Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Michael Barry Christian

Known as
Michael Christian

Born
21 August 1964 (age 59)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 219d
Last game: 30y 343d

Height and weight
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 96 kg

Senior clubs
East Perth; Collingwood

Jumper numbers
Collingwood: 21

Recruited from
East Perth (1987)

Michael Christian

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
East PerthWAFL1981-198682310.38—————
CollingwoodV/AFL1987-1995131230.1851%7.686.014.6914
Total1981-1995213540.25—————

AFL: 9,761st player to appear, 1,668th most games played, 3,450th most goals kickedCollingwood: 887th player to appear, 129th most games played, 288th most goals kicked

Michael Christian was a strong marking and dynamic key position player who commenced his league career with 82 games for East Perth between 1981 and 1986. In 1985 he allegedly signed for Claremont, but the contract was disputed and never formally ratified, and he remained with the Royals. 

In 1987 he joined Collingwood where he added another 131 senior games over the course of the next decade, including the famed 1990 Grand Final win over Essendon. Much of his best football was played in the backlines, but he could also do a job up forward when required. Michael Christian represented Western Australia three times.

Since retiring as a player Christian has achieved success as a sports journalist and football commentator and, more recently, he took on the role of sole adjudicator for the AFL's Match Review Panel.

Author - John Devaney with additional material from Adam Cardosi

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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