Brad Ottens

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Brad Ottens
Brad Ottens
Brad Ottens
Personal information
Full name Bradley Ottens
Date of Birth 25 January 1980 (1980-01-25) (age 28)
Place of Birth South Australia
Recruited from Glenelg Football Club/Richmond
Draft 2nd overall, 1997
Richmond
Height/Weight 202cm / 108kg
Position Ruckman/Full Forward
Club information
Current club Geelong
Number 6
Playing Career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1998 – 2004
2005 –		 Richmond
Geelong		 129 (152)
59 (70)
¹ Club statistics to end of 2007 season
² Representative statistics to end of {{{repstatsend}}}

Brad Ottens (born January 25, 1980) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] Richmond: 1998-2004

Selected at pick 2 in the 1997 AFL Draft. Ottens rose to prominence at the Richmond Football Club as a strong overhead marker, with an extremely accurate and long kick for goal. He was also a part-time ruckman. During one season he was touted as the most accurate kick for goal in the AFL. However a season ending ACL knee injury (and reconstruction) posed a major setback to his career. In subsequent years he struggled to regain his form.

[edit] Geelong: 2005-present

In search of a ruckman and key forward target, Geelong picked up Ottens in a trade for the 2005 season. After debuting in Round 1, and becoming the one thousandth player to play a game for Geelong, he again struggled to have a major impact in the first year at his new club. He was the subject of an infamous post-match press conference by Mark Thompson in 2005. Here Thompson defended Ottens when saying "For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him. It's just rubbish. You people, all of you, ALL OF YOU, leave him alone!". Some see it as a defining moment for Brad.

Since then Ottens has been able to hold down a key spot in Geelong's line up. He has provided a vital key in the absence of Kent Kingsley. In 2006 Ottens showed signs of improvement, particularly in the ruck. He also took the AFL Mark of the Year in round 5 against Sydney. He played all 22 games in 2006.

The week after Geelong's exit from the 2006 AFL season, Ottens was involved in a drink driving incident. [1]

In 2007 Ottens has been in near career best form and was shortlisted for the 2007 All-Australian Team. He has played the majority of this season as Geelong's main ruckman rather than as a forward where he had played mostly since joining the club. During the Cats' five-point preliminary final win against Collingwood Ottens was voted best-on-ground after giving a game-winning performance in the ruck. The following week he capped off a stellar season, among the best players in his side's record breaking grand final victory over Port Adelaide. He noted that it was the highlight of his career.

Ottens is currently contracted to Geelong to the end of 2008.

[edit] Statistics

Statistics are correct as of Round 10, 2008 (May 31, 2008)
Season Team No. Games Goals Behinds Kicks Marks Handballs Disposals
1998 Richmond 5 12 2 2 30 29 33 63
1999 Richmond 5 22 21 15 110 82 96 206
2000 Richmond 5 21 30 12 174 117 113 287
2001 Richmond 5 24 46 21 230 166 14 354
2002 Richmond 5 20 27 16 160 102 114 274
2003 Richmond 5 12 10 5 90 71 93 183
2004 Richmond 5 18 16 8 102 99 129 231
2005 Geelong 6 15 23 12 81 69 88 169
2006 Geelong 6 22 26 20 139 104 104 243
2007 Geelong 6 22 21 16 133 115 163 296
2008 Geelong 6 1 0 0 1 2 4 5
Totals 189 221 127 1250 956 1061 2311


[edit] External links


Awards
Preceded by
Luke McPharlin		 AFL Mark of the Year
2006		 Succeeded by
Michael Newton
v • d • e
2007 Geelong Cats Premiership Players
v • d • e
Geelong Football Club – current squad

1 Davenport • 2 Harley • 3 Bartel • 4 Mackie • 5 Varcoe • 6 Ottens • 7 Taylor • 8 Hunt • 9 Kelly • 10 Tenace • 11 Corey • 12 West • 13 Lonergan • 14 Selwood • 15 Gamble • 16 D. Simpson • 17 Byrnes • 18 Djerrkura • 19 Egan • 20 S. Johnson • 21 Mooney • 22 S. Simpson • 23 N. Ablett • 24 Blake • 25 Donohue • 26 Hawkins • 27 Stokes • 28 D. Johnson • 29 G. Ablett • 30 Scarlett • 31 McKenna • 32 Prismall • 33 Rooke • 34 Hogan • 35 Chapman • 36 Moles* • 37 Laidler* • 38 Kangars* • 39 Milburn • 40 Wojcinski • 41 Mumford* • 42 Bedford* • 44 Enright • 45 Ling • Coach: Thompson

* denotes Rookie Listed players