew Pavlich moved to Centre Half Forward, with Fremantle focusing on a taller forward structure. The move paid massive dividends for the team, as Pavlich topped Fremantle's list of goalkickers, with 61 goals for the season. He also took more marks than any other Docker and won his second Doig MedalDoig Medal
The Doig Medal is the best and fairest award given out to the player considered best and fairest during a season for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL....
as Fremantle's best and fairest player. In the 2005 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...
count, Pavlich was tipped as a contender, but like Tredrea in 2004, the power forwards did not get the votes of the umpires and Pavlich finished equal ninth; receiving more votes than any other Fremantle player.
He has been selected in the All-Australian Team
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
s six times: in 2002 (fullback), 2003 (half forward flank), 2005 (centre half forward), 2006 (interchange), 2007 (full forward) and 2008 (interchange). He was a member of the Australian International rules
International rules football
International rules football is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules football players and Gaelic football players....
team in 2002 and 2003, and was a Rising Star nominee in 2000. On 13 December 2006 Pavlich was named the captain of the Fremantle Football Club, succeeding Peter Bell.
Despite the additional burden of captaincy, Pavlich performed well throughout the 2007 season, leading an otherwise disappointing Fremantle side. He kicked a club record 72 goals, came second in the Coleman Medal
Coleman Medal
The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
and was named full-forward
Full-forward
Full-forward is a position in Australian rules football and Gaelic football with a key focus on kicking goals.Leading full-forwards of the Australian Football League are usually among those awarded with the Coleman Medal for the most goals in an AFL season....
in the All-Australian team for 2007.
On 14 August 2007 Pavlich signed a new, 3-year contract with the Fremantle Football club, which ended speculation that he may join the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
or Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
. The contract is rumoured to be worth $2.5 million.
In 2008, despite Fremantle again missing the finals, Pavlich won his fifth Doig Medal
Doig Medal
The Doig Medal is the best and fairest award given out to the player considered best and fairest during a season for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL....
, as well as being Fremantle's leading goalkicker, the Ross Glendinning Medal
Ross Glendinning Medal
The Ross Glendinning Medal is awarded to the player judged best on ground in the Western Derby football match played between Fremantle Football Club and the West Coast Eagles....
in both Western Derbies and his sixth All-Australian selection.