James Clement

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**James Clement**
Personal Info

Birth	September 4, 1976,
Recruited from	South Fremantle (WAFL)
Height/Weight	190cm / 95kg
Playing Career¹
Debut	Round 11, June 16, 1996, Fremantle vs. Essendon, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Team(s)	Fremantle (1996-2000) 84 games, 38 goals Collingwood (2001-) 133 games, 11 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season
Career Highlights
Collingwood best and fairest 2004, 2005 2nd Collingwood best and fairest 2006 3rd Collingwood best and fairest 2002 All-Australian 2004, 2005 International Rules Series 2002

James Clement (born September 4, 1976) is an Australian rules footballer.

From South Fremantle, The Fremantle Dockers picked Clement up as a zone selection in the 1995 National Draft. His major role as a junior was as a half-back/winger, but he was used as a taller type defender throughout his AFL career. A regular starter since making his debut in 1996, his form slipped at senior level at the start of 1998, being omitted after the first match, but came back into the side, as a tall forward option and surprised many, kicking 5 goals in consecutive games. He ended up kicking 27 goals for the season. He moved back to defence in 1999, he showed he was capable of playing as a utility. Only playing 8 games in 2000 and what seemed an unhappy relationship with coach Damian Drum, Clement was then traded to Collingwood.

Clement thrived at Collingwood playing 20 handy games during 2001, but it was in 2002 that the Pies saw a champion player. During this time, he bulked up substantially. Unlucky not to gain his first All-Australian selection, but played in the International Rules Series in Ireland at the end of the season. His strength as a defender, football brain and leadership qualities were shown. He helped the Pies through to a Grand Final and played all 25 games, including the last day in September. 2003 saw Clement miss several games mid-season with a hamstring injury, but he regained form at finals time and the vice-captain saw another Grand Final.

He had much more decorated seasons in 2004 and 2005, including All-Australian honours and the Copeland Trophy in each of the seasons, as the Pies came bottom 4 in both seasons. He also led the side for several matches in 2005 when Nathan Buckley and Anthony Rocca were missing from the team due to injury. In 2006, Clement was the most notable player not named in the All-Australian team, and finished equal second in the Copeland Trophy. In 2007, it is expected that Clement take over the captaincy of the Collingwood side from Nathan Buckley, however, he is now entering the final phases of his decorated playing career.