Alipate Carlile
|
| Personal information |
| Birth |
30 April 1987 (1987-04-30) (age 22) |
| Recruited from |
Wangaratta Rovers/Murray U18 |
| Height and weight |
192cm / 98kg |
| Playing career¹ |
| Debut |
, Port Adelaide vs. St Kilda, at |
| Team(s) |
Port Adelaide (2006-)
32 games, 0 goals
|
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2008 season |
| Career highlights |
|
Alipate Carlile (born 30 April 1987 in Fiji) is an Australian Rules Footballer who plays for Port Adelaide Power.
He, along with David Rodan, his cousin, is one of two known current Fijian-born players in the Australian Football League with the Port Adelaide Football Club. Due to his difficult to pronounce name, he is affectionately known as "Bob" amongst Power supporters.
Carlile played basketball and soccer as a junior before beginning his Australian Rules career semi-professionally with the Wangaratta Rovers. The big bodied 192 cm and 98 kg Carlile was selected by Port Adelaide at pick 44 in the 2005 AFL Draft from the Murray Bushrangers.
He made his Australian Football League debut in Round 16, 2006 in the match against St Kilda Football Club at Aurora Stadium. Since debuting, he has made several appearances in defence with the affiliated South Adelaide Football Club in the SANFL.
In 2007, he played his first game for the year in round 14, playing 7 consecutive games in a relatively successful Port Adelaide team. He then played in the round 22 match, and the first week of the finals, but was dropped for the preliminary final in favour of experienced campaigner Darryl Wakelin.
Season 2008 was Carlile's break out season, playing all 22 games in the season, a first for Carlile. He quickly become a stalwart in defense for his tight checking role and ability to run forward of the play. He averaged 13 disposals, 5 marks and 2 tackles. He was recognised with the Gavin Wanganeen Medal.
The early part of season 2009 has seen Carlile blossom into one of the best full backs of the competition. Playing with a young and talented defense, in particular the young key defender Troy Chaplin, Port Adelaide has developed a formidable one-two punch, minding dangeours key position forwards. Carlile has been outstanding, averaging 14 disposals, 5 marks and 2 tackles whilst playing the traditional full back role.
If the early season form of 2009 is a barometer, Carlile looks set to become one of the games great fullbacks given the extreme combination of size, speed and strength he possesses.
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