Matthew Whelan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matthew Whelan |
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| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 13 November 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Darwin | ||
| Original team | Darwin Buffaloes (NT), Woodville-West Torrens (SA) | ||
| Debut | Round 4, 2 April 2000, Melbourne Demons v. St Kilda Saints, at Melbourne Cricket Ground |
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| Career highlights | |||
Matthew Whelan (born 13 November 1979) is a former professional Australian rules football player. He was known for being a strong defender. Fans of the Melbourne Demons team called him "Wheels". He also earned the nickname "Wrecker" because of his powerful tackles. Matthew played 150 games for the Melbourne Football Club.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Matthew Whelan has Indigenous Australian heritage. His family comes from the Ngalakan language speaking people in Arnhem Land.
He grew up in Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory. When he was younger, Matthew played rugby league. At age 15, he started focusing on Australian rules football.
Before joining the AFL in 2000, Matthew played in two different leagues. He played for Darwin in the Northern Territory league during the warmer months. Then, he would play for Woodville-West Torrens in South Australia during the winter.
Matthew Whelan's AFL Career
Starting Out: The 2000 Debut Season
Matthew Whelan played his first AFL game in round four of the 2000 season. He played almost every game that year. However, a neck injury stopped him from playing in the finals. This included the Grand Final, which was a big game for his team, the Melbourne Demons.
Repeating History: The 2002 Season
In 2002, something similar happened. Matthew played every game again. But in the last round, he got a calf injury. This meant he missed another finals series.
Tough Play: Incidents and Injuries
Matthew was known for his tough style of play. Sometimes, his tackles led to big collisions on the field.
In 2004, during a final game against Essendon, Matthew made a big play. He tackled an Essendon player, James Hird, and then helped his team score a goal. This was Matthew's first final game, and he played very well.
In 2005, Matthew was involved in a serious incident. He tried to block a kick from Nathan Brown of Richmond. Matthew landed awkwardly and broke his leg. Matthew felt bad about the injury, as Nathan Brown missed the rest of that season.
Matthew had a great season in 2006. He kicked four goals in one game, which was his best ever. However, he still had some minor injuries to his calf and hamstring muscles.
In 2007, Matthew had another collision with a player named Luke Ball. Both players were injured, but they both returned to the game. Matthew played only a few games that season because of injuries.
In 2008, Matthew was suspended for one week. This was for an incident with Brendan Fevola from Carlton.
Retirement from AFL
In August 2009, Matthew Whelan announced he was retiring from the AFL. His teammate Paul Wheatley also retired at the same time. This was part of the Melbourne Football Club's plan to bring in younger players.
Matthew's career had many injuries. But he was happy to finish on a good note. He also helped mentor the younger Indigenous players at the club. In 2010, Matthew Whelan was given life membership at the Melbourne Football Club.
Images for kids
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Matthew Whelan playing for the Melbourne Demons.
