The 2008 season was the 112th completed season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest-level Australian rules football competition in Australia. There were 84 players who first participated in an AFL premiership match during the 2008 season. [2] [3] The regular season commenced on 20 March and concluded with the AFL Grand Final on 27 September, where the premiership was won by Hawthorn. [4] This year celebrated the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Australian football as a sport in 1858. [5]
The premiership season is inclusive of home-and-away and finals series matches only, and does not include pre-season matches or representative games (such as State of Origin or International rules football). [6] Of those making their AFL debut, there were 17 rookie-listed players who were elevated to their clubs' senior list during the season. [7] Rookie players receive a reduced salary in comparison to senior-listed players, and are not necessarily automatically eligible for selection in games, unless they are elevated. [8]
In addition to those players making their debuts, there were 25 players who played their first game with a new AFL club after previously having played with another club in the league. [2] [9] Notably, former West Coast captain Chris Judd played his first game for Carlton in the first round of the season, after being traded in the preceding off-season. [10] [11] Cyril Rioli played every game for Hawthorn in the 2008 season, playing a total of 25 games (including the Grand Final)—the most of any debut player that year. [1] Jack Anthony scored the most goals out of first-year players in 2008, attaining 25 goals in his 12 matches. [12]
Club | AFL debuts | Change of club |
---|---|---|
Adelaide | 6 | 2 |
Brisbane Lions | 7 | 1 |
Carlton | 6 | 2 |
Collingwood | 5 | 1 |
Essendon | 8 | 0 |
Fremantle | 4 | 2 |
Geelong | 3 | 0 |
Hawthorn | 5 | 1 |
Melbourne | 7 | 0 |
North Melbourne | 6 | 2 |
Port Adelaide | 6 | 0 |
Richmond | 1 | 3 |
St Kilda | 4 | 5 |
Sydney | 6 | 2 |
West Coast | 8 | 1 |
Western Bulldogs | 2 | 3 |
Total | 84 | 25 |
Age | Player's age as of debut |
---|---|
Round | Round when player's first premiership match occurred |
Games | The number of games played in 2008 |
Goals | The number of goals scored in 2008 |
† | Denotes player who was elevated from club's rookie list [7] |
Round | Round when player's first premiership match occurred |
---|---|
Games | The number of games played in 2008 |
Goals | The number of goals scored in 2008 |
Previous club(s) | Player's previous AFL clubs, with the yearspan of their appearances |
† | Denotes player who was elevated from club's rookie list |
Players are only included if they previously played a match with another AFL club. |
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