Mathew Stokes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mathew Stokes |
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Stokes with Geelong in July 2011
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Mathew Stokes | ||
| Nickname(s) | Stokesy | ||
| Date of birth | 22 November 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Northern Territory, Australia | ||
| Original team | Palmerston Magpies (NTFL) Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL) |
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| Draft | No. 61, 2005 National Draft | ||
| Position(s) | Forward / Midfielder | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Mathew Stokes (born 22 November 1984) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He played for the Geelong Football Club and the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Stokes is known for being a two-time AFL Premiership winner with Geelong.
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Mathew's Early Life and Sports
Mathew Stokes grew up in Darwin, Australia. His parents are John and Jennifer, and he has three sisters. Stokes has a mixed background, with Indigenous Australian (Larrakia), Filipino, and Spanish ancestors. His father was a dedicated player for the Palmerston Magpies.
Starting Sports Young
Growing up, Mathew loved playing many sports. He played basketball, cricket, and rugby league. He was not allowed to play Australian rules football until he was 11 years old. Basketball was his favorite sport for a long time. He even won an award for being the best player in an under-14s team when he was only seven!
Switching to Football
When he turned 11, Mathew finally started playing Australian rules football. By age 14, he was good enough to play for the senior team at the Palmerston Magpies. In 2002, his team won a premiership. This big win made him focus more on football than basketball. His skills in junior leagues even led him to play for Australia's under-17 national team. He played alongside future AFL stars like Luke Hodge.
Moving to Adelaide and the AFL Draft
After not being picked in the 2002 AFL Draft, Stokes moved to Adelaide. There, he played for Woodville-West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). While playing football, he also worked part-time as a zookeeper. His hard work paid off when the Geelong Football Club picked him in the 2005 AFL Draft. He was the 61st player chosen.
Mathew's AFL Career Highlights
Mathew Stokes joined the Geelong Football Club in 2006. He quickly showed his talent. In his seventh game, he kicked two important goals against Port Adelaide. These goals helped Geelong's chances of making the finals.
Playing in the Grand Final
In 2006, Stokes played in the VFL Grand Final for Geelong's reserve team. They lost to the Sandringham Zebras.
Winning the 2007 AFL Premiership
Stokes became a key player for Geelong in the 2007 season. He had a great game against Fremantle, kicking five goals. He was a vital part of Geelong's team that won the 2007 AFL Premiership. Even after dislocating his kneecap in the first quarter, he kept playing. Geelong won by a record 119 points against Port Adelaide.
Challenges and Big Games
In 2008, Stokes had a scare during a pre-season game. He got a blow to the head but was okay. He was suspended for one game after an incident against the Brisbane Lions. Despite this, he played 22 games in 2008, including the 2008 AFL Grand Final loss to Hawthorn. He had his best game that year against Essendon, getting 31 disposals and two goals.
Missing the 2009 Grand Final
In 2009, Stokes played 19 games. He chose not to play in the preliminary final against Collingwood due to a health issue. Geelong won that game easily, and all the players performed well. Because of this, Stokes could not get back into the team for the Grand Final against St Kilda. He later explained that he didn't want to let his teammates down by playing when not fully fit.
Later Years and Retirement
Stokes continued to play well for Geelong. He signed a new contract in 2009, even though other clubs were interested. In 2010, he played 18 games and was good at helping his teammates score goals.
On September 1, 2015, Stokes announced that his last game for Geelong would be the final round clash against Adelaide. He officially retired from the AFL on November 6, 2015.
Coming Out of Retirement
In January 2016, Stokes decided to play again. He signed with the Essendon Football Club. He joined as a "top-up" player because the club needed more players. He announced in August that he would retire for good after his 200th game. This final game was in Round 22 against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
Mathew's Life Outside Football
Mathew Stokes enjoys fishing when he is not playing football. Growing up, he supported the Collingwood Football Club. His football hero was Nathan Buckley from Collingwood. His overall sports hero is American basketball player Josh Howard.
Friends and Future Plans
Stokes was close friends with other future AFL players like Trent Hentschel and Aaron Davey. After his football career, Stokes hoped to return to being a zookeeper. He even studied zoology while playing football.
After retiring as a player, Stokes worked for the AFL. He helped with programs for Indigenous people. In December 2018, he returned to the Geelong Football Club. He now works as their people and engagement manager.
Honours and Achievements
- Team Awards
Images for kids
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Stokes playing for Geelong in 2008
