Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Adrian Gleeson

Known as
Adrian Gleeson

Born
30 April 1967 (age 56)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 10d
Last game: 29y 95d

Height and weight
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 78 kg

Senior clubs
Carlton

Jumper numbers
Carlton: 12

Family links
Martin Gleeson (Nephew)

Adrian Gleeson

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
CarltonV/AFL1986-19961761740.9963%12.836.392.5238
Total1986-19961761740.9963%12.836.392.5238

AFL: 9,703rd player to appear, 914th most games played, 513th most goals kickedCarlton: 938th player to appear, 55th most games played, 35th most goals kicked

What Carlton rover Adrian Gleeson lacked in pace he more than compensated for in grit, determination and raw courage. Recruited from Koroit, he debuted for the Blues in round seven 1986 having starred in the reserves prior to that, but he did not become a regular until the following season. His timing was superb, because Carlton went on to claim the 1987 premiership with a 33 point grand final defeat of Hawthorn with Gleeson performing solidly after starting the match on the interchange bench. The next few seasons brought consolidation in the seniors as well as selection to represent Victoria in the state of origin arena. Gleeson had earlier been a Victorian Teal Cup representative.

When Carlton next reached a grand final in 1993 Adrian Gleeson was a key member of the team but he could not prevent a humiliating 44 point loss to Essendon. Two years later the Blues again played off for the premiership, successfully on this occasion, but Gleeson, who had lost his place in the senior team after straining a ligament midway through the season, was not selected. He went on to play a handful of senior matches in 1996 giving him a final tally of 176; he kicked 174 goals. He was still capable of good football as he proved by winning the club's 1996 reserves best and fairest award, an achievement he duplicated in 1997 after agreeing to stay on for the season to help nurture the young Blues reserve grade players.

Adrian Gleeson maintained his links with Carlton after his retirement as a player, including serving on the club's Board of Management for a time.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby and Jim Main; http://www.blueseum.org/Adrian+Gleeson

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.