Mathew Stokes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mathew Stokes
{{{image capt}}}
Personal information
Full name Mathew Stokes
Date of Birth 22 November 1984 (1984-11-22) (age 23)
Place of Birth Northern Territory
Recruited from Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL)
Height/Weight 178cm / 80kg
Club information
Current club Geelong
Number 27
Playing Career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2006 – Geelong 40 (60)
¹ Club statistics to end of Round 11, 2008 season
² Representative statistics to end of HOF Game, 2008

Mathew Stokes (born November 22, 1984) who stands 178 cm tall, (5'11" ft), is an Australian rules footballer currently playing for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League.


Contents

[edit] Early Life

Mathew Stokes grew up in Darwin, Australia, with his parents John and Jennifer, and three sisters Jaylene, Anne-Maree and Amy.[1] His father, John being a footballer who is a life-member, as well as playing 148 games, for the Palmerston Magpies,[1] a member club of the Northern Territory Football League, the territory's highest football league. As a youngster, Stokes played basketball, cricket and rugby league,[1] due to an minimum age of eleven to play australian-rules football in the Northern Territory.[1] Stokes' main sporting passion was for basketball, and played at every level, as well as winning the under-14's best and fairest when he was only seven.[1]When he could finally play footy as an under-14, Stokes showed extreme promise,[2] so much, he was already playing senior footy for his local club, the Palmerston Magpies,[1] at only 14 years of age.[2] In 2002, he was a member of Palmerston's winning premiership side.[1] By the time he was 16, he had represented Australia in the under-17's team,[2] alongside future AFL stars, such as 2001 No. 1 draft pick Luke Hodge, and St. Kilda stars Luke Ball and Nick Dal Santo. This is when he developed his true passion for footy, which overtook basketball as his number-one sport.[1] He was good mates with other future AFL players, including Trent Hentschel, and Aaron and Alwyn Davey.[2] Stokes was also a loyal supporter of Collingwood Football Club.[3]

But when the time came for Stokes to be drafted, it didn't happen for three years. Even though by this time he had moved to Adelaide, and was playing in the SANFL for the Woodville-West Torrens, where he was taking on Adelaide and Port Adelaide AFL-listed players - and beating them.[2] He continued doing what he loved: playing football, and off-field working as a zoo-keeper,[2] but all this time he still dreamt about playing football at AFL level.[2] His family and friends were always supportive, and were always adamant that Stokes would one day play in the AFL.[2]

After being overlooked in the national, pre-season and rookie drafts for the third consecutive year in 2004, Stokes was on the verge of quitting the Woodville-West Torrens, moving back to the Northern Territory and continuing his football career with the Palmerston Magpies once more. But again due to support from family and friends, and realising what a great oppurtunity it was to keep playing in the SANFL, he stayed on to play for the Woodville-West Torrens for the 2005 season.

It was lucky he did, because he was finally drafted in the 2005 National Draft, when Geelong used their last pick, No. 61, to recruit him.[2] Stokes was working at his job as a zookeeper when he discovered he had been drafted, and resigned immediately,[3] but is still hoping to return to the profession after his football career.[1] The Geelong coach, Mark Thompson, was said to be bemused when he found out that the club's recruiters had drafted a 177cm-tall player.[2] Stokes ended up playing for three years with the Woodville-West Torrens, finishing up when he got drafted.

[edit] Career

[edit] 2006: Debut

It wasn't until his 7th game, making his mark against Port Adelaide in Round 15, 2006, that he kicked two final-term goals to lift Geelong's finals chances, one of which he marked superbly and kicked truly from 40m out under enormous pressure.

Since that game, 'Stokesy' has been in and out of the team and has done a great deal.

In 2006, Stokes played in Geelong's Victorian Football League reserves Grand Final side, losing to the Sandringham Zebras.

[edit] 2007: Premiership glory

Stokes has since cemented his spot in Geelong's best 22. His best game in the 2007 home-and-away season was against Fremantle, in round 17, when he kicked a career best 5 goals. He was a member of Geelong's 2007 AFL Premiership side, overcoming a serious knee injury (kneecap dislocated) in the first quarter to make a solid contribution to the team's record 119 point win over Port Adelaide.

[edit] 2008

Stokes escaped severe head injuries in a 2008 pre-season practice match against the Brisbane Lions,[4] when shortly in the last quarter he suffered a blow to the head after being tackled by Brisbane midfielder Albert Proud.[4] He was declared OK after being stretchered from the ground, and despite a sore head, didn't need to be taken to hospital.[4]

Stokes was reported in Geelong's Round 7 clash against Brisbane Lions, after striking Brisbane's Michael Rischitelli in the match's first quarter.[5] Stokes went on to garner two goals and 12 disposals for the game.[6] At the AFL Tribunal, he accepted a one match suspension for the incident,[5] but due to his poor tribunal record, which includes a four match suspension for an incident in the 2007 pre-season, his ban could not be reduced with an early plea.[5]

[edit] Personal Life

Stokes interests outside of football include feral pig shooting, and fishing.[3] He counts Nathan Buckley of Collingwood, as his football hero,[3] and American basketball player, Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA, as his overall sporting hero.[3]

Stokes is currently dating Geelong girl and World Youth Championships Runner; Jess Gulli.[citation needed] [1]

[edit] Statistics

Statistics are correct as of Round 11, 2008 (June 6, 2008)
Season Team No. Games Goals Behinds Kicks Marks Handballs Disposals
2006 Geelong 27 9 9 5 72 51 45 117
2007 Geelong 27 21 32 15 195 111 159 354
2008 Geelong 27 10 19 7 113 63 70 183
Totals 40 60 27 380 225 274 654

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Begg, Peter (2008-04-18). Home truths set Stokes on right path. Herald Sun. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gullan, Scott Gullan (2008-06-06). I said I'd never make it: Mathew Stokes. Herald Sun. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
  3. ^ a b c d e AFL Record - Round 9 2008, Collingwood V Geelong May 23, 2008
  4. ^ a b c Green, Bradley (2008-03-01). Stokes escapes serious injury as Cats win on the Gold Coast. Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
  5. ^ a b c Cat Matthew Stokes to miss a match, Bombers in strife at tribunal. Geelong Advertiser (2008-05-07). Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
  6. ^ Geelong vs Brisbane Lions. Herald Sun (2008-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-06-08.

[edit] External links


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
v • d • e
2007 Geelong Cats Premiership Players
v • d • e
Dream Team - 2008 Hall of Fame Tribute Match
v • d • e
2005 AFL Draft
Later Rounds
Matthew Laidlaw • Simon Buckley • Kristin Thornton • Brett Montgomery • Joel Patfull • Sam Lonergan • Hugh Minson • Ryan Brabazon • Clint Bartram • Mathew Stokes • Phillip Raymond • Austin Lucy • Heath Neville • Tim Hutchison • Jonathan Giles• Justin Sweeney