Andrew Luke McLeod (born August 4, 1976) is an Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League of Aboriginal descent, and is number 23 of the Adelaide Football Club. One of the game's elite players, his blistering pace and smooth skills have made him one of the most damaging players in the league and the greatest player to ever wear the Adelaide Crows outfit. The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in AFL grand final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match. ... Best and Fairest (also known as Fairest and Best in some competitions, notably the Australian Football League) is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player(s) adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or... The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. ... The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. ... Since 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL pre-season grand final. ... The Australian rules football Indigenous Team of the Century was selected to recognise the role of Indigenous Australians in the sport. ... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... High marking is a key skill and spectacular attribute of Australian rules football Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the key skill in Australian rules football Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy is a code of... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... This page is for the Australian Rules Football Club in Adelaide. ...

Career

Early years

.Moving from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia, McLeod started his career at the Darwin Football Club, before playing in the SANFL in 1994, playing for the Port Adelaide Football Club where he became known as an exciting young forward with electrifying pace. McLeod capped off a solid debut year for the Magpies with a Premiership medallion, bagging two goals in Port's 37-point win over Woodville-West Torrens in the 1994 SANFL Grand Final. Port Darwin redirects here. ... For similar terms, see Northern Territories (disambiguation) Slogan or Nickname: The Territory, The NT, The Top End Motto(s): none Other Australian states and territories Capital Darwin Government Constitutional monarchy Administrator Ted Egan Chief Minister Clare Martin (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 2  - Senate seats 2 Gross Territorial Product (2004... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ... For the song, see South Australia (song). ... The South Australian National Football League (SANFL) is the premier league and governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in the state of South Australia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Woodville-West Torrens Eagles is an Australian Rules football club playing in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). ...

In the 1994 offseason period McLeod was recruited by the newly established Fremantle Football Club as part of their inaugural squad. However, Fremantle would later agree to exchange McLeod to the Adelaide Crows for promising forward Chris Groom in what many now consider to be one of the most lopsided trades in Australian rules football history. Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers and known informally as Freo, is one of 16 teams in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Chris Groom (born August 28, 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League. ...

In an interview with Australian men's magazine Alpha^[1] in September 2005, McLeod would later reveal that he refused to play for Fremantle after feeling insulted and belittled by Fremantle coach Gerard Neesham who had not actually seen him play before. Gerard Neesham (born 11 December 1954) was an Australian rules footballer in the WAFL and VFL as well as coach in the WAFL and AFL. Today he is chief executive of the Clontarf Foundation. ...

1995

In his first year with the Adelaide Crows, McLeod began his AFL career quietly, appearing tentative and nervous during pre-season games. However, in a round 9 match against Hawthorn at Football Park, a confident McLeod began to emerge. In the dying seconds of the game with Adelaide trailing by 4 points, McLeod raced into an open forward line while being hotly pursued by his opponent. Swooping onto the loose ball, he calmly laid it on his foot under pressure, dribbling it through for a miraculous goal from a tight angle at the Northern End of the ground to give his side a remarkable 2-point victory after they had trailed by 34 points at half-time. The Crows were able to avenge their worst ever home loss in history the year before (Round 9 1994 by 97 points to Hawthorn). Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

McLeod would later be named as an AFL rising star nominee late in the 1995 season after a string of consistent performances in a struggling Adelaide side which only managed a 9-13 record.

1997

After two tumultuous years under Robert Shaw, legendary footballer Malcolm Blight took over as coach of Adelaide. The Crows would begin the season slowly as they adjusted to Blight's long-kicking and direct style of football before claiming a finals berth for the first time since 1993. Robert Shaw is a former Australian rules footballer (born Jan 6, 1955) with the Essendon Football Club. ... Malcolm Jack Blight AM (born 16 February 1950) is a former Australian rules football player who had a Hall of Fame career with the Woodville Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club and coached the Adelaide Crows to two Premierships in 1997 & 1998. ...

In the preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs, McLeod, who had been playing primarily as a forward or half-back flanker was placed into the midfield in the second half by Blight in an effort to spark the Crows side who trailed by 31 points at half-time. It would be the first time in McLeod's career that he would play in the middle and in a thrilling contest, McLeod and the Crows would win the match by 2 points to reach the Grand Final for the first time in the club's history. The Western Bulldogs, formerly referred to as the Footscray Football Club, is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based at the Whitten Oval in Footscray, an inner western suburb of Melbourne. ...

In the Grand Final against St. Kilda, McLeod would take his first significant step in his journey towards joining the game's elite. Accumulating 31 disposals, he was judged best on ground against the Saints, winning the prestigious Norm Smith Medal while helping his team win the AFL premiership. This was followed shortly thereafter with a gold jacket when he was named as the Crows best and fairest for the 1997 season. The St. ... The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in AFL grand final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match. ...

1998

Having caught the eye of football followers with his magical feats in the 1997 finals, McLeod would continue to dazzle crowds with his pace and agility in 1998 before being named All-Australian for the season.

In a preliminary final rematch against the Bulldogs, McLeod would kick a career-high 7 goals while being opposed to Tony Liberatore who was reputed to be the most ferocious tagger in the game at the time. In the following game, against Grand Final favourites, the Kangaroos, the Crows would win by 35 points with McLeod emulating his feats a year earlier. Gathering 30 disposals and winning back-to-back Norm Smith Medals, McLeod became the first player to win two Norm Smith Medals since Gary Ayres in 1986 and 1988. Anthony (Tony) Liberatore (born February 11, 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer. ... NMFC redirects here. ... Gary Ayres (born September 28, 1960) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. ...

2001

McLeod had perhaps the finest season of his career in 2001, controversially being named runner-up in the Brownlow Medal Count. Having been made a permanent fixture in the Crows midfield by coach Gary Ayres, McLeod averaged a career-best 24.7 disposals ^[2]. He would win the Leigh Matthews Trophy to be recognised as the Most Valuable Player in the league as voted by his peers in the AFL Players Association as well as his second best and fairest award from the club. The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. ... In sports, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests. ... The AFL Players Association is a body that consists of players and former players in the Australian Football League. ...

McLeod, however, would be denied the AFL's greatest individual honour in the 2001 Brownlow Medal. Trailing by two votes in the last round to Jason Akermanis of the Brisbane Lions, many believed he would receive votes after amassing a best-afield 37 disposals against Fremantle in the final round. Instead, the umpires decided not to award McLeod with any votes for the game (the main reason is that Adelaide lost this game) leaving him stunned as he looked on while the medal was presented to the flamboyant Akermanis. Adding further fuel to the fire, the short highlight package that summarized the best players in each round of football specifically stated that McLeod was named best-on-ground for that particular match. To this day it is considered by the majority of the South Australian football public to be one of the worst Brownlow voting decisions ever made; many remain adamant that the medal went home with the wrong player that night. The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is the medal awarded to the best and fairest player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie not including finals matches) as decided upon by umpires. ... Jason Aka Akermanis (born February 24, 1977) is an Australian rules footballer for the Western Bulldogs Football Club. ... Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) is an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane, Queensland. ...

2002 to 2004

Having established himself as one of the league's premier players in 2001, McLeod had to contend with increasing attention and pressure from opposition players over the following seasons. Combined with various personal off-field problems, McLeod grew increasingly frustrated and struggled to recapture his best form. However, he was still able to provide sporadic bursts of brilliance, as seen when he was awarded the 2003 Michael Tuck Medal for being best on ground in a pre-season Grand Final win against the Collingwood Magpies. Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club involved, and playing in the Australian Football League. ...

2005

In 2005, under coach Neil Craig, McLeod made a return to the half-back line to provide his side with run and drive from defense using his sublime skills. In round 2 against Collingwood and the scores tied late in the game and the Crows desperately needing a win, McLeod kicked an unbelievable left-foot goal from the boundary line from about 35m out to seal the deal. This win would be the Crows' first in 6 years vs the Pies and spur Adelaide to a minor premiership by the end (top spot after 22 rounds) of the season. McLeod polled 11 votes in the 2005 Brownlow Medal. Dr. Neil P. Craig (born c. ... The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is the medal awarded to the best and fairest player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie not including finals matches) as decided upon by umpires. ...

In October, McLeod was named co-captain of the Australian International rules football team against Ireland. In what became a somewhat spiteful match, Australia would win comfortably while McLeod was named best player and awarded the Jim Stynes Medal. International Rules Football match at the Telstra Dome - Australia vs Ireland. ... The Jim Stynes Medal is awarded to the best player of the Australia international rules football team for each International Rules series. ...

2006

After a year under Neil Craig's system, McLeod would return to some of his best form. Teaming with the younger Graham Johncock at half-back, the duo would be part of a stingy Adelaide defense, regularly streaming from the back lines, evading opponents and delivering the ball with precision to teammates up the ground. His form would eventually lead to his 4th All-Australian selection. Graham Johncock (born October 21, 1982) is an Australian rules football player with the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League. ...

Against the Essendon Football Club in round 10, McLeod played his 250th game at AAMI Stadium where he tallied 18 disposals while soaring for a spectacular mark in a 138-point demolition of the Bombers. Essendons Home and Clash Jumpers Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... AAMI Stadium, formerly known as Football Park, is an AFL stadium located in West Lakes, Adelaide, South Australia. ...

For much of the season, however, McLeod played with a painful bursa in his left foot. After round 16, the decision was made for him to undergo surgery to remove the bursa, an operation expected to keep him out for a few weeks. Bursae visible top right and bottom right A bursa (plural bursae or bursas; Latin: Bursa synovialis) is a small fluid-filled sac located at the point where a muscle or tendon slides across bone. ...

McLeod made a relatively earlier than expected return to the side in round 19. However, by round 21, after a disappointing loss to Port Adelaide, his foot was heavily infected and the club announced that he would require further surgery along with the disappointing news that he would more than likely miss the rest of the season and Finals. ^[3] This article is about the Australian Football League club. ...

Despite rating himself just a "two out of ten" chance to return for the finals ^[4], McLeod made a surprise return to the side in the preliminary final against the West Coast Eagles. After a promising first half, however, McLeod and the Crows were swamped by the West Coast midfield in the second half to eventually lose by ten points. McLeod kicked a superb boundary line goal from the southwest pocket which bought the crowd to its feet but it couldn't give Adelaide the momentum back. Mcleod polled 7 votes in the 2006 Brownlow Medal. West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. ... The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is the medal awarded to the best and fairest player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie not including finals matches) as decided upon by umpires. ...

2007

Prior to the start of the AFL 2007 season, McLeod won the Polly Farmer Medal after being the best for the Indigenous All-Stars in a disappointing 50-point loss to Essendon. McLeod, the side's captain, kicked two goals to be his team's leading goalkicker. Essendons Home and Clash Jumpers Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ...

McLeod played most of 2007 again as a half-back flanker, sweeping up loose balls and creating his trademark run out of defense with his smooth skills. McLeod, however, was well held in his final game of the season, finishing with just 12 disposals after being heavily tagged by Hawthorn's Richard Vandenberg in Adelaide's thrilling loss to the Hawks in the elimination final. Hawthorn Football Club logo The Hawthorn Football Club, known by their nickname The Hawks are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... Richard Richie Vandenberg (born 14 January 1977) is the captain of the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League. ...

Nevertheless, McLeod had a fine season. His average of 23.9 disposals was his highest since finishing runner-up for the Brownlow Medal in 2001. This was duely acknowledged when he was announced as a 2007 All-Australian on the half-back flank as well as captain of the 2007 All-Australian team. ^[5] McLeod polled 15 votes in the 2007 Brownlow Medal and won the club's Best and Fairest award. The 2007 Brownlow Medal was held at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne, Victoria on September 24, 2007. ...

Personal life and controversies

Despite separating for a short while in 2004, Andrew is still currently married to Rachael. Rachael was rumored to be responsible for an alleged feud between the McLeod's and Tyson Edwards and Tyson's wife, Mandy. Tyson Caleb Edwards (born August 6, 1976) is an Australian rules footballer with the Adelaide Football Club. ...

McLeod was also apparently involved in a feud with long-time best friend and No. 1 Crows ticketholder Lleyton Hewitt, who is understood to be good friends with the Edwards. McLeod was reported (in Australian newspapers) to refuse footage of a sacred Aboriginal site to be used on a DVD of Hewitt's. ^[6] Phil Magroinz (born 24 February 1981) is a former World No. ... Language(s) Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religion(s) Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group...

External links

• Andrew McLeod profile on the Official AFL Website of the Adelaide Football Club
• Andrew McLeod's statistics from AFL Tables

References