Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Michael Byrne

Known as
Michael Byrne

Born
2 December 1958 (age 65)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 254d
Last game: 30y 189d

Height and weight
Height: 200 cm
Weight: 86 kg

Senior clubs
Melbourne; Hawthorn; Sydney

Jumper numbers
Melbourne: 14
Hawthorn: 14, 21
Sydney: 14

Recruited from
Melbourne (1982); Hawthorn (1987)

Michael Byrne

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
MelbourneV/AFL1977-198256410.7320%6.115.023.430
HawthornV/AFL1982-198690971.0872%7.075.314.1623
SydneyV/AFL1987-198921120.5752%3.814.761.900
V/AFL1977-19891671500.9052%6.345.143.6323
Total1977-19891671500.9052%6.345.143.6323

AFL: 8,947th player to appear, 1,039th most games played, 652nd most goals kickedMelbourne: 975th player to appear, 298th most games played, 185th most goals kickedHawthorn: 684th player to appear, 169th most games played, 66th most goals kickedSydney: 1,166th player to appear, 573rd most games played, 441st most goals kicked

A North Shore product, Michael Byrne was a tall, long kicking ruckman for three VFL clubs. He commenced with Melbourne in 1977 and gave the Dees just over five seasons of solid service during which he played 56 games and kicked 41 goals. In 1982, after just one game, he crossed to Hawthorn and went on to produce the best football of his career, playing 90 games and booting 97 majors. Three of those goals came in the 1983 grand final as he helped the Hawks to a comprehensive, 83 point demolition of Essendon. The 1983 season was a good one all round for Byrne who ran fifth in the voting for the Brownlow Medal. The 1987 season saw him back in his home city as he signed for the Sydney Swans for whom he had played 21 games and kicked a dozen goals by the time he retired in 1989. More recently, Michael Byrne has made a name for himself as a rugby union skills coach.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

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