Nick Duigan
Encyclopedia
Nick Duigan ˈ is an Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
. Throughout his junior career, he was troubled by injuries and had a hard time stringing a series of games together until after the age of twenty.
Throughout his early 20s, Duigan studied psychology at university; by the end of 2010, then aged 26, Duigan had completed his Masters degree in psychology. During the same period, Duigan played football semi-professionally for the Norwood Football Club
in the South Australian National Football League
, primarily as a defender. He appeared in a total of 87 senior games for the Redlegs during that time, and was the club's vice-captain in 2010. He finished tenth in the 2010 Magarey Medal
, and kicked the game-winning goal in Norwood's come-from-behind preliminary final victory against the Eagles.
for a year to do volunteer work. However, he also nominated for the AFL draft
, and was drafted by the Carlton Football Club
with its fifth selection (#70 overall). The selection surprised many, as it was very rare at the time for a player as old as Duigan (26), and without previous AFL experience, to be drafted. Duigan was given guernsey number 34.
Playing in defence, Duigan impressed for the Blues during the pre-season, and he made his senior AFL debut in the club's first round match against Richmond
. He immediately became a regular in the Carlton backline in the 2011, and was noted for both his ability and his courage.
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 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).
Background
Originally from South Australia, Duigan grew up supporting the Adelaide Crows and playing junior football for Pembroke School, AdelaidePembroke School, Adelaide
Pembroke School is an independent, co-educational, non-denominational, day and boarding school, located at Kensington Park, a suburb 6 kilometres east of the CBD of Adelaide, South Australia....
. Throughout his junior career, he was troubled by injuries and had a hard time stringing a series of games together until after the age of twenty.
Throughout his early 20s, Duigan studied psychology at university; by the end of 2010, then aged 26, Duigan had completed his Masters degree in psychology. During the same period, Duigan played football semi-professionally for the Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
, primarily as a defender. He appeared in a total of 87 senior games for the Redlegs during that time, and was the club's vice-captain in 2010. He finished tenth in the 2010 Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
, and kicked the game-winning goal in Norwood's come-from-behind preliminary final victory against the Eagles.
Professional career
Duigan left Norwood at the end of 2010, intending to travel to SudanSudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
for a year to do volunteer work. However, he also nominated for the AFL draft
2010 AFL Draft
The 2010 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2010/11 Australian Football League off-season. These are the Trade Week; held between , the National Draft; held on the , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .This is the first national draft to feature the...
, and was drafted 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...
with its fifth selection (#70 overall). The selection surprised many, as it was very rare at the time for a player as old as Duigan (26), and without previous AFL experience, to be drafted. Duigan was given guernsey number 34.
Playing in defence, Duigan impressed for the Blues during the pre-season, and he made his senior AFL debut in the club's first round match against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
. He immediately became a regular in the Carlton backline in the 2011, and was noted for both his ability and his courage.