Matthew Pavlich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matthew Pavlich |
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Pavlich after his final game in 2016
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Matthew Lee Pavlich | ||
| Nickname(s) | Pav | ||
| Date of birth | 31 December 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Adelaide, South Australia | ||
| Original team | Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL)/Sacred Heart College | ||
| Draft | No. 4, 1999 National Draft, Fremantle | ||
| Position(s) | Key Forward, Key Defender | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Club
Representative
Honours
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Matthew Lee Pavlich (born 31 December 1981) is a famous former professional Australian rules football player. He played his entire career for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Matthew Pavlich was known for being a very flexible player. He could play in many different positions on the field. Many people think he was one of the best players of his time. He was chosen for the All-Australian team six times. This team features the best players from across the league. He also played for Australia twice.
Pavlich started playing for Fremantle in 2000. He played for 17 years, which is a very long time! During his career, he won the club's best and fairest award, called the Doig Medal, six times. He was also the leading goalkicker for Fremantle eight times. From 2007 to 2015, he was the team captain. In 2014, he made history by becoming the first player from a team in Western Australia to play 300 AFL games.
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Early Life and Football Beginnings
Matthew Pavlich was born in Adelaide, South Australia. His family has roots from Croatia, Scotland, Germany, and Ireland. His father and two uncles also played football in the SANFL league.
Matthew played football at Sacred Heart College in Adelaide. He then followed his father's path. He played senior football for the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles. In 1999, he was the top goalkicker for his club.
AFL Career Highlights
Getting Drafted into the AFL
Fremantle picked Matthew Pavlich as their fourth choice in the 1999 AFL national draft. This draft is where AFL clubs choose new young players. Pavlich had tried to get drafted in 1998 but was not chosen by any team.
Starting His AFL Journey (2000–2001)
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The 2000 AFL season started early because of the 2000 Summer Olympics. Pavlich played only one game for South Fremantle before his AFL debut. He played his first AFL game in Round 5 against Melbourne. He did something special by kicking two goals with his first two kicks! He played 18 more games that season. He was even nominated for the Rising Star award in Round 17. This award is for promising young players.
In 2001, Pavlich spent more time playing in the forward line. He showed how good he could be by kicking four goals in two different games. He played 21 games and kicked 28 goals. Even though Fremantle had a tough season, Pavlich was a bright spot. He was starting to show his true talent.
Becoming a Star Player (2002–2004)
The year 2002 was very important for Matthew Pavlich's career. Fremantle's new coach, Chris Connolly, made a surprising decision. He moved Pavlich to play in a defensive role. Pavlich played against some of the best forwards in the league. He showed how flexible and talented he was. He could stop his opponents from scoring and also get the ball himself. This helped him earn his first All-Australian selection as a fullback. He was only 20 years old!
In 2003, Pavlich was asked to play another new role. He moved into the midfield and also played as a half-forward. This allowed him to get the ball often and kick many goals. He played all 23 games that season, including Fremantle's first-ever final. He averaged almost 19 possessions per game and kicked 37 goals. He was again chosen for the All-Australian team, this time as a half-forward.
Peak Performance Years (2005–2008)
In 2005, Pavlich moved to the centre half-forward position. This helped Fremantle's team strategy. Pavlich became Fremantle's top goalkicker with 61 goals. He also took more marks than any other player on his team. He won his second Doig Medal as Fremantle's best and fairest player.
Pavlich was chosen for the All-Australian Team six times in total. He was selected in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. He also played for the Australian International rules team in 2002 and 2003. On December 13, 2006, Pavlich became the captain of the Fremantle Football Club. He took over from Peter Bell.
Even with the extra responsibility of being captain, Pavlich played very well in 2007. He kicked a club record of 72 goals. He also came second in the Coleman Medal, which is for the league's top goalkicker. He was named full-forward in the All-Australian team for 2007.
In 2008, Fremantle did not make the finals, but Pavlich still had a great year. He won his fifth Doig Medal and was Fremantle's leading goalkicker again. He also won the Ross Glendinning Medal in both "Western Derbies" (games against their rival team). He earned his sixth All-Australian selection.
Later Career (2009–2011)
In 2009, Pavlich moved into the midfield under coach Mark Harvey. He had a strong year, averaging over 21 disposals per game. He also led Fremantle's goalkicking with 28 goals.
In 2010, Pavlich played both in the midfield and forward line. He averaged almost 19 disposals and kicked 61 goals. He helped his team reach the finals for the first time since 2006.
In 2011, Pavlich had to play in the midfield more often. This was because many of his teammates were injured. He had another successful year, averaging over 23 disposals and kicking 21 goals. He won his sixth club best and fairest award, just beating Nathan Fyfe.
500th Goal and Finals Success (2012–2013)
In 2012, Pavlich kicked his 500th career goal in Round 7 against Port Adelaide. He became the first Fremantle player to reach 500 goals. He was also the 51st player in VFL/AFL history to do so. He kicked 55 goals in the second half of the year. His great form helped Fremantle improve a lot. He kicked 8 goals in a "Western Derby" game. He also kicked 6 goals in a final against Geelong at the MCG, helping Fremantle win.
The 2013 season started tough for Pavlich. An old Achilles tendon injury came back. He needed surgery and was out for 16 weeks. Even without their top goalkicker, Fremantle played well.
Pavlich returned in Round 20 against GWS, kicking two goals. Fremantle made it to the finals and beat Geelong. This meant they would play in the preliminary finals against the Sydney Swans. Pavlich played a key role, kicking 3 goals. This led Fremantle to a 25-point victory and their first-ever AFL Grand Final appearance! Pavlich kicked 3 goals in the Grand Final, but Fremantle lost to Hawthorn by 15 points.
Milestones and Retirement (2014–2016)
In 2014, Pavlich played his 300th game in Round 9 against the Geelong Cats. In the same match, he reached another milestone: his 600th career goal.
On January 13, 2016, Pavlich stepped down as captain of the Fremantle Football Club after nine seasons. David Mundy took over as captain. Pavlich announced his retirement in July 2016. His last game was in Round 23 against the Western Bulldogs. He said he had "nothing left to give" and felt "quite fulfilled."
In August, Pavlich's 353rd and final game was a win for Fremantle. They beat the Western Bulldogs by 20 points. Pavlich entered the field with his teammates and family through a special guard-of-honour. He kicked a goal in the first quarter, reaching 700 career goals. This put him in a special group with only two other players who had played 350 games and kicked 700 goals. After the game, Pavlich ran a final lap to say goodbye to the fans. He then left the field through another guard-of-honour. This one included players from both teams and past Fremantle players.
After Football
In April 2018, Matthew Pavlich became a sports presenter for Nine News Perth on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. In late 2018, he also worked as a correspondent for Nine's Wide World of Sports. He covered the Hopman Cup Tennis tournament in Perth.
Personal Life
Matthew Pavlich married Lauren O'Shannassy in December 2010. They had their daughter in 2013. In 2015, their first son was born, and in 2016, their second son was born.
Pavlich went to Sacred Heart College (Adelaide) and the University of Western Australia.
Images for kids
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Pavlich kicking for goal in 2006
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Pavlich flies high for a mark against Melbourne in 2008
