Matthew Bate Information & Matthew Bate Links at HealthHaven.com

**Matthew** **Bate**
	;
Personal information
Birth	24 May 1987 (age 22)
Recruited from	Croydon/Eastern U18
Height and weight	191cm / 90kg
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 5, 29 April 2006, Melbourne vs. Kangaroos, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Team(s)	Melbourne (2005-) 48 games, 40 goals
	¹ Statistics to end of 2008 season
Career highlights
	; Morrish Medal 2004; NAB AFL Rising Star nomination 2006; Ron Barassi Snr Trophy (3rd in Best and Fairest) 2007;

Matthew Bate (born 24 May 1987) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the AFL’s Melbourne Football Club.

He is instantly recognisable on the field with his bright red hair, which is more noticeable whilst wearing the red of the Demon's guernsey, although has also been dyed black during his playing career.

Bate plays as a tall forward or midfielder. He won the Morrish Medal as best player in the TAC Cup in 2004. He was drafted 13th overall by Melbourne in the 2004 AFL Draft and made his AFL debut in Round 5 of the 2006 season.

Bate's achievements thus far as a senior player include a nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star award for his performance against Carlton in Round 18 of the 2006 season.

He is already considered an important part of Melbourne's midfield rotation, an impressive feat for someone playing in their second season of AFL football.

Playing in his second year of Senior AFL Football for the Melbourne Demons, Bate is now an important member of the team. Operating across half-forward and along the wing, Bate has been commended for his fine marking, booming kicks and endurance.

Bate capped off a fine 2007 season for Melbourne by finishing third in the club's Best and Fairest Award (the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal) with 179 votes; behind the winner James McDonald (260 votes) and fellow second season player Nathan Jones (190 Votes).

[edit] Statistics

Statistics are correct as of Round 22, 2009 (31 August 2009)^[1]

Season	Team	No.	Games	Goals	Behinds	Kicks	Marks	Handballs	Disposals
2006	Melbourne	6	14	8	5	121	77	100	221
2007	Melbourne	6	19	19	8	167	94	127	294
2008	Melbourne	6	15	13	11	149	91	111	260
2009	Melbourne	6	20	27	13	181	114	152	333
Totals			68	67	37	618	376	490	1108

[edit] References

^ BigPond, AFL (31 August 2009). "Player Profile - Matthew Bate". http://www.melbournefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/matthewbate/tabid/8357/playerid/14337/category/senior/season/2009/selected/bio/default.aspx.

[edit] External links

Matthew Bate profile on the Official AFL Website of the Melbourne Football Club
Matthew Bate's statistics from AFL Tables

This Australian rules football biography of a person born in the 1980s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[0] BigPond, AFL (31 August 2009). "Player Profile - Matthew Bate". http://www.melbournefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/matthewbate/tabid/8357/playerid/14337/category/senior/season/2009/selected/bio/default.aspx.

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