| Allen Christensen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Christensen in April 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Nickname | Bundy[1] | ||
| Born | (1991-05-19)19 May 1991 (age 34) | ||
| Original team | Geelong Falcons (TAC Cup)/Lara Football Club | ||
| Draft | #40,2009 National Draft | ||
| Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward pocket / Midfield | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2011–2014 | Geelong | 65 (56) | |
| 2015–2020 | Brisbane Lions | 68 (58) | |
| Total | 133 (114) | ||
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Allen Christensen (born 19 May 1991) is a former professionalAustralian rules football player who played for theBrisbane Lions andGeelong Cats in theAustralian Football League.
Born and raised in theGeelong rural suburb ofLara to parents Brendan and Helen,[2] Christensen played junior football with theLara Football Club, and later theSt Mary's Football Club in Darwin as an under-15 and under-16 player while his father coached the senior side for two seasons in 2005 and 2006.[3]
Upon his return to Victoria in 2007, Christensen joined theGeelong Falcons where he played in theTAC Cup. In 2009, he finished runner-up in the TAC Cup's Morrish Medal after averaging 26 disposals per game.[4] He also earned TAC Cup Team of the Year honours.[5]
Christensen was selected with 40th overall pick by theGeelong Football Club in the2009 AFL draft.[6] Prior to the draft, however, he was predicted to be drafted in the range of 10–25, and was interviewed by a total of 12 clubs in the recruiting process.[6] This lower than expected outcome has led to media reports retrospectively citing him as an "absolute steal" for Geelong.[7]
Christensen did not make a senior appearance in his first season with Geelong; instead, he played with the club'sVFL reserves team, where he played in 16 games.[8] His consistent performance in the VFL was recognised in being listed among the "best players" for nine of these matches,[8] as well as being selected as an emergency for the senior team twice during the2010 season. Christensen's individual season in the VFL was recognised with a fourth-placed finish in the team'sbest and fairest award.[9]
Christensen made his debut in the second round of the2011 AFL season againstFremantle atSubiaco Oval in Perth.[10] As the club's substitute for the match, he subbed in late in the third quarter and finished the game with eight disposals, assisting Geelong to an 11-point victory.[11]
As a result of his performance in Geelong's round 18 game againstRichmond, in which he garnered 26 disposals and scored two goals, Christensen was nominated for the2011 AFL Rising Star award.[9] He was later named to Geelong's grand final side that defeated Collingwood in the2011 AFL Grand Final.
During the 2014 season, Christensen struggled with back injuries and only managed eight games for the season.
Following the conclusion of the 2014 season, Christensen requested a trade to a Queensland-based club, citing a change in lifestyle and personal reasons for the decision. On 13 October 2014, he was officially traded to theBrisbane Lions in exchange for pick number 21 in the2014 AFL draft.[12][13]
In 2020 he was named in theSt Joseph’s College team of champions, recognising the bestVFL/AFL players to have attended the school.[14]
He retired on 21 October 2020.
Christensen joined theLauderdale Football Club in theTasmanian State League for the 2021 season, remaining with the club, as senior coach until the completion of the 2024 season.[15]
He is the current senior coach of theHobart Football Club in the Southern Football League.
At the time of being drafted, Christensen's draft biography described him as a "prolific ball winner who amasses plenty of contested possessions" as well as being a "sound decision-maker who is extremely clever around goals." Additionally, Christensen himself felt he best resembledSimon Black as a footballer due to Black's ability to gain possessions while being a "good stoppage player".[16]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
| 2010 | Geelong | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | Geelong | 28 | 19 | 18 | 11 | 154 | 150 | 304 | 59 | 70 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 16.0 | 3.1 | 3.7 |
| 2012 | Geelong | 28 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 166 | 163 | 329 | 47 | 63 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 19.4 | 2.8 | 3.7 |
| 2013 | Geelong | 28 | 21 | 23 | 14 | 212 | 231 | 443 | 68 | 85 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 10.1 | 11.0 | 21.1 | 3.2 | 4.0 |
| 2014 | Geelong | 28 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 91 | 78 | 169 | 27 | 31 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 11.4 | 9.8 | 21.1 | 3.4 | 3.9 |
| Career | 65 | 56 | 40 | 623 | 622 | 1245 | 201 | 249 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 19.2 | 3.1 | 3.8 | ||
| Brownlow Medal votes | |
| Season | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| Total | 7 |
Team
Individual
Christensen is the nephew of formerGeelong playersMarty andDamien Christensen,[18] and is ofIndigenous Australian heritage. He also has two brothers and two sisters.[3] In 2015, he appeared in a segment on the documentary DVD for Australian hardcore band,The Amity Affliction, as a "famous fan" alongside Chad Cornes and Daniel Riccardo.Christensen is a recovering gambling addict.[19]
