Gilbert McAdam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gilbert McAdam |
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McAdam in July 2019
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| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 30 March 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Alice Springs, Northern Territory | ||
| Original team | Southern Districts | ||
Gilbert McAdam, born on March 30, 1967, in Alice Springs, is a famous Indigenous Australian who used to play Australian rules football. He is one of three brothers who all played in the top league, the Australian Football League (AFL).
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Out in Football
Gilbert grew up in Alice Springs. His dad was even the president of the local football club there, the South Alice Football Club. Gilbert's family background is really interesting! His mother was from the Arrernte people, and his father was from the Gija people. His older brother, Greg McAdam, also became a football star. He played for the St Kilda Football Club after playing for North Adelaide.
When Gilbert was only 11, he moved to Darwin. He started playing in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) for the Southern Districts Football Club. In 1979, when he was 12, Gilbert was chosen to be the captain of the Northern Territory schoolboys team. He led his team to victory, making them the first Northern Territory team to win a national title! Gilbert and Scott Parker were the standout players in that competition.
In 1986, Gilbert played three games for Claremont in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). After that, he went back home to Darwin. A few seasons later, he moved to play in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) for the Central District Football Club. In 1989, he won the amazing Magarey Medal. Gilbert McAdam was the first Indigenous player ever to win this special award!
Playing in the AFL
Gilbert McAdam was chosen by the St Kilda Football Club in the 1989 AFL Draft. He was the 17th player picked. In a famous game in 1993 against Collingwood at Victoria Park, Gilbert kicked five goals. Before that game, he and teammate Nicky Winmar faced some unfair comments from fans. In April 2023, 30 years after the game, the Collingwood Football Club said sorry to Winmar and McAdam for what happened.
After playing three years and 53 games for the St Kilda Saints, Gilbert moved to Queensland. He joined the Brisbane Bears football team. He played 58 games for them between 1994 and 1996, kicking 41 goals. After his time with the Bears, he went back to the Central District Football Club for the 1998 SANFL season. Gilbert retired from playing football in 1999.
Life After Playing Football
Coaching Teams
After he stopped playing, Gilbert McAdam went back to Alice Springs. He became a coach for the South Alice team and led them to win a premiership! In 2006, he moved back to Darwin to coach the Darwin Football Club.
Working with the Community
In 2007, Gilbert started working at the Academy of Sport, Health and Education in Shepparton, Victoria. This academy helps Indigenous people learn and train through sports. It's a safe and culturally friendly place for them. Gilbert's job there is to help with sports and personal development.
He also co-hosts a TV show called The Marngrook Footy Show with Grant Hansen. You can watch it on NITV on Thursday nights. Gilbert also has his own TV show called "Kickin' Back with Gilbert McAdam," which is also on NITV.
