Daniel Kerr

This article is about the Australian rules footballer. For the American politician, see Daniel Kerr (politician).
Daniel Kerr

Daniel Kerr at a 2005 Grand Final parade
Personal information
Full nameDaniel Kerr
Date of birth16 May 1983
Original teamEast Fremantle (WAFL)
Draft18th pick, 2000 National Draft (West Coast)
Height/Weight178 cm / 80 kg
Position(s)Midfielder
Club information
Current clubWest Coast
Number4
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2001–2013West Coast220 (122)
Representative team honours
YearsTeamGames (Goals)
2008Dream Team1 (0)
International team honours
2007Australia2
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 2013 season.
Career highlights

Daniel Matthew Kerr (born 16 May 1983) is a former Australian rules footballer who played his entire career with the West Coast Eagles of the Australian Football League (AFL). Kerr was recruited from East Fremantle Football Club and made his debut in 2001. He was a hard-running midfielder who was a vital part of the midfield at the Eagles. He retired from football at the end of the 2013 season.

Background

Kerr is of Anglo-Indian descent. His father, Roger Kerr, was born in Calcutta to an English father and an Indian mother and played for East Fremantle in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).[1] His sister Samantha Kerr plays for the Australia national women's soccer team and Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League. Kerr is a second cousin of former Fremantle player Shaun McManus.

Football career

Kerr was selected with the number 18 pick in the 2000 AFL Draft. Kerr is widely known as one of the toughest players in the AFL. In August 2006, the much bigger Fraser Gehrig considered one of the strongest players in the AFL,[2] tried to palm off a tackle by Kerr, only to have Kerr resist and re-tackle Gehrig, with the result being the umpire rewarding Kerr with a "holding the ball" decision. Similarly, his physical strength was further demonstrated in round one in the 2007 AFL season against the Sydney Swans when he successfully tackled and took down the far bigger Barry Hall in the goalsquare.

In 2005 Kerr nearly provided one of the biggest upsets in Brownlow Medal history, leading the count towards the later rounds and finishing second to favourite, teammate Ben Cousins.[3] In the following year, he came third in the Brownlow Medal count with 22 votes, however, was ineligible due to a striking charge against Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell in Round 14.[4] In 2003, Kerr won the AFL Goal of the Year.

In 2006, Kerr was part of the Eagles' 2006 premiership side. He played with detached ligaments in his foot.[5]

In 2007, Kerr had another great year with the eagles. He came runner up in the Brownlow Medal for a second time in his career, Jimmy Bartel was the winner.

Daniel Kerr re-signed with the Eagles after weeks of speculation over his future during the 2009 season.

In round 10 of the 2009 season Kerr was suspended for 1 week for striking Carlton's Marc Murphy. After an appeal by the Eagles the decision was upheld by the AFL tribunal.

In round four, 2010 Kerr seriously injured his hamstring in the West Coast Eagles' win against Essendon, ending his season. His absence was felt on the field as the Eagles would win only three more games for the season.

In October 2013, Kerr announced his retirement from football.[6]

In November 2013, nearly one month after announcing his retirement from football, Kerr hinted that he would like to play football again in the WAFL. Kerr said if he plays in the WAFL next year, it will likely be at a club much closer to his northern suburbs home.[7]

Off-field controversies

In September 2002 Kerr was involved in a brawl with team mate Ben Cousins at a Perth nightclub during the club's end of season celebrations, in which Cousins punched Kerr in the face. Later the same night, Kerr pushed Cousins down a flight of stairs, breaking his arm.[8][9]

In 2004 Kerr was charged with forging a prescription. He was given the blank prescription by a person at a party and went to a 24-hour chemist to buy 50 valium tablets. The court fined him a total of $400 and made a spent conviction order. He was also fined $5,000 by the club and was required to complete community service throughout the football season.[10]

In January 2007 Kerr and his father were charged with assault following a party in Perth. Kerr is understood to have been at a farewell party for his sister's friend in Attadale before trouble erupted shortly after midnight. Reports suggested that Kerr's sister complained about being touched inappropriately by another partygoer and a fight erupted soon after on the street. An 18-year-old man suffered a broken nose and broken tooth.[11] Kerr was charged with two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and was fined $2000 over the attack. His father was also fined after being found guilty of assault.[12]

On 25 February 2007 Kerr was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after an altercation with a taxi driver. Kerr was later arrested again while at a training session, and further charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and wilful damage. Police prosecutor Gary Flynn told the court Kerr saw the taxi and jumped screaming and shouting onto the boot. The taxi driver got out of his car and was attacked by Kerr, Sgt Flynn said. Kerr's lawyer John Prior said his client had gone out to dinner and "consumed too much alcohol" and "made a crucial bad judgement call". Kerr pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined.[13]

On 23 March 2007 information was released that implicated Kerr in drug dealing over the phone. Kerr's conversations with convicted drug dealer Shane Waters relating to a "big bag of horse chaff" were recorded by police phone taps in 2003.[9][14]

On 3 April 2010 Kerr was ordered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal to pay $13,125 to teenager Troy Luies, after Luies had filed a claim for the injuries he suffered at the hands of Kerr on 14 January 2007. Assessor William Millar awarded Mr Luies compensation for the assault by Kerr, as payment for his hospital bills, lost pay and for trauma suffered.[15]

In November 2014 Kerr was arrested and charged with endangering the lives of two people after he allegedly started a small fire at a house in Glendalough. He spent five nights at Hakea Prison before being released on bail when his parents paid the $5000 surety.[16]

Statistics

Season Team # Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)[17]
2001 West Coast 34 19 7 6 147 149 296 38 67 0.4 0.3 7.7 7.8 15.6 2.0 3.5
2002 West Coast 4 23 20 10 208 203 411 43 75 0.9 0.4 9.0 8.8 17.9 1.9 3.3
2003 West Coast 4 21 17 8 203 202 405 54 74 0.8 0.4 9.7 9.6 19.3 2.6 3.5
2004 West Coast 4 21 13 8 243 173 416 74 68 0.6 0.4 11.6 8.2 19.8 3.5 3.2
2005 West Coast 4 22 8 12 264 196 460 81 59 0.4 0.5 12.0 8.9 20.9 3.7 2.7
2006† West Coast 4 21 11 16 233 249 482 61 67 0.5 0.8 11.1 11.9 23.0 2.9 3.2
2007 West Coast 4 17 8 11 223 238 461 46 61 0.5 0.6 13.1 14.0 27.1 2.7 3.6
2008 West Coast 4 11 6 2 131 130 261 24 26 0.5 0.2 11.9 11.8 23.7 2.2 2.4
2009 West Coast 4 11 7 3 76 138 214 7 30 0.6 0.3 6.9 12.5 19.5 0.6 2.7
2010 West Coast 4 4 1 1 24 54 78 3 12 0.3 0.3 6.0 13.5 19.5 0.8 3.0
2011 West Coast 4 16 7 8 174 220 394 35 38 0.4 0.5 10.9 13.8 24.6 2.2 2.4
2012 West Coast 4 24 13 8 291 261 552 56 53 0.5 0.3 12.1 10.9 23.0 2.3 2.2
2013 West Coast 4 10 4 0 95 112 207 17 27 0.4 0.0 9.5 11.2 20.7 1.7 2.7
Career 220 122 93 2312 2325 4637 539 657 0.6 0.4 10.5 10.6 21.1 2.5 3.0
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
† Denotes seasons in which Kerr won an AFL Premiership

Personal life

Like former West Coast Eagles teammate Quinten Lynch, Kerr also attended Aquinas College in Perth.[18]

In April 2011, Kerr launched his own website. On 22 June 2011, Daniel and wife Natasha welcomed daughter Lola Violet Kerr.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "What Makes Him Run". The Age. 2007-04-14. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Footy's strongest man from realfooty.com.au
  3. ↑ Lyon, Karen (20 September 2005). "Eagle Lands Prize". The Age.
  4. ↑ "Delivering the Goodes". thewest.com.au. 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  5. ↑ Niall, Jake (2 October 2006). "West Coast trio fought off pain, surgery now likely". The Age.
  6. ↑ Kerr calls time
  7. ↑ Kerr wants to play on
  8. ↑ "Champion's Rise And Fall", The West Australian, 21 March 2007, pp. 8–9
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Kerr caught on police drug tapes". The Age. 24 March 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
  10. ↑ ABC Sport – AFL – Eagle Kerr fined for forging valium prescription
  11. ↑ "AFL star Kerr on assault charge". 18 January 2007.
  12. ↑ Father of star Eagle guilty of assault – Perth Now – Accessed 01-Oct-09
  13. ↑ Kerr pleads guilty to assault – The Australian – Accessed 01-Oct-09
  14. ↑ "Kerr implicated in drug scandal". ABC News Online. 23 March 2007.
  15. ↑ Daniel Kerr victim wins payout – PerthNow – Accessed 03-Apr-10
  16. ↑ Foster, Brendan; Cox, Nicole (17 November 2014). "Former West Coast Eagle Daniel Kerr released from Hakea Prison".
  17. ↑ Daniel Kerr's player profile at AFL Tables
  18. ↑ Real Footy Profile – Daniel Kerr
  19. ↑ "Daniel Kerr official fansite". Sportsnewsfirst. 25 April 2011.

External links