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Key Facts

Full name
Ian Aitken

Known as
Ian Aitken

Born
16 May 1967 (age 57)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 323d
Last game: 26y 104d

Height and weight
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 91 kg

Senior clubs
Carlton; St. Kilda

Jumper numbers
Carlton: 22
St. Kilda: 34

Recruited from
Carlton (1993)

Family links
Dan Hannebery (Nephew)

Ian Aitken

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
CarltonV/AFL1987-199261100.1666%8.773.252.700
St. KildaAFL1993500.0060%10.404.002.600
V/AFL1987-199366100.1565%8.893.302.700
Total1987-199366100.1565%8.893.302.700

AFL: 9,801st player to appear, 3,605th most games played, 5,098th most goals kickedCarlton: 942nd player to appear, 293rd most games played, 444th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,400th player to appear, 1,099th most games played, 1,611th most goals kicked

In 1987 Ian Aitken enjoyed a stellar debut season with Carlton which saw him win the inaugural VFL Players Association Rookie of the Year award and assume a starring role in the Blues’ 15.14 to 9.17 grand final defeat of Hawthorn. A powerful and resolute defender, he continued to play reasonably well in 1988-9 but there then followed four seasons of injury-affected under-performance. In 1993, after playing 61 V/AFL games and scoring 10 goals for Carlton, he requested, and was granted, a transfer to St Kilda. It did not prove to be a productive move as he managed just five appearances and no goals for the year, with rumour having it that he and Saints coach Stan Alves did not see eye to eye.

After leaving the AFL scene behind Aitken had spells as coach of Cowes, Barwon Heads and Kew, among others.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Crème de la Crème

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Footnotes

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