| Aaron Edwards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Aaron Edwards | ||
| Date of birth | (1984-03-02)2 March 1984 (age 41) | ||
| Place of birth | Apia, Samoa | ||
| Original team(s) | Dandenong Stingrays | ||
| Draft | No. 9,2002 rookie draft No. 43,2006 national draft | ||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2003–2005 | West Coast | 4(2) | |
| 2007–2012 | North Melbourne | 78 (122) | |
| 2013–2014 | Richmond | 12(15) | |
| Total | 94 (139) | ||
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2014. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Aaron Edwards (born 2 March 1984) is a former professionalAustralian rules footballer who played for theWest Coast Eagles,North Melbourne Football Club andRichmond Football Club in theAustralian Football League (AFL). Edwards also played for theFrankston Football Club in theVictorian Football League (VFL) and in 2022 played in theSouthern Football Netball League for St Kilda City.
Edwards was born inSamoa to a Samoan mother and New Zealand father.[1] He migrated with his family to Australia at the age of four (1988) and playedrugby union until the age of 13. He played rugby union for Endeavour Hills in Victoria on the same team asAustralia national rugby union team wingerDigby Ioane. Edwards also playedsoccer before trying Australian rules football.[2]
He played his junior football with the Hampton Park Junior Football Club and theSeaford Football Club before being selected to play for theDandenong Stingrays in theTAC Cup. In 2001, while still a junior playing in theMornington Peninsula region, Edwards represented Samoa, playing for theSamoa national team in an international match againstNauru during Nauru's tour of Australia.
Edwards began his AFL atWest Coast, after being taken in theAFL rookie draft. After teammates were forced onto the long-term injury list, he was elevated from the rookie list for four games at senior level.
Had an influential debut game in West Coast's victory againstRichmond in round 11, 2005.
A combination of less impressive performances in his following three games, along with knee surgery, found Edwards delisted by West Coast at the end of the 2005 season.
In 2006 Edwards signed up with theFrankston Dolphins in theVictorian Football League (VFL).
Edwards had a sensational 2006 season with the Dolphins, winning theFrosty Miller Medal for kicking the most goals in the home and away season. Described in theVFL Record as the "Goalkicking Gladiator", he then reached his final tally of 100 goals in the Dolphins' semi-final. He also collected theJ. J. Liston Trophy as the VFL'sbest and fairest player for 2006 with eighteen votes.
TheNorth Melbourne Football Club selected Edwards in the2006 AFL Draft on 25 November 2006 with its sixth-round selection (82nd overall pick), giving him a second chance at elite level.
In 2007, Edwards began the season solidly, earning a spot in the senior side as a leading full-forward in the absence ofNathan Thompson. His game featured hard leading and he managed to kick more than a goal a game on several occasions as well as drawing attention for taking spectacular contested marks, including a nomination for theMark of the Year. Commentators consistently draw comparisons of Aaron Edwards game toMelbourne Demons forwardRussell Robertson.
During the 2008 season, Edwards broke his leg playing against theSydney Swans, after which he missed most of the season, returning in round 20.[3]
Edwards' form lapsed in 2009, managing just 14 goals from 10 games. Despite starting 2010 strongly he was eventually dropped to the VFL before returning to some form forNorth Ballarat in the reserves, impressing with a seven-goal haul and spectacular mark againstCollingwood.[4]
In 2011, Edwards finally cemented his spot in the team with a six-goal haul against Melbourne and five goals againstGold Coast. After round 12, he had kicked 22 goals and only 2 behinds (92%).
On 26 October 2012, Edwards was traded to theRichmond Football Club in exchange for pick 74 in the2012 National Draft. He was delisted at the conclusion of the2014 AFL season.[5]
In January 2009, Edwards was caught driving way over the speed limit by police and found to have alcohol in his system. He was immediately suspended by the club for the first four matches of the 2009 AFL premiership season and fined $5,000.[6]
In May 2009, Edwards had his licence revoked for four years for drunk driving and fined $1,500 for refusing a breath test.[7]
