Alex Witherden

Last updated

Alex Witherden
Alex Witherden 2017.jpg
Witherden playing for the Brisbane Lions reserves in April 2017
Personal information
Full name Alex Witherden
Date of birth (1998-09-10) 10 September 1998 (age 25)
Original team(s) Geelong Falcons (TAC Cup)/St Joseph’s
Draft No. 23, 2016 national draft
Debut Round 14, 2017, Brisbane Lions  vs. Greater Western Sydney, at the Gabba
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Half-back flank
Club information
Current club West Coast
Number 23
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2017–2020 Brisbane Lions 59 (5)
2021– West Coast 47 (2)
Total106 (7)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 6 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Alex Witherden (born 10 September 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Contents

Early life

Witherden was a successful junior athlete in basketball and cricket but his biggest aspiration was to play in the AFL. He loved football so much that his mother forged his age in order to go to Auskick a year early. [1] He regularly played football above his age group as a junior for Barwon Heads in the Bellarine Football League, mainly playing as a midfielder.

In 2009 as a 10 year old he played under-12s and under-14s for Barwon Heads then he just played under-14s in 2010. In 2011 he moved to St Joseph's Football & Netball Club where he played two seasons of under-14s. Alex moved up to under-16s for 2013 and in 2014 he was named in the Vic Country team for the Under-16 National Championships. Witherden had arthroscopes on both hips at the end of the 2014 season. [2]

2015 was when Witherden made his debut for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup as a bottom age player, he played 12 games and kicked 5 goals. He also played in the AFL Academy game on AFL Grand Final day, drawing strong praise from coach Brenton Sanderson.

Witherden's draft year started off strongly in 2016, he was named the captain of the Geelong College 1st XVIII football team after an impressive season in 2015. [3] Witherden played two Academy games and two Falcons games where he averaged 23 disposals and five marks per game in the TAC Cup, playing mostly as a skilful defender. [4] Playing for Geelong College in early May, Witherden was sick before the game so he was playing forward. Geelong College was losing by about 90 points when Witherden decided to put himself into the midfield for a centre bounce. He broke his leg in a tackle from fellow AFL prospect Tim Taranto who was playing for St Kevin's. Witherden's leg was in an awkward position when Taranto came down on it with his full body weight, Alex was in severe pain and had to be stretchered off the ground. He broke one of the bones in his right leg in four places, cracked another one and tore the syndesmotic ligaments which connect them. The injury meant Witherden would finish the most important year of junior football having played just two games of TAC Cup. He missed the Under-18 National Championships, the Under-18 All Stars match and was in doubt for the National Draft Combine, to which he was invited.

Witherden focused on his rehab, he rode an electric scooter around school as it was the best way to keep weight off his leg, he also hit the Geelong Falcons gym after dropping down to 75kg during his injury, his weight improved to 80kg and improved his diet, cutting down on his favourite McDonald's frozen Coke plus ate less bread. Where at one time he would have three or four sandwiches in his lunchbox, he then would opt for a chicken salad. [5] He took advice during the setback from fellow draftee and friend Jy Simpkin, who broke his right leg a month earlier [6] and Carlton player Darcy Lang who suffered a similar injury. [7]

AFL career

He was drafted by Brisbane with pick 23 in the 2016 national draft. [8] He made his debut in the loss to Greater Western Sydney at the Gabba in round 14 of the 2017 season. [9] After the thirty-one point loss to Richmond at Etihad Stadium in round 17, in which he recorded twenty-eight disposals and four tackles, he was the round nominee for the 2017 AFL Rising Star. [10] In 2018 Witherden became the 11th player to receive a second AFL Rising Star nomination after a match against Hawthorn.

After a difficult 2020 season in which he struggled to break into Brisbane's best 22, Witherden was traded to West Coast on a two-year deal. [11]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2020. [12]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game)
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2017 Brisbane Lions 299201436921248230.20.015.97.723.65.32.6
2018 Brisbane Lions 292113336135471152340.10.216.06.422.47.21.6
2019 Brisbane Lions 29232333289421127380.20.014.43.818.25.51.6
2020 Brisbane Lions 296--92231153970.10.215.33.819.16.51.2
Career595690331612193661020.080.1015.35.320.66.21.7

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geelong Falcons</span>

The Geelong Falcons is a youth Australian rules football representative club in the Talent League, the Victorian statewide under-18s competition in Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Scarlett</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1979

Matthew Scarlett is a former Australian rules footballer, who formerly played for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A fullback, who is 1.92 metres tall and weighing 94 kilograms (207 lb), Scarlett is the eldest son of former Geelong footballer John Scarlett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Hodge</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1984

Luke Hodge is a former Australian rules football player who played with the Hawthorn Football Club and the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 2002 to 2017, captaining the club from 2011 to 2016. In 2018, Hodge moved to the Brisbane Lions, before retiring in 2019. Hodge started his career playing on the half-back flank but as his career progressed he has been known to push up into the midfield. He is a four-time premiership player, three-time premiership captain and a two-time Norm Smith Medallist. Hodge is widely regarded as one of the most respected players, in particular as a captain, to have ever participated in the sport. As of 2023, Hodge has played the most VFL/AFL games of any number-one draft pick, is the only number-one draft pick to win a Norm Smith Medal, is one of just three number-one draft picks to have won a premiership, and has won the most premierships of any number-one draft pick (4).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talent League</span> Under-18 Australian rules football competition

The Talent League is an under-19 Australian rules football representative competition held in Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing one of twelve Victorian regions, while a thirteenth team from Tasmania was reintroduced in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Moloney</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1984

Brent Moloney is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions, Melbourne Football Club and Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Scott (Australian footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1976

Christopher Michael Scott is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League (AFL) best known for being a dual premiership player with the Brisbane Lions and a dual premiership coach at Geelong in 2011 and 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Clark (Australian footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer

Mitchell Clark is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions, Melbourne Football Club and Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Jaxson Barham is a former Australian rules footballer. He played seven senior games for the Collingwood Football Club from 2009–2010 before being delisted at the end of the 2010 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lachie Henderson</span> Australian rules footballer

Lachlan Stuart Henderson is a former Australian rules footballer, who played for the Brisbane Lions, the Carlton Football Club and the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Sam Blease is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club and Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Christensen (footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer

Allen Christensen is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayden Pitt</span> Australian rules footballer

Jayden Pitt is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a quick, agile, goalkicking midfielder who is a good kick with either foot.

Zac Smith is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Gold Coast Suns and the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for Gold Coast from 2011 to 2015 and 2020 to 2021, as well as Geelong between 2016 and 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis Taylor (Australian footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer (born 1995)

Lewis Taylor is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Clayton</span> Australian rules footballer

Josh Clayton is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the son of former Fitzroy player and Gold Coast list manager, Scott Clayton, and was drafted under the father-son rule.

Tom Doedee is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL), having previously played for Adelaide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Worpel</span> Australian rules footballer

James Worpel is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nina Morrison</span> Australian rules footballer

Nina Morrison is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Geelong Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). A midfielder who won multiple accolades at junior level and played in the VFL Women's (VFLW) as a teenager, Morrison was the first selection in the 2018 AFL Women's draft. She received a nomination for the 2019 AFL Women's Rising Star award in round 1 of the 2019 season, her debut match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gryan Miers</span> Australian rules football player

Gryan Miers is an Australian rules footballer playing for Geelong in the Australian Football League (AFL). A small forward, he played in the TAC Cup before he was recruited by Geelong with pick 57 in the 2017 national draft. Miers debuted in the opening round of the 2019 season and was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award in round 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darcy Fort</span> Australian rules footballer

Darcy Fort is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). A 2.04-metre ruckman who can also play as a key forward, he played in several state leagues before being drafted by Geelong as a mature-age recruit. He made his AFL debut in round 9 of the 2019 season.

References

  1. ↑ "From top to bottom and back: Alex Witherden". Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Riding a motor scooter helped draft hopeful Alex Witherden heal". 13 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "DraftSENtral | Witherden takes lessons from unlucky break".
  4. ↑ "Draft Watch Geelongs Alex Witherden - NAB League".
  5. ↑ "Riding a motor scooter helped draft hopeful Alex Witherden heal". 13 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "'The next Goddard' sinks teeth into Rising Star". 17 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "DraftSENtral | Witherden takes lessons from unlucky break".
  8. ↑ "Brisbane Lions select Alex Witherden with pick 23". Lions.com.au. Telstra. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Hamilton, Andrew (23 June 2017). "Alex Witherden to debut for Brisbane Lions, Josh Schache building form in NEAFL". The Courier-Mail . News Corp Australia . Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  10. ↑ Gardiner, Gilbert (17 July 2017). "Brisbane Lions defender Alex Witherden earns AFL Round 17 Rising Star nomination". Herald Sun . News Corp Australia. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  11. ↑ @AFL_House (12 November 2020). "Trade paperwork lodged. The Brisbane Lions trade Alex Witherden and Rd 5 (86) to the West Coast Eagles for Rd 3 (58) and Future Rd 3 Selection" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ↑ "Alex Witherden" . Retrieved 6 October 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.