Alan Thorpe (footballer) facts for kids

Alan Thorpe was born on October 18, 1968. He is known for playing Australian rules football and for being a media commentator. Alan played for two teams in the Australian Football League (AFL): the Sydney Swans and Footscray. Today, he is a panel member on a popular TV show called The Marngrook Footy Show.

Alan Thorpe's Football Journey

Alan Thorpe started his football career playing for Fitzroy in their Under 19s team. He played many games for their junior and reserve teams. In 1991, he was chosen in the Mid-Season Draft to join Fitzroy's main player list. However, he didn't get to play in a senior game for them.

After leaving Fitzroy, Alan played for the Tatura team in the Goulburn Valley Football League. His talent was noticed, and he was then picked by the Sydney Swans in the 1992 Pre-season Draft. This was a big step, as it meant he would play in the top-level AFL.

Playing in the AFL

Alan made his first senior AFL game for the Sydney Swans in 1992. He played three games for them that year. After his time with the Swans, he went back to Tatura. Later, he played for Oakleigh in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

In 1993, Alan joined the Footscray reserves team. He was soon chosen by Footscray in the 1993 Mid-Season Draft. This gave him another chance to play in the AFL. He played four games for Footscray in late 1993. The next year, 1994, he played eight more games for them. His final AFL game was in round 10 of 1994.

At the end of 1994, Alan left Footscray. He was then picked by the Carlton in the 1995 Pre-Season Draft. He played in some pre-season games for Carlton. However, he did not play any senior games for them before leaving the club at the end of that season.

Alan Thorpe in the Media

After his football playing days, Alan Thorpe became a well-known media personality. He is one of the people who started The Marngrook Footy Show. This show is very popular among Australian rules football fans.

The Marngrook Footy Show

The Marngrook Footy Show began in the 1990s as a radio program. It was broadcast on 3KND and the National Indigenous Radio Service network. This allowed many people to listen to their discussions about football.

In 2007, the show made a big move to television. It started airing on National Indigenous Television (NITV) and Melbourne's Channel 31. This helped the show reach an even wider audience. Later, in 2011, The Marngrook Footy Show moved to ABC2, a national television channel. Alan Thorpe continues to be an important panel member on the show, sharing his insights and passion for football.