Eddie Hocking facts for kids

Eddie Hocking was born on January 6, 1970. He is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). The AFL is Australia's biggest football league.

Eddie Hocking's Early Football Days

Eddie Hocking grew up in Clare, South Australia. When he was just sixteen, he started training with a team called Central District. This team plays in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). The SANFL is a major football league in South Australia.

Making His Debut

Within a year of joining Central District, Eddie played his first game in the SANFL. He quickly became a strong player. In 1990, he had a fantastic season. He even came in second place for the Magarey Medal. This medal is a very important award for the best player in the SANFL.

Playing in the AFL

Because of his great skills, Eddie Hocking was chosen to play for the Adelaide Football Club. This was a big deal because it was Adelaide's very first season in the AFL.

First Games with Adelaide

Eddie played his first AFL game in 1991. He came off the "interchange bench," which means he started the game on the sidelines and then joined the play later. He played a total of eleven games in that first year.

A Unique Player

Eddie Hocking is known for being the shortest player ever for the Adelaide Football Club. He is an Indigenous Australian. He had a special move when he was trying to kick a goal. He would pretend to kick the ball, making his opponent jump up. Then, at the last second, he would quickly run around them and kick the goal into an open space. This move was his "trademark."

Finishing His Career

Eddie stayed with the Adelaide Crows team for the 1992 season, but he didn't play any games that year. He later finished his SANFL career playing for the West Adelaide Football Club.