James Polkinghorne (footballer)

James Polkinghorne
Personal information
Full nameJames Polkinghorne
Date of birth21 January 1989
Original teamCalder Cannons (TAC Cup)
Draft#41, 2007 National Draft, Brisbane Lions
Height/Weight184cm / 87kg
Position(s)Midfielder / Forward
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2008–2014Brisbane Lions94 (53)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of Round 7, 2014 season.

James Polkinghorne (born 21 January 1989) is an Australian rules footballer formerly for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Polkinghorne possesses an exceptional leaping ability thanks to his volleyball background with St. Bernard's College and for the U15 Victorian schoolboys side.[1]

Polkinghorne is a high possession winner and utility player who excels at the stoppages. He represented Vic Metro at the NAB AFL U18 Championships. In 2007 he made his senior debut with Coburg in the Victorian Football League as part of a trial program. Runner-up in the Calder Cannons' Best and Fairest award for 2007, he is the son of former Hawthorn player Robert Polkinghorne and nephew of Hawks star David Polkinghorne.[1]

Polkinghorne made his debut in Round 6, 2008 at the Gabba against Melbourne.[2]

He is often compared to Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia due to similar playing style and scoring ability.

Polkinghorne received considerable media attention for kicking a match winning torpedo goal from the centre square in the dying minutes of Brisbane's Round 10, 2012 victory over ladder leaders West Coast.[3]

He was delisted by the Lions at the end of the 2014 season.

In February 2015, Polkinghorne was given a short-term contract by Essendon to play in the 2015 NAB Challenge as a "top-up" player, due to 26 Essendon players withdrawing from the NAB Challenge because of the ongoing Essendon Football Club supplements controversy.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Simon White; Dummy run should help Polkinghorne; 2007-11-26
  2. ↑ William, Rebecca; Tigers keep the faith; 2008-04-26
  3. ↑ Whiting, Michael; Winning torp was 'instinct';2012-06-04
  4. ↑ Twomey, Callum. "'It's the perfect opportunity': Top-up Bomber eyes second chance". afl.com.au. AFL. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

External links