Craig Holden facts for kids

Craig Holden was an Australian Rules Football player. He was born on August 14, 1957. He played for several teams during his career. These included the Swan Districts Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He also played for the North Melbourne Football Club and the Sydney Swans in the AFL.

Early Career and Awards

Craig Holden started his football journey in Western Australia. In 1975, he played for the Swan Districts colts team. He won a special award called the Jack Clarke Medal that year. At the time, it was known as the Medallists' Medal. This award is given to the best player in the WAFL Colts competition.

Making His Debut

After winning the medal, Craig Holden made his first senior league appearance. This happened in 1976. He quickly became an important player for Swan Districts. He played many games for them before moving to the bigger league.

Playing in the AFL

Craig Holden moved to the Australian Football League (AFL), which was then called the VFL. He first joined the North Melbourne Football Club in 1982. He played there for two seasons.

Joining the Sydney Swans

In 1984, Craig Holden moved to the Sydney Swans. He played for the Swans until 1988. He was a strong and reliable player for them. During his time in the AFL, he played a total of 109 games.

International Games

In 1984, Craig Holden also played in a special international game. This game was against a team from Ireland. It was a unique match that combined rules from both Australian Rules Football and Gaelic football.

Career Achievements

Craig Holden had a successful football career. He played a total of 211 senior games across both the WAFL and AFL. This shows how dedicated and skilled he was.

Team of the Century

His achievements were recognized by his first club, Swan Districts. He was chosen to be part of the "Swan Districts Team of the Century." This is a huge honor. It means he was considered one of the best players in the club's long history. He was named as an interchange player.

State and All-Australian Honors

Craig Holden also represented his home state, Western Australia. He played for the WA State Team in 1981, 1984, 1985, and 1987. In 1987, he was selected for the All Australian Team. This team features the best players from across the entire country.

After Retirement

After he stopped playing football, Craig Holden stayed involved in the sport. He worked for the Sydney Swans. He was their Development Manager. This role involves helping young players improve their skills. He was also part of the match committee. This group helps decide which players play in games.

Life Membership

In 2006, the Sydney Swans gave Craig Holden a special award. He was honored with life membership of the club. This is given to people who have made a very important contribution to the club over many years.