Paul Salmon
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Paul Salmon (born January 20, 1965) is a former Australian rules footballer.
Recruited from North Ringwood, the 206cm (6' 9") Salmon was, at the time, along with Carlton's Justin Madden, the tallest man to play AFL football.
Affectionately known as "Fish", Salmon was an excellent ruckman over a very long period of time in the Australian Football League.
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[edit] Essendon career
He made his debut in 1983 with Essendon, however it was during the '84 season in which he established himself as the league's leading full forward. His effectiveness in the position was due to his ability to easily win one-on-one marking contests using his height. Despite leading the goalkicking, half way through the season a shocking knee injury left him sidelined for over a year, he recovered to play a part in the '85 premiership side. From this point onward he would shuffle between full forward and his favoured ruck position enduring further niggles to his knee injury and patches of poor form, despite this he played a vital role in the '93 premiership. After a fall out with the club and a lack of opportunity to play as the club's leading ruckman he was traded to Hawthorn, the club whom he supported as a child.
[edit] Hawthorn Years
At the end of 1995, Salmon moved to Hawthorn, where he played from 1996-2000, and revived his career.
In 1988, he won the Tassie Medal in a State of Origin playing for Victoria.
In 1997, Salmon achieved All-Australian selection.
In 1999, he won the Michael Tuck Medal for a best on ground performance in the night Grand Final.
[edit] Retirement & Comeback
He was named in their Team of the Century and won two Peter Crimmins Trophys. At the end of 2000, Salmon announced his retirement after playing in two day and three night premierships and being selected as Best and Fairest twice.
But that wouldn't be the last of Salmon at AFL level. In 2002, he made a comeback, drafted by Kevin Sheedy in a fairytale move that would see him finish his career at his original club. He re-entered the league at 37 years of age, but was still one of the best tap ruckmen in the league, and helped Essendon to the finals, as well as teaching younger ruckmen such as David Hille and Aaron Hennemann the nuances of ruckwork.
At the end of his career, Salmon had amassed a total of 309 league games.
[edit] Career after football
Salmon has also worked in the media, on the Seven Network, and has released several books. He released an autobiography called The Big Fish : Paul Salmon's Own Story in 2001, and Fish Tales, a book recalling humorous on and off field incidents, in 2002. He followed up in 2003 with another titled called More Fish Tales.
He also works as a coach of the First XVIII Football team at Carey Baptist Grammar School.
| Preceded by Darren Jarman |
Hawthorn Best and Fairest winner 1996-1997 |
Succeeded by Shane Crawford |
| Preceded by Wayne Carey |
Michael Tuck Medallist 1999 |
Succeeded by Mark Mercuri |
