Matthew Whelan
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Matthew Whelan (born 13 November 1979) is a former professional
Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...
player. Wearing the number 45 jersey, Whelan, recruited from the Northern Territory was a reliable defender/
back pocket Vulfpeck is an American funk/soul music, soul band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2011. Founded by multi-instrumentalists Jack Stratton, Theo Katzman, Woody Goss, and bassist Joe Dart, the band has released four extended plays, six studio a ...
known by Demons fans as "Wheels". He also earned the nickname "Wrecker" (after Whelan the Wrecker) for his big hits (often on big name players) and tough and uncompromisingly defensive style of play. His tackling style, to drop the shoulder, resulted in spectacular, almost
spear tackle A spear tackle is an illegal tackle in rugby union, rugby league and Australian rules football in which a player lifts another player into the air and drops them so that they land on their back, head or neck. Spear tackles have caused serious inj ...
like throws of opponents, and he ended up at the Tribunal many years over unsightly plays.


Early life

Matthew has
Indigenous Australian Indigenous Australians are people with familial heritage from, or recognised membership of, the various ethnic groups living within the territory of contemporary Australia prior to History of Australia (1788–1850), British colonisation. The ...
heritage, and his ancestry can be traced to the Ngalakan language speaking peoples of the
Arnhem Land Arnhem Land is a historical region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around from the territorial capital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin. In 1623, Dutch East India Compa ...
. He grew up in Darwin, the capital of the
Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
, where he played
rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...
at junior levels before concentrating on Australian football at the age of 15. Before heading to Victoria in 2000, Whelan played in both the Northern Territory and South Australian leagues. From October to March he would play for Darwin before heading to Woodville-West Torrens for the winter.


AFL career


2000 debut season

Whelan made his debut in round four of season 2000, and played every game until round 20 when an injured neck cost him his place and he missed the finals, including Melbourne's grand final appearance. This was a major blow to the Demons, who missed his toughness against a more physical Essendon.


History repeats

History repeated itself in 2002 when Whelan played every game but was forced out in round 22 with a calf injury, and another finals series went begging.


2003 & Shane Crawford incident

In a rare report for rough play in 2003 for what appeared to be a dangerous throw on Shane Crawford he was later cleared by the tribunal of any infringement.


2004 & James Hird incident

During the 2004 Elimination Final, Melbourne were drawn to play rivals Essendon. With about five minutes to go in the first half, Whelan knocked
James Hird James Albert Hird (born 4 February 1973) is a former professional Australian rules football player and past senior coach of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Hird played as a midfielder and half-forward, but he ...
unconscious with a strong shirtfront, re-gathered the ball and fed it off to Travis Johnstone who finished the play with a goal to bring up double figures for the Demons. Whelan, playing his first final, was one of Melbourne's best, picking up 22 possessions and a match high five tackles.


2005 & Nathan Brown incident

During the final quarter of the Melbourne v Richmond game on 27 May 2005, Richmond attacked in their 50 when Whelan came from nowhere to smother Nathan Brown's kick. Because Brown was kicking with his left boot, Whelan landed on his right foot, and, in front of horrified '' Friday Night Football'' viewers, broke his leg. Replays were constantly played on the news, including '' Sports Tonight'' and Fox Sports News. Whelan said that he had felt guilty, given the seriousness of Brown's injury. Brown sat out the rest of the season, and has had re-occurring leg-related injuries ever since.


2006 AFL Season

Whelan had a stellar season in 2006, marred only by minor injuries to his calf and
hamstring A hamstring () is any one of the three posterior thigh muscles in human anatomy between the hip and the knee: from medial to lateral, the semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris. Etymology The word " ham" is derived from the Old ...
.he kicked a career high four goals in round-five


2007 & Luke Ball incident

During the 2007 season opener against St Kilda, while shepherding a teammate, Whelan turned his back, colliding solidly with
Luke Ball Luke Patrick Ball (born 25 May 1984) is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the and football clubs in the Australian Football League. From 2003 to 2009 he played 142 games for the St Kilda Football Club where ...
. The severe collision injured both players, resulting in both coming off the ground, with the back of Whelan's head lacerating Ball's forehead. Ball was carried off the ground with a laceration to his head, although both players later returned to play out the game. Whelan was charged for rough play based on the video. The charge, however, was later dropped as the high contact was ruled as an accidental clash of heads, while Ball continued a slow recovery from the injury.Ball plans for Round 4 , Herald Sun
/ref> His 2007 season saw him play just a handful of games due to injury.


2008 & Brendan Fevola incident

In round-five of the 2008 season, Whelan was reported for striking Carlton's full-forward
Brendan Fevola Brendan Fevola (born 20 January 1981) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and radio presenter. He played with the Carlton Football Club, Carlton and Brisbane Lions football clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL). Fevol ...
. He was offered a two-week suspension by the AFL. But an early guilty plea reduced this to just one week.


Retirement

In August 2009, Whelan announced his retirement from the AFL alongside teammate Paul Wheatley, effective after Round 22, as part of the Melbourne Football Club's youth policy. His career has been plagued by injury, but is leaving on a good note and was happy to play an important role mentoring the MFC's young Aboriginal players.afl.com.au
Whelan, Wheatley to call it a day.
In February 2010, Whelan was awarded life membership of the Melbourne Football club at the club's annual general meeting.


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Whelan, Matthew Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football Living people 1979 births Melbourne Football Club players Woodville-West Torrens Football Club players Darwin Football Club players Casey Demons players Australian rules footballers from Darwin, Northern Territory