Courtenay Dempsey facts for kids

Courtenay Dempsey, born on August 28, 1987, is a former professional Australian rules football player. He played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was known for his speed and skill as a defender.

In 2024, Courtenay Dempsey was recognized as one of the top 100 Essendon players since 1980. He was ranked at number 94 on the "Don The Stat’s Top 100 Essendon Players" list.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Courtenay Dempsey was born in Mount Isa, a town in Queensland. He has Indigenous Australian heritage, with family roots in the Kalkadoon tribe from Queensland's South/Central West region.

When he was younger, Courtenay first played rugby league. This is a different type of football popular in Australia. He later discovered Aussie Rules football while living in Cairns.

He played for the Manunda Hawks in the AFL Cairns competition. After that, he moved to Brisbane. There, he joined the Kenmore Bears junior team. He also played football for his school, Brisbane Boys' College.

Playing in the AFL

Courtenay Dempsey was chosen by the Essendon Football Club in the 2005 national draft. He was the 19th player picked overall. He began his professional career with Essendon in 2006.

During his time in the AFL, Courtenay faced some challenges with injuries. For example, in 2008, he had a leg injury. In 2011, he suffered a serious knee injury that required surgery. He also had a hamstring injury in 2013.

Despite these setbacks, Courtenay played 133 games for Essendon. He scored 35 goals during his career. He was a valuable defender for the team.

After the 2016 season, Courtenay Dempsey finished his playing career with Essendon.