Will Minson
Encyclopedia
William Gerald Minson is a professional Australian rules football
er who plays for the Western Bulldogs
in the Australian Football League
.
and played football with the Norwood Football Club
up until the under 18's.
He was a student at St Peter's College, Adelaide
, where he played the majority of his junior football.
recruited Minson in the 2002 AFL Draft
at pick number 20. He made his debut with the club in 2004
.
Since the injury of ruckman
Luke Darcy
, Minson has filled the role to the best of his abilities. He is considered very mobile for his size and is also very strong. He is known for his physical presence, being suspended for striking Geelong
star Cameron Ling
in just his second game.
In Round 14 2008, with the Bulldogs playing Port Adelaide in their annual game in Darwin, Minson was involved in a confrontation with Kane Cornes
, a Port Adelaide midfielder http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23949885-23211,00.html. Minson appeared two days later in an interview with the Foxtel
AFL program On the Couch
, apologising for a derogatory comment made to Cornes. Whilst not revealing was what was said, it was clear that Minson had said something out of line, as Mike Sheahan
, the interviewer, commented that Minson looked visibly distressed. Cornes' brother Chad
is believed to have contacted Minson in an aggressive phone call the night following the AFL match. The comment may have been directed towards Kane's son who has suffered from health problems. Minson claimed that what was said was in "the heat of battle".
with Port Adelaide
before being forced to retire through injury.
Off the field, Minson is known for his intelligence and multi-faceted abilities - he is an excellent saxophonist
, speaks fluent German
and is currently studying civil engineering
at the University of Melbourne
.
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 plays for 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...
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...
.
Early life
Minson grew up in Norwood, South AustraliaNorwood, South Australia
Norwood is a suburb of Adelaide, about 4 km east of the Adelaide city centre. The suburb is in the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, the oldest South Australian local government municipality, with a city population over 34,000.-History:...
and played football with 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...
up until the under 18's.
He was a student at St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, , is an independent boy's school in the South Australian capital of Adelaide...
, where he played the majority of his junior football.
AFL career
The Western BulldogsWestern 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...
recruited Minson in the 2002 AFL Draft
2002 AFL Draft
The 2002 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and the elevation of rookies. 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 2002...
at pick number 20. He made his debut with the club in 2004
2004 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St...
.
Since the injury of 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...
Luke Darcy
Luke Darcy
Luke Darcy is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Western Bulldogs who now juggles roles in media and administration.-Early life:...
, Minson has filled the role to the best of his abilities. He is considered very mobile for his size and is also very strong. He is known for his physical presence, being suspended for striking 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...
star Cameron Ling
Cameron Ling
Cameron Ling is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League...
in just his second game.
In Round 14 2008, with the Bulldogs playing Port Adelaide in their annual game in Darwin, Minson was involved in a confrontation with Kane Cornes
Kane Cornes
Kane Graham Cornes in an Australian rules football player who plays for Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League.-Early life:...
, a Port Adelaide midfielder http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23949885-23211,00.html. Minson appeared two days later in an interview with the Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
AFL program On the Couch
On the Couch
On the Couch is an Australian television program focusing on the current issues in the Australian Football League. From its debut in 2002 through to 2006, it was shown on the now defunct Fox Footy Channel. Since then it has been broadcast on Fox Sports....
, apologising for a derogatory comment made to Cornes. Whilst not revealing was what was said, it was clear that Minson had said something out of line, as Mike Sheahan
Mike Sheahan
Michael "Mike" Sheahan is an Australian journalist who specialises in Australian rules football. He is Chief Football Writer and Associate Sports Editor for the Herald Sun, a panelist on the Fox Sports program "On the Couch" and former Media Director for the VFL .Sheahan attended Werribee High...
, the interviewer, commented that Minson looked visibly distressed. Cornes' brother Chad
Chad Cornes
Chad Studley Cornes is a Australian rules footballer, who is contracted to play for Greater Western Sydney in 2012, in the Australian Football League...
is believed to have contacted Minson in an aggressive phone call the night following the AFL match. The comment may have been directed towards Kane's son who has suffered from health problems. Minson claimed that what was said was in "the heat of battle".
Personal life
Minson has a younger brother, Hugh, who formerly played in the Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
with 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...
before being forced to retire through injury.
Off the field, Minson is known for his intelligence and multi-faceted abilities - he is an excellent saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, speaks fluent German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and is currently studying civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.