| Stephen Michael | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Stephen Albert Michael | ||
| Born | (1956-03-15)15 March 1956 (age 69) Wagin, Western Australia | ||
| Original team | Kojonup | ||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 90 kg (198 lb) | ||
| Position | Ruckman | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1975–1985 | South Fremantle | 243 (231) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1985. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Source:AustralianFootball.com | |||
Stephen Albert Michael (born 15 March 1956) is a formerAustralian rules footballer. More recently, Stephen is the patron of the Stephen Michael Foundation, supporting disengaged, at-risk and disadvantaged youth acrossWestern Australia.
ANoongarAboriginal man, Michael played in theWAFL between 1975 and 1985 with theSouth Fremantle Football Club, playing 243 games and kicking 231 goals. He played in South's 1980 premiership side and was appointed captain in 1983. He holds the WAFL record for the most consecutive league games (217). Throughout his career, Michael resisted numerous advances byVFL clubs to move east and is often listed as one of the best players to never play in the VFL.[1][2]
He was a strong, high-leapingruckman who won theSandover Medal in 1980 and 1981. His 37 votes in 1981 (with nine best-on-ground performances and receiving votes in 15 of the 21 games played) was a record tally under the 3–2–1 voting system in place at the time. He representedWestern Australia in State orState of Origin football on 17 occasions, captaining the side 3 times. In 1983, he won theSimpson Medal for the best player in the WA vs SA game and theTassie Medal as the best player in Australia inState of Origin football and was named captain in the 1983All-Australian Team.[3] He won the South Fremantle's fairest and best in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1983.
In 1995, he was named as an inaugural member of theFremantle Football Hall of Legends. In 1999, he was inducted into theAustralian Football Hall of Fame.[4] In 2005, he was named at Centre Half-Forward in the Australian FootballIndigenous Team of the Century,[5][6] and in 2009 he was named in the ruck and captain of the South Fremantle Football Club's Indigenous Team of the Century.[7] In 2008, as part of the annualNAIDOC game between South Fremantle andClaremont, theChris Lewis–Stephen Michael Award was presented toAndrew Browne for being the best player in the match.[8]
In May 2025, as part of theSir Doug Nicholls Round celebrations, the AFL released a 15-minute documentary about Michael calledThe Western Great: The Stephen Michael Story.[9]
Michael was a regular guest of theMarngrook Footy Show, broadcast on Melbourne Radio.[10]
Stephen has 7 children: Clem, Stephen Jr., Vanessa, Cindy, Matt, Talan, Corey. Stephen's sonClem Michael also playedAustralian rules football forSouth Fremantle Football Club (including the 1997 premiership side) andFremantle Football Club. Clem's career was cut short by a knee injury.
