Che Cockatoo-Collins facts for kids

Che Cockatoo-Collins (born 5 March 1975) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He played in the top league, the Australian Football League (AFL). Che was known for his speed and skill on the field.

He was born in Brisbane, Queensland. Later, his family moved to Cairns, Queensland. There, Che started playing junior football with the Cairns City Cobras. He then moved to Adelaide with his family. While still in school, he joined the Port Adelaide Magpies in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). His talent quickly got him noticed.

Playing for Essendon

Che Cockatoo-Collins joined the AFL club Essendon in 1994. He was 19 years old when he started playing in the big league. In his first year, he played 16 games. He also kicked 24 goals, which is a great start for a forward player.

He continued to improve his game in the next season. The 1996 season was a really strong year for him. He played in almost all of his club's games, missing only one. During this season, he kicked 37 goals. He also averaged 15 disposals per game, meaning he got the ball a lot. After 1996, his performance dipped a bit. He was then traded to Port Adelaide at the end of the 1998 season.

Playing for Port Adelaide

Che Cockatoo-Collins showed his value right away at Port Adelaide. In his first season with them in 1999, he played 12 games. He also kicked 23 goals, proving he was a good addition to the team.

However, the next season was tough for him. He only played two games because of injuries. But he bounced back strongly in 2001. That year, he played 22 out of 24 games. He kicked an impressive 41 goals, making it his best season yet. He also averaged 15 disposals per game. In his last two seasons, he kicked a total of 40 goals. He played 16 games in his final season. At the end of the 2003 season, he left the team.

After AFL: Still Playing Football

After leaving the AFL, Che Cockatoo-Collins continued to play for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL. He was a strong player for them. He announced he was retiring from the SANFL in February 2006.

After that, Che played for a team called United. This team was in the Adelaide Plains Football League. He played with them in 2007 and 2008. He even missed the 2007 grand final game.

Acting Role

Che Cockatoo-Collins had a small part in an Australian movie. The movie was called Look Both Ways and came out in 2005. It starred actors like William McInnes and Justine Clarke. In the movie, Che played a man who walks into an editor's office at the beginning. He is told to leave. Later, he is seen making copies.

Family Life

Che Cockatoo-Collins comes from a family of footballers. His younger twin brothers, David and Donald, also played football. They played for the Port Adelaide Football Club and for Melbourne in the AFL.

The "Cockatoo" part of his last name has an interesting history. It comes from his great-great-grandfather on his mother's side. This ancestor lived in Cape York Peninsula and was known as "Old Man Cockatoo." Che's nephew, Nakia Cockatoo, is also a professional footballer. Nakia plays for the Brisbane Lions.