| Darren Gaspar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Born | (1976-05-20)20 May 1976 (age 49) | ||
| Original team | South Fremantle (WAFL) | ||
| Debut | 10 April 1994,Sydney vs.Adelaide, at theSCG | ||
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Weight | 90 kg (198 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1994–1995 | Sydney | 21(1) | |
| 1996–2007 | Richmond | 207 (22) | |
| Total | 228 (23) | ||
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2007. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Darren Gaspar (/ɡəˈspɑːr/gə-SPAR;[citation needed] born 20 May 1976) is a formerAustralian rules footballer in theAustralian Football League (AFL).
Gaspar was drafted with the first pick in the1993 National Draft by theSydney Swans. He debuted against theAdelaide Crows in round three of the1994 AFL season and injured his medial ligament in the third quarter, which resulted in him playing only five games for the year.
After only two seasons with theSwans, he turned down a one-year deal and moved to theRichmond Football Club via the1996 Pre-season Draft.
Robert Walls was influential in getting Gaspar to Richmond and he provided the emerging full-back with vital experience, playing him onJason Dunstall andTony Lockett in his first few games with the club.
His consistency saw him hold down the full-back position for over a decade with theTigers. He finished runner-up in theJack Dyer Medal behindAndrew Kellaway[1] and earnedAll-Australian selection in 2000. Gaspar continued his good form in 2001, winning theJack Dyer Medal and helping Richmond reach the finals for the first time since the1995 AFL season.[2] For the second consecutive year, he was named in theAll-Australian team. He turned down a lucrative offer from theFremantle Dockers at the end of the2001 AFL season and remained at the Tigers.[3]
In 2003, Gaspar was selected as theAustralia international rules football team's goalkeeper for the2001 International Rules Series in Australia. Australia lost the series 2–0, with a 130–105 aggregate score.
Injuries took a toll on him towards the end of his playing career, but he continued to give Richmond valuable service in the back half. At the age of 31 years, Gaspar announced his retirement after the fifth round of the2007 AFL season, finishing on 228 games, after a disagreement with his coach,Terry Wallace, over his position in the team.[4]
He currently commentates alongsideTim Gossage forSEN, coveringWest Coast Eagles games atPatersons Stadium.
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 1994 | Sydney | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 23 | 54 | 17 | 10 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.2 | 4.6 | 10.8 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 0 |
| 1995 | Sydney | 20 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 91 | 66 | 157 | 31 | 21 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 5.7 | 4.1 | 9.8 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0 |
| 1996 | Richmond | 2 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 143 | 97 | 240 | 48 | 32 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 7.2 | 4.9 | 12.0 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0 |
| 1997 | Richmond | 2 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 164 | 135 | 299 | 73 | 34 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.8 | 6.4 | 14.2 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 12 |
| 1998 | Richmond | 2 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 128 | 164 | 292 | 73 | 32 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 6.1 | 7.8 | 13.9 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 7 |
| 1999 | Richmond | 2 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 98 | 198 | 43 | 20 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2 |
| 2000 | Richmond | 2 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 114 | 78 | 192 | 53 | 18 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 6.7 | 4.6 | 11.3 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 5 |
| 2001 | Richmond | 2 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 178 | 132 | 310 | 104 | 30 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 12.4 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 6 |
| 2002 | Richmond | 2 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 139 | 102 | 241 | 72 | 17 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 7.3 | 5.4 | 12.7 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0 |
| 2003 | Richmond | 2 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 50 | 110 | 38 | 14 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 10.0 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0 |
| 2004 | Richmond | 2 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 99 | 64 | 163 | 56 | 24 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 8.6 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0 |
| 2005 | Richmond | 2 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 138 | 92 | 230 | 79 | 11 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6.9 | 4.6 | 11.5 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 1 |
| 2006 | Richmond | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 34 | 63 | 19 | 19 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 7.9 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0 |
| 2007 | Richmond | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 27 | 58 | 21 | 13 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 11.6 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 0 |
| Career | 228 | 23 | 10 | 1445 | 1162 | 2607 | 727 | 295 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 11.4 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 33 | ||
He is the brother of former AFL players,Damien Gaspar andTravis Gaspar.
Gaspar is also the part-owner ofracehorseRoman Arch.
