Allen Christensen (footballer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allen Christensen |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Christensen in April 2019
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
| Nickname(s) | Bundy | ||
| Date of birth | 19 May 1991 | ||
| Original team | Geelong Falcons (TAC Cup)/Lara Football Club | ||
| Draft |
|
||
| Position(s) | Forward pocket / Midfield | ||
| Career highlights | |||
|
|||
Allen Christensen (born 19 May 1991) is a former professional Australian rules football player. He played for the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Contents
Early Life in Football
Allen Christensen grew up in Lara, a town near Geelong. He started playing junior football with the Lara Football Club. Later, he played for the St Mary's Football Club in Darwin. This was when he was 15 and 16 years old. His dad coached the senior team there for two seasons.
When he came back to Victoria in 2007, Allen joined the Geelong Falcons. This team plays in the TAC Cup, a league for young players. In 2009, he was almost the best player in the TAC Cup. He averaged 26 disposals (getting the ball) per game. He was also named in the TAC Cup Team of the Year.
Allen's AFL Journey
The Geelong Football Club picked Allen Christensen as their 40th choice in the 2009 AFL draft. Many people thought he would be picked much earlier. Because of this, some media said Geelong got a "steal" by picking him so late.
Allen did not play any senior AFL games in his first year. Instead, he played for Geelong's VFL reserves team. He played 16 games and often performed very well. He was even chosen as a backup player for the senior team twice in 2010. He finished fourth in the VFL team's best and fairest award.
Playing for Geelong (2011–2014)
Allen Christensen played his first AFL game in 2011. It was against Fremantle in Perth. He came into the game late and helped Geelong win by 11 points.
Later that year, he had a great game against Richmond. He got 26 disposals and kicked two goals. Because of this, he was nominated for the 2011 AFL Rising Star award. This award is for the best young players in the league. He was also part of the Geelong team that won the 2011 AFL Grand Final against Collingwood.
In 2014, Allen had some back injuries. He only played eight games that season.
Moving to Brisbane (2015–2020)
After the 2014 season, Allen asked to move to a club in Queensland. He wanted a change in his life. On 13 October 2014, he officially joined the Brisbane Lions. Geelong received pick number 21 in the 2014 AFL draft in return.
In 2020, Allen was named in the St Joseph’s College Team of Champions. This team honors the best AFL players who went to that school. He retired from professional football on 21 October 2020.
Life After AFL
After retiring from the AFL, Allen Christensen continued his football career. He joined the Lauderdale Football Club in the Tasmanian State League for the 2021 season. He stayed with the club as a senior coach until the end of the 2024 season.
He is now the senior coach of the Hobart Football Club. This team plays in the Southern Football League.
Player Style
When Allen was first drafted, people described him as a player who got a lot of the ball. He was good at winning contested possessions, meaning he could get the ball even when other players were trying to get it too. He was also known for making smart decisions and being good at kicking goals. Allen himself felt he played like Simon Black. He admired Black's ability to get the ball and play well in crowded parts of the field.
Honours and Achievements
| Brownlow Medal votes | |
| Season | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| Total | 7 |
Team Awards
- AFL Premiership (Geelong): 2011
Individual Awards
- AFL Rising Star nominee: 2011
Personal Life
Allen Christensen is related to other Geelong players. His uncles, Marty and Damien Christensen, also played for the Geelong Football Club. Allen is also of Indigenous Australian heritage. He has two brothers and two sisters. In 2015, he appeared in a documentary about the band The Amity Affliction. He was featured as a "famous fan" of the band.
