Matthew Pavlich

Pavlich prepares for a set shot at goal
Personal information
Birth	31 December 1981 (1981-12-31) (age 27), Adelaide, South Australia
Recruited from	Woodville-West Torrens FC
Height and weight	192cm / 101kg
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 5, April 8, 2000, Fremantle vs. Melbourne, at The WACA
Team(s)	Fremantle (2000 - present) 213 games, 407 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2009 season
Career highlights
Doig Medallist 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Ross Glendinning Medallist Rd 3 and Rd 18 2008 Fremantle Leading Goal Kicker 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 All Australian 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 International Rules Series 2002, 2003 Fremantle Football Club Captain 2007-2008

Matthew Pavlich (born 31 December 1981) is a South Australian-born Australian rules footballer. He plays for the Fremantle Football Club, wears guernsey number 29 and made his AFL debut in 2000. He is widely regarded as one of the premier centre half-forwards of the modern era, but has proven his versatility several stints in the midfield and back half.

[edit] Drafting

Pavlich was recruited by Fremantle (the Dockers), from Woodville-West Torrens (and Sacred Heart College) with the fourth selection in the 1999 AFL national draft. Pavlich had nominated for the 1998 draft, but was overlooked by several clubs. Most notably the Adelaide Crows instead drafted 17 year old Ken McGregor who went on to play 158 games between 1999-2008, and cross town rival Port Adelaide who instead chose 17 year old Adam Morgan who played only 17 games between 1999-2006.

[edit] Early days (2000-2001)

Since his first game for Fremantle, Pavlich has consistently shown all the attributes of a key forward: physical size (a height of 192 cm and a weight of 101 kg), strength, speed and agility. However, it was not until 2005 that he played primarily at centre half forward. Although still developing physically, Pavlich managed to stamp his authority on Fremantle initially in his debut season. Making his debut in round 5 2000 against Melbourne, Pavlich achieved the rare feat of kicking 2 goals with his first 2 kicks in the AFL. He went on to play 18 games for the season, earning himself a Rising star nomination while contributing consistently.

The 2001 Season saw Pavlich spend more time in the Forward line. He managed to underline his potential with some eye catching performances including two 4-goal hauls against the Brisbane Lions which earned him 2 brownlow votes, the first of his career. Pavlich went on to play 21 games for the season, finishing with a respectable 28 goals. In an otherwise disappointing season for Fremantle, Pavlich was the shining light as he started to realise his true potential.

[edit] The Rise (2002-2004)

2002 was the season that would set up Matthew Pavlich for the rest of his career. In a widely unexpected move, new Fremantle coach Chris Connolly moved Pavlich into a defensive role. Playing against some of the power forwards of the competition, Pavlich underlined his versatility and talent as a footballer, as he displayed a smooth transition into the role. He showed the uncanny ability of shutting down opponents, while gathering plenty of possession and setting up play further up the ground. This saw him earn his first All-Australian selection at fullback at the age of 20.

In the 2003 season he was again called upon to play a different role, Pavlich was this time thrust into a midfield role, while also pushing up to half forward. This allowed him to gather multiple possessions forward of centre and develop into a strong goal-kicking midfielder. Playing all 23 games for the season, including the club's first final, Pavlich finished off averaging 18.7 possessions per game, and executed his damaging midfield role perfectly with 37 goals. ^[1] He was rewarded with a second selection in the All-Australian team for the 2003 season, this time named on the Half Forward Flank.

[edit] Career High (2005-2008)

Pavlich flies high for a mark against Melbourne in 2008

The 2005 season saw Matthew Pavlich moved to Centre Half Forward, with Fremantle focusing on a taller forward structure. The move paid massive dividends for the team, as Pavlich topped Fremantle's list of goalkickers, with 61 goals for the season. He also took more marks than any other Docker and won his second Doig Medal as Fremantle's best and fairest player. In the 2005 Brownlow Medal count, Pavlich was tipped as a contender, but like Tredrea in 2004, the power forwards didn't get the votes of the umpires and Pavlich finished equal ninth; receiving more votes than any other Fremantle player.

He has been selected in All-Australian Teams six times: in 2002 (fullback), 2003 (half forward flank), 2005 (centre half forward), 2006 (interchange), 2007 (full forward) and 2008 (interchange). He was a member of the Australian International rules team in 2002 and 2003, and was a Rising Star nominee in 2000. On the 13 December 2006 Pavlich was named the captain of the Fremantle Football Club, succeeding Peter Bell.

Despite the additional burden of captaincy, Pavlich performed well throughout the 2007 season, leading an otherwise disappointing Fremantle side. He kicked a club record 72 goals, came second in the Coleman Medal and was named full-forward in the All-Australian team for 2007.

On 14 August 2007 Pavlich signed a new, 3-year contract with the Fremantle Football club, which ended speculation that he may join the Adelaide Crows or Port Adelaide. The contract is rumoured to be worth $2.5 million.^[2]

In 2008, despite Fremantle again missing the finals, Pavlich won his fifth Doig Medal, as well as being Fremantle's leading goalkicker, the Ross Glendinning Medal in both Western Derbies and his sixth All-Australian selection.^[3]

[edit] Personal Life

Pavlich is engaged to long-time girlfriend Lauren O'Shannasy.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Biography and player profile at Fremantle Football club
• Matthew Pavlich's statistics from AFL Tables
• Footywire.com player profile
• Matthew Pavlich statistics
• "Anatomy of a Superstar" Australian newspaper article
• All The Stats Profile