AFL By The Numbers: 23 Andrew McLeod
23
Andrew McLeod.
Defender for the Adelaide Crows.
The Crows need to thank many people who led them to wins in 1997 and 1998, their unorthodox coach, their huge and talented ruckman, and also Andrew McLeod who was at his best when it counted. Blight and Rehn departed the team a long time ago while McLeod is still there and is playing at close to the same level as he did a decade ago.
The Crows nearly missed out on McLeod as he was almost a Fremantle Docker, Adelaide acquired McLeod and Matthew Collins from Fremantle in exchange for Chris Groom in 1994. Adelaide got McLeod right into the team in 1995 and for the first two years of his career he was an exciting player but the best was yet to come.
In 1997 he doubled his total stats from the previous year and the finals series made him a star. McLeod was very important in wins against the Bulldogs and Saints, McLeod had 31 possessions and plenty of them were sent to Darren Jarman in a performance that dominated the 1997 AFL Grand Final. He was just as good the next year, again the Crows stopped the Bulldogs in the penultimate game with McLeod kicking 7 goals. He followed that with 30 possessions against the Kangaroos in the 1998 AFL Grand Final.
McLeod is still an elite player, averaging close to 500 disposals every season. There was some talk about making him a forward again this year but his best spot is as an attacking defender who can clear his defensive 50, go for a big run and send the ball into the forward 50 for Adelaide. Adelaide's best era was a decade ago, but with some luck with injuries and the continued great play of their veterans it is possible that McLeod gets to play in another AFL Grand Final.
Andrew McLeod information:
181cm, 80kg
Official AFL Profile
Wikipedia entry
Number 22
Andrew McLeod.
Defender for the Adelaide Crows.
The Crows need to thank many people who led them to wins in 1997 and 1998, their unorthodox coach, their huge and talented ruckman, and also Andrew McLeod who was at his best when it counted. Blight and Rehn departed the team a long time ago while McLeod is still there and is playing at close to the same level as he did a decade ago.
The Crows nearly missed out on McLeod as he was almost a Fremantle Docker, Adelaide acquired McLeod and Matthew Collins from Fremantle in exchange for Chris Groom in 1994. Adelaide got McLeod right into the team in 1995 and for the first two years of his career he was an exciting player but the best was yet to come.
In 1997 he doubled his total stats from the previous year and the finals series made him a star. McLeod was very important in wins against the Bulldogs and Saints, McLeod had 31 possessions and plenty of them were sent to Darren Jarman in a performance that dominated the 1997 AFL Grand Final. He was just as good the next year, again the Crows stopped the Bulldogs in the penultimate game with McLeod kicking 7 goals. He followed that with 30 possessions against the Kangaroos in the 1998 AFL Grand Final.
McLeod is still an elite player, averaging close to 500 disposals every season. There was some talk about making him a forward again this year but his best spot is as an attacking defender who can clear his defensive 50, go for a big run and send the ball into the forward 50 for Adelaide. Adelaide's best era was a decade ago, but with some luck with injuries and the continued great play of their veterans it is possible that McLeod gets to play in another AFL Grand Final.
Andrew McLeod information:
181cm, 80kg
Official AFL Profile
Wikipedia entry
Number 22
