Brent Stanton is an Australian rules footballer, playing for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League.

[edit] Early life

When Stanton was seven years old he convinced his parents to let him play football and they agreed on the condition he wore a helmet. As he ran on to the ground he threw the helmet aside. He attended Banyule Primary School and Viewbank College and teacher Marsha Stevenson has praised his athletic nature.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Early AFL career

Stanton was recruited to the Bombers with selection 13 of the 2003 AFL Draft. Due to injuries to key players, he was immediately brought into the senior Essendon side, making his debut in Round 1, 2004 when the Bombers were comfortably defeated by Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. In just his second season, Stanton showed his talent and why Essendon showed faith in recruiting him by finishing third in the 2005 Crichton Medal on 253 votes^[1].

He increased his physical size during the 2006 pre-season and during 2006 he played a role on the wing, opposite Scott Camporeale. During the Bombers' horror 2006 season which netted only three wins and a draw, Stanton was one of only three players who played every game that season. The other two were Mark Johnson and Scott Lucas. In 2007 Stanton is averaging a career high 25 disposals (as of round 9) 18 kicks and 7 handballs per game. IN season 2008 Stanton become the No.1 midfielder who the Bombers but struggled early on due to hard tags from opposition players. Although his possession count was not as high as last year, his much-criticised tackling has improved. Stanton is known for his endurance and his gut running. Stanton finished 3rd in the 2008 Crichton Medal behind Matthew Lloyd and David Hille.

[edit] Jumper Numbers

As of 2008, Stanton will don the No.5 jumper, vacated by the great James Hird, who retired in 2007. Despite speculation and expectations amongst Essendon members and supporters and the wider football community that the No.5 jumper would be retired for one or more seasons, the fate of the number was decided by Coach Matthew Knights in consultation with James Hird. Hird was keen for the number to be used and it was his suggestion for the number to be given to Stanton^[2].

[edit] References

1. ^ "Crichton medal final voting". Essendon Football Club. 2005-09-30. http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=4458. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
2. ^ "Stanton to wear the famous number 5". Essendon Football Club. 2007-12-02. http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=5494. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 

[edit] External links

• Brent Stanton statistics From Rleague