Jared Rivers
Encyclopedia
Jared Rivers is a centre-half back for the Melbourne Demons in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
As a child he supported the Sydney Swans and cites Tony Lockett and Paul Kelly as his childhood heroes. He attended Caritas College until Year 10 and Sacred Heart College Senior, Adelaide afterwards.
He played junior football for the South Augusta Bulldogs Football club. He won a premiership with the club in 2000 at the age of 15, taking on much stronger opponents in the Spencer Gulf League. The North Adelaide Football Club spotted his raw talent and soon he was playing seniors under coach Darel Hart
, who described him as a delight to coach.
He was rising quickly as a potential top ten draft pick, and was selected to play for South Australia's Under 18 team in the National competition. Unfortunately, he injured his wrist in the lead up to this match. But scouts from the Melbourne Demons liked what they saw in the kid, and selected him as the 27th pick overall in the National Draft of 2002
.
He only managed three games in his debut season, but won praise from many for his job on Port Adelaide superstar Warren Tredrea
in his second match.
After a solid preseason, Rivers cemented his spot in the team and was quickly noticed by many in the football community. This resulted in his Round 3 nomination for National Bank Rising Star
in 2004. He continued his good form all throughout the season right till the Demons' loss to Geelong in the Elimination Final. To prove how much his star was rising, his father Peter 'Boof' Rivers was given his own spot in the paper to comment on how Jared was faring, and he wasn't glowing in his report all the time.
In the week leading up to the Final, he was awarded the 2004 Rising Star award. The choice was unanimous as he received 5 marks from all nine judges to collect the maximum of 45 points. The next best was Melbourne teammate Aaron Davey, who River's admitted was a shoo-in for the award until injuring his hamstring late in season 2004.
His season in 2005 may not have been so spectacular, with poor form and injury culminating in him being dropped to the Sandringham
team towards the end of the season. He was also suspended for two matches after striking Hawthorn's Ben Dixon, who was helpless as Rivers sent a message to both he and to future opposition forwards that he would not be messed with. But despite these setbacks, supporters of his back in Pt Augusta are sure he will bounce back in 2006 to reaffirm himself as one of the AFL
's premier defenders.
Rivers bounced back well from an indifferent 2005, by once again becoming the premier defender of the Melbourne Football Club, the highlight of the year certainly notching up his 50th career game against Port Adelaide at the MCG in Round 13.
Rivers is considered a master of the one percenter
. He has also been able to sneak forward on many occasions in the 2006 season, including the Queens Birthday Match when he was able to kick his first and second goals in AFL football.
Rivers has had an unlucky start to the 2007 Season
, suffering from injuries. Falling into line with Melbourne's other injury problems in 2007, Rivers has had little time on the field, and was considered at one stage to be suffering from a season-threatening groin injury.
2008 saw Rivers succumb to injury once again, this time with a torn abdominal against the Magpies in the annual Queens Birthday match. Rivers is still one of the competitions best young backman but it is unknown if he will ever be able to overcome his injury concerns and fulfil his potential.
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
As a child he supported the Sydney Swans and cites Tony Lockett and Paul Kelly as his childhood heroes. He attended Caritas College until Year 10 and Sacred Heart College Senior, Adelaide afterwards.
He played junior football for the South Augusta Bulldogs Football club. He won a premiership with the club in 2000 at the age of 15, taking on much stronger opponents in the Spencer Gulf League. The North Adelaide Football Club spotted his raw talent and soon he was playing seniors under coach Darel Hart
Darel Hart
Darel Hart is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the South Australian National Football League and for Adelaide in the Australian Football League ....
, who described him as a delight to coach.
He was rising quickly as a potential top ten draft pick, and was selected to play for South Australia's Under 18 team in the National competition. Unfortunately, he injured his wrist in the lead up to this match. But scouts from the Melbourne Demons liked what they saw in the kid, and selected him as the 27th pick overall in the National Draft of 2002
2002 AFL Draft
The 2002 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and the elevation of rookies. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 2002...
.
He only managed three games in his debut season, but won praise from many for his job on Port Adelaide superstar Warren Tredrea
Warren Tredrea
Warren Gary Tredrea is retired Australian rules footballer with the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League . A forward, tall and weighing , Tredrea is the son of former Collingwood and Port Adelaide player Gary Tredrea.Tredrea was zone selected for the inaugural Port...
in his second match.
After a solid preseason, Rivers cemented his spot in the team and was quickly noticed by many in the football community. This resulted in his Round 3 nomination for National Bank Rising Star
AFL Rising Star award
The NAB AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a standout young player in the Australian Football League. Since 2007 the winner has been presented with the Ron Evans Medal and was first awarded in 1993...
in 2004. He continued his good form all throughout the season right till the Demons' loss to Geelong in the Elimination Final. To prove how much his star was rising, his father Peter 'Boof' Rivers was given his own spot in the paper to comment on how Jared was faring, and he wasn't glowing in his report all the time.
In the week leading up to the Final, he was awarded the 2004 Rising Star award. The choice was unanimous as he received 5 marks from all nine judges to collect the maximum of 45 points. The next best was Melbourne teammate Aaron Davey, who River's admitted was a shoo-in for the award until injuring his hamstring late in season 2004.
His season in 2005 may not have been so spectacular, with poor form and injury culminating in him being dropped to the Sandringham
Sandringham
Sandringham can refer to:Places*Sandringham, Johannesburg, a suburb of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa*Sandringham, Norfolk, a village in Norfolk, England*Sandringham House in the aforementioned village, owned by the British Royal Family...
team towards the end of the season. He was also suspended for two matches after striking Hawthorn's Ben Dixon, who was helpless as Rivers sent a message to both he and to future opposition forwards that he would not be messed with. But despite these setbacks, supporters of his back in Pt Augusta are sure he will bounce back in 2006 to reaffirm himself as one of the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
's premier defenders.
Rivers bounced back well from an indifferent 2005, by once again becoming the premier defender of the Melbourne Football Club, the highlight of the year certainly notching up his 50th career game against Port Adelaide at the MCG in Round 13.
Rivers is considered a master of the one percenter
One percenter (Australian football)
A one percenter is a statistic kept in Australian football, and relates to a variety of actions which benefit the team, but are infrequent or defensive.-History:...
. He has also been able to sneak forward on many occasions in the 2006 season, including the Queens Birthday Match when he was able to kick his first and second goals in AFL football.
Rivers has had an unlucky start to the 2007 Season
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
, suffering from injuries. Falling into line with Melbourne's other injury problems in 2007, Rivers has had little time on the field, and was considered at one stage to be suffering from a season-threatening groin injury.
2008 saw Rivers succumb to injury once again, this time with a torn abdominal against the Magpies in the annual Queens Birthday match. Rivers is still one of the competitions best young backman but it is unknown if he will ever be able to overcome his injury concerns and fulfil his potential.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct as of Round 22, 2010 (September 2010)
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Goals | Behinds | Kicks | Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Disposals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 2004 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St... |
Melbourne | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2004 2004 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St... |
Melbourne | 27 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 130 | 109 | 129 | 259 |
| 2005 2005 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:... |
Melbourne | 27 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 79 | 66 | 164 |
| 2006 2006 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final... |
Melbourne | 27 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 166 | 118 | 129 | 295 |
| 2007 2007 AFL season The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... |
Melbourne | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 39 |
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
Melbourne | 27 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 23 | 38 | 66 |
| 2009 2009 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:... |
Melbourne | 27 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 86 | 108 | 221 |
| 2010 2010 AFL season -Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22... |
Melbourne | 27 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 142 | 106 | 94 | 236 |
| Totals | 108 | 4 | 6 | 698 | 539 | 587 | 1285 | ||