Ross Funcke

Last updated

Ross Funcke
Personal information
Date of birth (1977-11-16) 16 November 1977 (age 42)
Original team(s) Ballarat Under 18s / Minyip
Debut Round 6, 4 May 1996, Richmond
vs.  Fitzroy, at Western Oval
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1996–1999 Richmond 27 (1)
2001–2002 Melbourne 13 (4)
Total40 (5)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2002.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Ross Funcke (born 16 November 1977) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Contents

Richmond career

Funcke was recruited to the Richmond Tigers in the 1995 AFL Draft. Touted as a half-back player, he fulfilled that role for the Tigers, though not too impressively. At the end of the 1999 season Richmond delisted the then 21-year-old Funcke. It seemed that would be the end of his AFL career, but it was not.

Melbourne career

In 2000 Funcke played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) with the North Ballarat Roosters and surprisingly was picked up by the Melbourne Football Club and given a lifeline at AFL level. By that time, Funcke was a tagger/run-with player and he was utilised accordingly in his debut season with Melbourne in 2001. After playing the first game in Round 1, 2001, he did not return to the side until Round 19, but performed solidly when he returned, and was impressive in Melbourne's Round 20 win over Sydney. He was retained in the side for the rest of the season, but in 2002 he had a poor year and was finally delisted.

Post-AFL career

Funcke carved out a career with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) once his AFL career ended, and he became a valuable player for the club. Personal issues forced him home during the 2005 season.

In 2006, Funcke has signed on as a player-coach with Donald Football Club in the North Central Football League. He married his long-term partner Kellie in October 2006.


Related Research Articles

David Rodan Australian rules footballer, born 1983

David Rodan is a Fijian retired professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Tigers, Port Adelaide Power and the Melbourne Demons.

Cain Ackland Australian rules footballer, born 1982

Cain Ackland is an Australian rules football player formerly in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Winston Abraham is a former Australian rules footballer. During his AFL career he played as a half forward.

Aaron Edwards is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles, North Melbourne Football Club and Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Edwards also played for the Frankston Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL)

Damien Peverill Australian rules footballer, born 1979

Damien Peverill is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Peverill was known as a hard-working player whose no-nonsense approach to football, along with his consistency and ability to win plenty of the ball, were the hallmarks of his game.

Adam Thomson is an Australian rules footballer who played for Port Adelaide and Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Thomas "Tom" Roach is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Brad Miller (footballer) Australian football player

Brad Miller is a former Australian rules football player who last played for the Richmond Football Club. He previously played with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) until he was delisted at the end of the 2010 season.

Ross Young is an Australian rules footballer. He is most notable for his time at the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), where he served as captain and won a Sandover Medal. He had a brief career in the Australian Football League with the Carlton Football Club.

Sam Power is an Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Robin Nahas Australian rules footballer

Robin Nahas is a professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Jayden Post Australian rules footballer

Jayden Post is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Ben Ross is an Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League. He was rookie listed by Hawthorn in the 2013 AFL Rookie Draft after previously playing for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League between 2007 and 2011.

Ben Nason is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Luke Ottens is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the elder brother of All-Australian and premiership player, Brad Ottens, and the son of Dean Ottens.

Mav Weller Australian rules footballer

Maverick 'Mav' Weller is a former Australian rules footballer who played 123 games across a nine year career from 2011 to 2019 with Gold Coast, St Kilda and Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL). His tenures included 32 matches over three years at the Gold Coast Football Club, 89 matches with St Kilda over five years at the club and two matches with Richmond.

Brandon Ellis Australian rules footballer

Brandon Ellis is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing for the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played 176 matches over eight seasons at Richmond, including in the 2017 and 2019 premierships.

Jacob Townsend Australian rules footballer

Jacob Townsend is a professional Australian rules footballer who currently plays for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played 28 matches over four seasons with the Greater Western Sydney Giants and 20 matches over four seasons at Richmond. He won an AFL premiership with Richmond in 2017 while also winning the VFL's J. J. Liston Trophy that season as the league's best and fairest player during matches played with Richmond's reserves side, before winning a VFL premiership with the same reserves side in 2019.

Ben Lennon Australian footballer

Ben Lennon is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was an under 18 All Australian before becoming a first round AFL draft pick in 2013. Lennon played 21 matches with Richmond over a four-year stint at the club before being delisted, quitting the sport and taking up scholarship offer to play American football at the University of Utah in the United States.

Jack Ross (footballer, born 2000) Australian rules footballer, born 2000

Jack Ross is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played junior representative football with the Oakliegh Chargers in the TAC Cup and won the club's best and fairest player award in 2018. He was drafted by Richmond with the 43rd pick in 2018 AFL draft and made his debut in round 4 of the 2019 season.