Craig Bradley
Encyclopedia
Craig Edwin "Braddles" Bradley (born 23 October 1963) is a former South Australian Australian rules football
er and first class cricketer. He is currently a part-time assistant coach at the Carlton Football Club
, the club he represented 375 times in the VFL/AFL.
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL), in the 1981 season, which proved to be Port's third premiership season in a row. At the age of 20, Bradley won the club's best and fairest award in his second year, and went on to win two more in 1984 and 1985. The Essendon Football Club
approached Bradley in 1981, offering him the chance to join them in the VFL
, but unfortunately for the Bombers, this never eventuated.
Bradley was then recruited by Victorian Football League
(VFL) club Carlton
in 1986. He had already played cricket for South Australia
and Australia
n junior sides and at first continued to play cricket for Victoria
, although the increasing demands of football led him to retire from cricket after four first-class games. It proved to be the right choice. Bradley won three best and fairests for Carlton, in 1986, 1988 and 1993, as well as being a member of the 1987 and 1995 premiership sides. As well as winning B&F in '93, his daughter Casey was born in November. He played with the Blues for seventeen seasons, acting as Stephen Kernahan
's vice captain from 1990 until 1997, then himself captaining the Blues from 1998 until 2001. In this time, he also represented Australia three times in the International Rules series, including as vice-captain in 2000 and captain in 2001. He broke Bruce Doull
's Carlton games record in Round 1, 2002. His final AFL game, ironically against Port Adelaide
, was Round 19, 2002, polling 3 Brownlow Votes, at the age of 38 years, 9½ months, making him the sixth-oldest player in the history of the league. His final appearance overall was in the 2002 International Rules series.
In a senior career spanning 22 seasons, he was renowned as one of the games tireless champions, and in particular his amazing fitness that meant he could play the physically demanding game of Australian rules football
until the age of 38. Bradley has a great football brain, and for much of his career, Bradley played in the midfield; he was also rotated into the forward line during games, where his nous allowed him both to score and assist many goals through his career. In his final few seasons, Bradley spent more time acting as a loose, sweeping half-back flanker, and much of Carlton's drive forward came from his play through the wings.
Bradley's services to the game have been officially recognised several times at the highest levels. He was immediately inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 2006, after the minimum three years of retirement. At Carlton, Bradley is an Official Legend of the club's Hall of Fame, and was selected on the wing in the club's Team of the Century. He was also selected on the wing in Port Adelaide's Team of the Century, despite having played only 98 games at the club.
In November 2002, following Carlton's salary cap breach which lost the club valuable draft picks, Bradley had contemplated reversing his decision to retire and attempt to rebuild a club in crisis, but he eventually stood by his initial decision to retire from the game, which was made three weeks before the salary cap drama occurred.
In 2007, Bradley returned to Carlton as a part-time assistant coach.
, behind only Simon Madden
(378), Kevin Bartlett (403) and Michael Tuck
(426), and since surpassed only by Robert Harvey (383)
.
In addition to his time at Carlton, Bradley also played 98 games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL, in a time where senior games in the SANFL were considered equivalent to those in the VFL. He also represented South Australia nineteen times – in most years of his career from 1983 up until 1999, which was the final season of State of Origin football. He also played in nine International Rules games for Australia, which are also considered to be senior games. As such, he played 501 senior Australian football games, which is an all-time world record as far as any historians can trace http://footystats.freeservers.com/Footystats/Mosts.html. Bradley also represented Carlton a further 27 times in the night series, which (unlike in the West Australian and South Australian league) are not counted as senior games by the AFL. Bradley's 500th game was the first international rules test against Ireland at Croke Park
in 2002.
As a cricketer, Bradley appeared in four Sheffield Shield matches, two each for the states of South Australia and Victoria http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/4273.html.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and first class cricketer. He is currently a part-time assistant coach at the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
, the club he represented 375 times in the VFL/AFL.
History
Bradley made his senior top-level debut for Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL), in the 1981 season, which proved to be Port's third premiership season in a row. At the age of 20, Bradley won the club's best and fairest award in his second year, and went on to win two more in 1984 and 1985. The Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
approached Bradley in 1981, offering him the chance to join them in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, but unfortunately for the Bombers, this never eventuated.
Bradley was then recruited by Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) club Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in 1986. He had already played cricket for South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n junior sides and at first continued to play cricket for Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
, although the increasing demands of football led him to retire from cricket after four first-class games. It proved to be the right choice. Bradley won three best and fairests for Carlton, in 1986, 1988 and 1993, as well as being a member of the 1987 and 1995 premiership sides. As well as winning B&F in '93, his daughter Casey was born in November. He played with the Blues for seventeen seasons, acting as Stephen Kernahan
Stephen Kernahan
Stephen Scott Kernahan is a former Australian rules footballer best known for his career with the Carlton Football Club of the Australian Football League and the Glenelg Football Club of the SANFL from 1981 until 1997...
's vice captain from 1990 until 1997, then himself captaining the Blues from 1998 until 2001. In this time, he also represented Australia three times in the International Rules series, including as vice-captain in 2000 and captain in 2001. He broke Bruce Doull
Bruce Doull
Bruce Doull is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Carlton Football Club....
's Carlton games record in Round 1, 2002. His final AFL game, ironically against Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, was Round 19, 2002, polling 3 Brownlow Votes, at the age of 38 years, 9½ months, making him the sixth-oldest player in the history of the league. His final appearance overall was in the 2002 International Rules series.
In a senior career spanning 22 seasons, he was renowned as one of the games tireless champions, and in particular his amazing fitness that meant he could play the physically demanding game of Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
until the age of 38. Bradley has a great football brain, and for much of his career, Bradley played in the midfield; he was also rotated into the forward line during games, where his nous allowed him both to score and assist many goals through his career. In his final few seasons, Bradley spent more time acting as a loose, sweeping half-back flanker, and much of Carlton's drive forward came from his play through the wings.
Bradley's services to the game have been officially recognised several times at the highest levels. He was immediately inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 2006, after the minimum three years of retirement. At Carlton, Bradley is an Official Legend of the club's Hall of Fame, and was selected on the wing in the club's Team of the Century. He was also selected on the wing in Port Adelaide's Team of the Century, despite having played only 98 games at the club.
In November 2002, following Carlton's salary cap breach which lost the club valuable draft picks, Bradley had contemplated reversing his decision to retire and attempt to rebuild a club in crisis, but he eventually stood by his initial decision to retire from the game, which was made three weeks before the salary cap drama occurred.
In 2007, Bradley returned to Carlton as a part-time assistant coach.
Games Records
Craig Bradley's 375 games for Carlton, including 24 finals, is a team record. It was also, at the time of his retirement, the fourth-highest number of games played by any player in the AFL/VFLAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, behind only Simon Madden
Simon Madden
Simon Madden was an Australian rules footballer for the Essendon Football Club from 1974 until 1992. He was also president of the AFL Players Association from 1985 until 1989....
(378), Kevin Bartlett (403) and Michael Tuck
Michael Tuck
Michael Tuck is a seven time premiership winning player, Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League / Australian Football League , where he is the games record holder....
(426), and since surpassed only by Robert Harvey (383)
Robert Harvey (footballer)
Robert Jeffrey Harvey is a former Australian rules football player for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League...
.
In addition to his time at Carlton, Bradley also played 98 games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL, in a time where senior games in the SANFL were considered equivalent to those in the VFL. He also represented South Australia nineteen times – in most years of his career from 1983 up until 1999, which was the final season of State of Origin football. He also played in nine International Rules games for Australia, which are also considered to be senior games. As such, he played 501 senior Australian football games, which is an all-time world record as far as any historians can trace http://footystats.freeservers.com/Footystats/Mosts.html. Bradley also represented Carlton a further 27 times in the night series, which (unlike in the West Australian and South Australian league) are not counted as senior games by the AFL. Bradley's 500th game was the first international rules test against Ireland at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
in 2002.
As a cricketer, Bradley appeared in four Sheffield Shield matches, two each for the states of South Australia and Victoria http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/4273.html.
External links
See also
- List of Australian rules football and cricket players