Robert Copeland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Robert Copeland**
Personal Info
Birth	May 26, 1981,
Recruited from	Northern Eagles AFC (QLD)
Height/Weight	187cm / 85kg
Playing Career¹
Debut	Round 9, May 26, 2001, Brisbane Lions vs. Adelaide, at the Gabba
Team(s)	Brisbane Lions (2001-) 109 games, 20 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season
Career Highlights
Brisbane Lions Rising Star Nomination 2001 Brisbane Lions Best First Year Player 2001 Brisbane Lions Premiership Player 2001 Brisbane Lions Premiership Player 2003

Robert Copeland (born May 26, 1981) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

[edit] Overview

He was recruited through the 2001 Rookie Draft (QLD Zone) from the Northern Eagles and was elevated to the Senior list on May 10 that year after Mick Martin was placed on the long-term injury list. He made his debut for the Brisbane Lions in Round 9, 2001 against Adelaide.

Copeland is regularly employed in a tagging role, which involves playing a very defensive game against a key opposition player in order to limit their impact on the game. Copeland's tagging job on Collingwood Captain, Nathan Buckley in the 2003 AFL Grand Final was considered a decisive influence in the Brisbane Lions premiership win.

Copeland is known affectionately as "Bushie' by his Brisbane Lions team mates.