Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Alexander Ishchenko

Known as
Alex Ishchenko

Born
20 April 1964 (age 59)

Place of birth
Ukraine

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 343d
Last game: 31y 121d

Height and weight
Height: 201 cm
Weight: 110 kg

Senior clubs
East Perth; West Coast; Brisbane; North Melbourne

Jumper numbers
West Coast: 26
Brisbane: 9
North Melbourne: 26

Recruited from
East Perth (1987); West Coast (1989); Brisbane (1992)

State of origin
Ukraine

Alex Ishchenko

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
East PerthWAFL1982-1986, 198852240.46
West CoastV/AFL1987-198830100.3353%5.534.435.006
BrisbaneV/AFL1989-199142150.3624%5.195.435.124
North MelbourneAFL1992-199570120.1753%3.915.403.2614
WAFL1982-1986, 198852240.46
V/AFL1987-1995142370.2644%4.635.204.1824
Total1982-1995194610.31

AFL: 9,787th player to appear, 1,455th most games played, 2,572nd most goals kickedWest Coast: 8th player to appear, 144th most games played, 146th most goals kickedBrisbane: 54th player to appear, 136th most games played, 132nd most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 819th player to appear, 204th most games played, 338th most goals kicked

Alex Ishchenko was a huge (201cm, 108kg) ruckman who had a varied career at four different clubs. He began with East Perth for whom he played 52 games and kicked 24 goals between 1982 and 1986 and in 1988. The 1987 season saw him fronting up in the VFL with a West Coast team that was taking its bows in the competition. However, after an eye catching debut year he struggled to comply with coach John Todd's requirements in 1988 and was dropped back to the WAFL . After the season had finished he was traded to Brisbane where he spent three largely uninspiring years, adding 42 games and 15 goals to the 32 games and 10 goals registered with the Eagles.

The final phase of Ischenko's career was far and away the most memorable as he became a key player for North Melbourne, running third in the club best and fairest voting in his first season (1992), and visibly revelling in his new surroundings. Dubbed 'The Big Russian' his heritage was actually part Ukrainian on his father's side, but if he minded the label he did not show it. The only major disappointment of his time with the 'Roos was that it finished in 1995, just twelve months before the club broke through for its first flag since 1977. The North phase of Ischenko's career saw him play 70 AFL games a nd boot 12 goals.

Since retiring as a player Ishchenko has worked for the AFL in an administrative capacity and has been a part time ruck coach with North Melbourne.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Wikipedia article

Footnotes

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