Paul Medhurst
Encyclopedia
Paul Medhurst is a former professional Australian rules football
who played for the Fremantle Football Club
and the Collingwood Football Club
.
In his 2008 season, he was selected in the All-Australian team and his other career highlights include leading the goalkicking at Fremantle in successive seasons.
(WAFL), where he played for the Claremont Football Club
and won the Bernie Naylor Medal
in 2001 for the most goals in the league.
with a 4th round selection in the 2001 AFL Draft
. However he was traded to Collingwood in 2007 as part of the deal that sent Chris Tarrant
to Fremantle.
against the West Coast Eagles
, kicking three goals and earning an AFL Rising Star nomination. At the end of 2002, he won the Beacon Award as the best young player on the Fremantle team. He was Fremantle's leading goalkicker in 2003 and 2004, kicking 50 and 41 goals respectively, including nine against Brisbane
in 2004 and seven against Carlton
in 2003. His 166 career goals for Fremantle is the club's equal-fourth highest tally.
After wearing guernsey
number 34 from his debut in 2002 until 2005, he changed to number six for the 2006 season, the number worn by his idol, former Fremantle and Adelaide champion goalkicker Tony Modra
. However he had the poorest season of his career, only scoring 12 goals from 12 games.
, draft selection eight, join the Magpies. Despite playing his 100th match (his first in Magpie colours, round one against the Kangaroos
), Medhurst began the season slowly, injuring his foot during a four-goal performance against Richmond
in round three, which sidelined him for much of the season. Medhurst returned to face Fremantle in round 10 at the MCG
, and Collingwood won by 10 points. Neither Medhurst nor Tarrant were among the goals, sharing three behinds between them.
The following six weeks saw Medhurst struggle to hold his place in the Collingwood outfit, a number of low-possession efforts in the seniors forcing the former Docker to play with Williamstown
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). He returned to form towards the end of the season, scoring three goals in the round 19 loss to Richmond
, before following up with another three against Melbourne
a week later.
Medhurst played a part in Collingwood's win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval
in their semi-final extra-time win. He gathered 16 disposals, 15 of them kicks, booted two goals and laid six tackles.
Although the Magpies lost to Geelong
the following week in the preliminary final by a five points, Medhurst's three goals helped keep his team in the contest.
In 2008, Medhurst won the ANZAC Day Medal after kicking six goals in the ANZAC Day clash
against Essendon
.
Medhurst was selected in the 2008 All-Australian team as a forward pocket
and finished runner-up in Collingwood's 2008 best-and-fairest award. He was rewarded the R. T. Rush Trophy and the Gordon Coventry Trophy (leading goal kicker for Collingwood (50)).
Medhurst retired at the end of the 2010 season.
Collingwood
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...
who played for 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...
and the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
In his 2008 season, he was selected in the All-Australian team and his other career highlights include leading the goalkicking at Fremantle in successive seasons.
Early life
He began his senior footballing with West Australian Football LeagueWest 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...
(WAFL), where he played for the Claremont Football Club
Claremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
and won the Bernie Naylor Medal
Bernie Naylor Medal
The Bernie Naylor Medal is an Australian rules football award which is given to the leading goalkicker at the end of each home and away season in the West Australian Football League. It is named after South Fremantle full-forward Bernie Naylor...
in 2001 for the most goals in the league.
AFL career
Medhurst was originally selected by the Fremantle Football ClubFremantle 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...
with a 4th round selection in the 2001 AFL Draft
2001 AFL Draft
The 2001 AFL Draft consisted of a national draft, a rookie draft, a pre-season draft and a trade period. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League .In 2001 there were 83...
. However he was traded to Collingwood in 2007 as part of the deal that sent Chris Tarrant
Chris Tarrant (footballer)
Chris Tarrant is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Collingwood Football Club, and has also played for the Fremantle Football Club. He announced at the end of the 2010 AFL season that he would return to Melbourne for personal reasons and would not extend his contract with Fremantle...
to Fremantle.
Fremantle
Medhurst made a successful debut in round 1, 2002 in a Western DerbyWestern Derby
The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
against 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...
, kicking three goals and earning an AFL Rising Star nomination. At the end of 2002, he won the Beacon Award as the best young player on the Fremantle team. He was Fremantle's leading goalkicker in 2003 and 2004, kicking 50 and 41 goals respectively, including nine against Brisbane
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
in 2004 and seven against 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...
in 2003. His 166 career goals for Fremantle is the club's equal-fourth highest tally.
After wearing guernsey
Guernsey (clothing)
A guernsey, or gansey, is a seaman's knitted woollen sweater, similar to a jersey, which originated in the Channel Island of the same name.-Origins:...
number 34 from his debut in 2002 until 2005, he changed to number six for the 2006 season, the number worn by his idol, former Fremantle and Adelaide champion goalkicker Tony Modra
Tony Modra
Anthony 'Tony' Dale Modra is a former Australian rules football player, known for his spectacular marks. He played for the Adelaide Football Club and Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League, mainly at full forward. Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best...
. However he had the poorest season of his career, only scoring 12 goals from 12 games.
Collingwood
Medhurst joined Collingwood in 2007 in the deal which saw Chris Tarrant become a Docker, and Ben ReidBen Reid
Ben Reid is an Australian rules footballer for Collingwood in the Australian Football League .- Early life :He is the son of former Footscray and Carlton player, Bruce Reid. His younger brother Sam Reid also plays AFL football for the Sydney Swans.- AFL career :He was taken with Collingwood's...
, draft selection eight, join the Magpies. Despite playing his 100th match (his first in Magpie colours, round one against 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...
), Medhurst began the season slowly, injuring his foot during a four-goal performance 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,...
in round three, which sidelined him for much of the season. Medhurst returned to face Fremantle in round 10 at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, and Collingwood won by 10 points. Neither Medhurst nor Tarrant were among the goals, sharing three behinds between them.
The following six weeks saw Medhurst struggle to hold his place in the Collingwood outfit, a number of low-possession efforts in the seniors forcing the former Docker to play with Williamstown
Williamstown Football Club
The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
in the Victorian Football League
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...
(VFL). He returned to form towards the end of the season, scoring three goals in the round 19 loss to 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,...
, before following up with another three against Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
a week later.
Medhurst played a part in Collingwood's win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
in their semi-final extra-time win. He gathered 16 disposals, 15 of them kicks, booted two goals and laid six tackles.
Although the Magpies lost to Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
the following week in the preliminary final by a five points, Medhurst's three goals helped keep his team in the contest.
In 2008, Medhurst won the ANZAC Day Medal after kicking six goals in the ANZAC Day clash
The ANZAC Day clash
The Anzac Day clash is an annual Australian rules football match between Australian Football League teams Collingwood and Essendon, held on Anzac Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground .-Early history of Australian rules on Anzac Day:...
against Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
Medhurst was selected in the 2008 All-Australian team as a forward pocket
Forward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
and finished runner-up in Collingwood's 2008 best-and-fairest award. He was rewarded the R. T. Rush Trophy and the Gordon Coventry Trophy (leading goal kicker for Collingwood (50)).
Medhurst retired at the end of the 2010 season.
Career highlights
Fremantle- AFL Rising Star nomination Rd 1, 2002
- Beacon Award winner (2002)
- FremantleFremantle Football ClubThe 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...
Leading Goal Kicker (2003, 2004)
Collingwood
- Round 13, 2007 AFL Army AwardAFL Army AwardFrom 2007 until 2009 the Australian Football League produced the AFL Army Award to recognise players who produced significant acts of bravery or selflessness to promote the cause of their team during a game...
nomination - ANZAC Day Medallist (2008)
- Collingwood Leading Goal Kicker (2008)
- All-Australian (2008)
- R.T Rush Trophy (2008)
- Gordon Coventry Trophy (2008)