Allen Christensen (footballer)

Last updated

Allen Christensen
Allen Christensen 2019.3.jpg
Christensen in April 2019
Personal information
Nickname(s) Bundy [1]
Date of birth (1991-05-19) 19 May 1991 (age 32)
Original team(s) Geelong Falcons (TAC Cup)/Lara Football Club
Draft#40, 2009 National Draft
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 73 kg (161 lb)
Position(s) Forward pocket / Midfield
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2011–2014 Geelong 65 (56)
2015–2019 Brisbane Lions 68 (58)
Total133 (114)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Allen Christensen (born 19 May 1991) is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League.

Contents

Early life

Born and raised in the Geelong rural suburb of Lara to parents Brendan and Helen, [2] Christensen played junior football with the Lara Football Club, and later the St Mary's Football Club in Darwin as an under-15 and under-16 player while his father coached the senior side for two seasons in 2005 and 2006. [3]

Upon his return to Victoria in 2007, Christensen joined the Geelong Falcons where he played in the TAC Cup. In 2009, he finished runner-up in the TAC Cup's Morrish Medal after averaging 26 disposals per game. [4] He also earned TAC Cup Team of the Year honours. [5]

AFL career

Christensen was selected with 40th overall pick by the Geelong Football Club in the 2009 AFL draft. [6] Prior to the draft, however, he was predicted to be drafted in the range of 10–25, and was interviewed by a total of 12 clubs in the recruiting process. [6] This lower than expected outcome has led to media reports retrospectively citing him as an "absolute steal" for Geelong. [7]

Christensen did not make a senior appearance in his first season with Geelong; instead, he played with the club's VFL reserves team, where he played in 16 games. [8] His consistent performance in the VFL was recognised in being listed among the "best players" for nine of these matches, [8] as well as being selected as an emergency for the senior team twice during the 2010 season. Christensen's individual season in the VFL was recognised with a fourth-placed finish in the team's best and fairest award. [9]

Geelong (2011–2014)

Christensen made his debut in the second round of the 2011 AFL season against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval in Perth. [10] As the club's substitute for the match, he subbed in late in the third quarter and finished the game with eight disposals, assisting Geelong to an 11-point victory. [11]

As a result of his performance in Geelong's round 18 game against Richmond, in which he garnered 26 disposals and scored two goals, Christensen was nominated for the 2011 AFL Rising Star award. [9] He was later named to Geelong's grand final side that defeated Collingwood in the 2011 AFL Grand Final.

During the 2014 season, Christensen struggled with back injuries and only managed eight games for the season.

Brisbane (2015–2020)

Following the conclusion of the 2014 season, Christensen requested a trade to a Queensland-based club, citing a change in lifestyle and personal reasons for the decision. On 13 October 2014, he was officially traded to the Brisbane Lions in exchange for pick number 21 in the 2014 AFL draft. [12] [13]

In 2020 he was named in the St Joseph’s College team of champions, recognising the best VFL/AFL players to have attended the school. [14]

He retired on 21 October 2020.

Post-AFL Career

Christensen joined the Lauderdale Football Club in the Tasmanian State League for the 2021 season. [15]

Player profile

At the time of being drafted, Christensen's draft biography described him as a "prolific ball winner who amasses plenty of contested possessions" as well as being a "sound decision-maker who is extremely clever around goals." Additionally, Christensen himself felt he best resembled Simon Black as a footballer due to Black's ability to gain possessions while being a "good stoppage player". [16]

Statistics

Statistics are correct as at the end of the 2014 season. [17]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game)
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2010 Geelong 28000000000.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
2011 Geelong 2819181115415030459701.00.68.17.916.03.13.7
2012 Geelong 28179916616332947630.50.59.89.619.42.83.7
2013 Geelong 2821231421223144368851.10.710.111.021.13.24.0
2014 Geelong 28866917816927310.80.811.49.821.13.43.9
Career65564062362212452012490.90.69.69.619.23.13.8

Honours and achievements

Brownlow Medal votes
SeasonVotes
2011 1
2012 0
2013 5
2014 1
Total7

Team

Individual

Personal life

Christensen is the nephew of former Geelong players Marty and Damien Christensen, [18] and is of Indigenous Australian heritage. He also has two brothers and two sisters. [3] In 2015, he appeared in a segment on the documentary DVD for Australian hardcore band, The Amity Affliction, as a "famous fan" alongside Chad Cornes and Daniel Riccardo. Christensen is recovering gambling addict. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ McFarlane, Glenn (24 July 2011). "Young Cat Allen Christensen plays a weighting game". Herald Sun. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Hanlon, Peter (20 May 2011). "Allen Christensen, sub machine". The Age. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  3. 1 2 Hanlon, Peter (10 May 2013). "Sharing in a football family's adventure". The Age. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Geelong - draft rundown". Herald Sun. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "2009 TAC Cup Team of the Year". Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 Breen, Daniel (27 November 2009). "Bombs away as Geelong Falcon Allen Christensen stays at home". Velocity Sports. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  7. ↑ Pickering, Paul (22 November 2011). "Foxsports.com.au takes a look at your AFL club's track record at the national draft; have your say now". Fox Sports. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Player statistics for Allen Christensen". Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  9. 1 2 Holmesby, Luke (26 July 2011). "NAB AFL Rising Star round 18: Allen Christensen". AFL.com.au. BigPond. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  10. ↑ Gullan, Scott; Clark, Jay (1 April 2011). "Geelong star Joel Selwood a late withdrawal from Fremantle clash". Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  11. ↑ Fremantle defeated by Geelong
  12. ↑ Lions land Christensen
  13. ↑ Allen Christensen gets trade from Geelong to Brisbane Lions in exchange for pick No.21
  14. ↑ "Four skippers, eight All-Australians, one Brownlow ... one school". www.afl.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  15. ↑ Tasmanian State League Christensen Gets Back to Spark Lauderdale Revival
  16. ↑ Allen Christensen (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country) – Draft Profile
  17. ↑ "Allen Christensen stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  18. ↑ Green, Bradley (27 November 2009). "Geelong Cats says [sic] draft picks can walk straight into team". Archived from the original on 6 January 2010.
  19. ↑ "AFL 2019: Allen Christensen opens up on gambling addiction before being traded to Brisbane Lions". 21 March 2019.
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