Luke McCabe (born 10 August 1976) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with

Hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...

in the Australian Football League (AFL) and Central District in the

South Australian National Football League The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL ( or ''S-A-N-F-L''), is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport. Originally formed as th ...

(SANFL). McCabe was a small defender who usually played in the

back pocket In the sport of Australian rules football, each of the eighteen players in a team is assigned to a particular named position on the field of play. These positions describe both the player's main role and by implication their location on the gro ...

s. He was recruited by Hawthorn at pick 15 in the 1993 National Draft but took a while to establish himself in the team, playing over 20 games in a season for the first time in 1998. He finished that season with a second placing in Hawthorn's best and fairest awards and the following season was a member of their pre season premiership side. He is remembered for his participation in one of the "memorable moments" between Hawthorn and Melbourne when, in round 1, 2002, he was on the receiving end of a mighty hip and shoulder from

David Neitz David Neitz (born 22 January 1975), is a retired Australian rules footballer. The strongly built centre half back who became a full forward was the longest-serving captain in the history of the Melbourne Football Club and the first Melbourne ...

on his way to snap an inspirational goal. McCabe returned to Central District for the 2005 SANFL season and was an integral part of the Bulldogs winning their third consecutive premiership. McCabe was awarded the

Jack Oatey Medal The Jack Oatey Medal is awarded to the best player during the SANFL Grand Final. It has been awarded since 1981. In 2018, Mitch Grigg of Norwood became the first player to win the Jack Oatey Medal on a losing team, after his team were defeated ...

for being the best on ground in the Grand Final. He retired from senior football following the end of the 2006 season due to work commitments. However, McCabe returned to Central District for the 2008 season.

References

External links

*
Profile at Hawksheadquarters
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCabe, Luke 1976 births Living people Australian rules footballers from South Australia Hawthorn Football Club players Central District Football Club players People educated at Sacred Heart College, Adelaide