| James Gwilt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | James Gwilt | ||
| Date of birth | 11 August 1986 | ||
| Original team | Noble Park (EFL) | ||
| Draft | #63, 2004 National Draft, St Kilda | ||
| Height/Weight | 188cm / 94kg | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | St Kilda | ||
| Number | 33 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2005– | St Kilda | 82 (19) | |
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1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 season .
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James Gwilt (born 11 August 1986) is an Australian rules footballer for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
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Gwilt's mother is from Papua New Guinea[1] and his father, Jason, is of Welsh descent and immigrated with his parents and siblings from Crowle (Worcestershire) in England to Australia in the late 1950s. Jason Gwilt played Australian rules football in Port Moresby.[2]
Gwilt began his football in suburban football instead of participating in the TAC Cup, Victoria's premier under-18 competition. He played for Noble Park in the Eastern Football League and was best on ground in the league's grand final in 2004.
St Kilda made a surprising pick in the 2004 AFL National Draft by selecting Gwilt in the 4th Round. At debut he was only one of two AFL players (the other being Mal Michael) to have a Papua New Guinean parent.
Gwilt played in the 2005 AFL finals series, impressing with two goals against Adelaide in a qualifying final win at Football Park (AAMI Stadium) in Adelaide.
He spent most of 2006 playing with St Kilda's then VFL affiliate team, the Casey Scorpions.
He returned with a total of eight games in 2007, with his best being a 21 possession game against Carlton at Etihad Stadium. He was nominated for the AFL's Army Award in Round 11 of that year. Gwilt struggled for opportunities early in 2008 but returned to the senior side in Round 11. He enjoyed better form after being played as a forward, including a good performance in St Kilda's 2008 semifinal win against Collingwood.
Gwilt played in 15 of 22 matches in the 2009 season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals, winning the club’s third minor premiership.[3]
Gwilt played 26 games in 2010, including four final matches, and finished 8th in St Kilda's best & fairest award (Trevor Barker Medal). This was the year that Gwilt entrenched himself inside St Kilda's best 22, as shown by his high finish in St Kilda's best & fairest award. Prior to 2010 he was considered a fringe player.
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