Matt Rendell
Encyclopedia
Matthew Rendell is a South Australian born Australian rules football
er who played in the Australian Football League and South Australian National Football League
(SANFL).
Rendell, standing at 200 cm, was a ruckman
who made his debut with the West Torrens Football Club
in the SANFL in 1977 where he played 79 games. He left South Australia in 1981 to play with the Fitzroy Football Club
in the VFL, wearing the No. 9 guernsey. In his first year he played mainly at full forward and kicked forty-five goals, but he admitted in later years he did not enjoy it. With the return of Ron Alexander
to Western Australia, however, Rendell was to make the ruck position his own, barring injuries, until 1987. Rendell did have quite a number of injuries, however, after 1983, with the result that he played only 26 of 43 games in 1984 and 1985.
Rendell won Fitzroy's 1982 and 1983 best and fairest
awards, and was appointed captain from 1985 to 1987. In one of the most amazing games in V/AFL history, Rendell, who had not kicked a goal in his previous seventeen games for Fitzroy, was used as a seventh forward to counter North Melbourne's
Gary Dempsey
's habit of marking in the last line. The result was sensational: Rendell kicked eight goals and the Lions won a top-of-the-table clash by 150 points, which at the time more than doubled the previous biggest loss by a minor premier.
Rendell played just one game with the Lions in 1988, the rest of the year spent in the reserves
, which Rendell put down to a misunderstanding with coach David Parkin
. He recovered so well in 1989, though, that he was again among the club's most valuable players in a drive to the finals that was deflated by an injury to top forward Richard Osborne
.
He retired at the end of 1991 after 164 games and 101 goals with Fitzroy. However he soon reversed that decision and moved to the Brisbane Bears
, who persuaded him to continue playing. He did so in his final year in 1992, playing 13 games and booting 7 goals for the Bears before retiring for good.
Rendell was an assistant coach and match-day tactician with the St Kilda Football Club alongside Grant Thomas
, until he was sacked at the end of 2006 with the appointment of Ross Lyon
. In 2007 he returned to South Australia, joining the Adelaide Football Club as their Recruitment Manager.
Rendell's brother Tim was a promising ruckman who also played for West Torrens and was recruited by Fitzroy but did not play a game due to chronic injury.
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 who played in the Australian Football League and 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).
Rendell, standing at 200 cm, was a ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
who made his debut with the West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
in the SANFL in 1977 where he played 79 games. He left South Australia in 1981 to play with the Fitzroy Football Club
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in the VFL, wearing the No. 9 guernsey. In his first year he played mainly at full forward and kicked forty-five goals, but he admitted in later years he did not enjoy it. With the return of Ron Alexander
Ron Alexander
Ron Alexander is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League and West Australian Football League as well as being the inaugural coach of the West Coast Eagles.-Playing career:...
to Western Australia, however, Rendell was to make the ruck position his own, barring injuries, until 1987. Rendell did have quite a number of injuries, however, after 1983, with the result that he played only 26 of 43 games in 1984 and 1985.
Rendell won Fitzroy's 1982 and 1983 best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
awards, and was appointed captain from 1985 to 1987. In one of the most amazing games in V/AFL history, Rendell, who had not kicked a goal in his previous seventeen games for Fitzroy, was used as a seventh forward to counter North Melbourne's
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
Gary Dempsey
Gary Dempsey
Gary Dempsey is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League....
's habit of marking in the last line. The result was sensational: Rendell kicked eight goals and the Lions won a top-of-the-table clash by 150 points, which at the time more than doubled the previous biggest loss by a minor premier.
Rendell played just one game with the Lions in 1988, the rest of the year spent in the reserves
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
, which Rendell put down to a misunderstanding with coach David Parkin
David Parkin
David Parkin is a former Australian rules footballer and four-time premiership coach.- Pre-football career :He attended Melbourne High School and during his time there, was the school vice-captain and captain of football....
. He recovered so well in 1989, though, that he was again among the club's most valuable players in a drive to the finals that was deflated by an injury to top forward Richard Osborne
Richard Osborne
Richard Osborne is a former Australian rules footballer who enjoyed a lengthy career in the VFL/AFL. He played a total of 283 games in 17 seasons, and played with four different clubs, as well as representing Victoria 7 times in interstate competition.Originally from Bulleen/Templestowe, he...
.
He retired at the end of 1991 after 164 games and 101 goals with Fitzroy. However he soon reversed that decision and moved to the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
, who persuaded him to continue playing. He did so in his final year in 1992, playing 13 games and booting 7 goals for the Bears before retiring for good.
Rendell was an assistant coach and match-day tactician with the St Kilda Football Club alongside Grant Thomas
Grant Thomas (footballer)
Grant Thomas is a former Australian rules football player and coach. He most recently held the position of coach of the St Kilda Football Club from 2001–2006. He attended St Bede's College in Mentone.- Playing career :...
, until he was sacked at the end of 2006 with the appointment of Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon is a former Australian rules football player for Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. He is the current senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Playing career:...
. In 2007 he returned to South Australia, joining the Adelaide Football Club as their Recruitment Manager.
Rendell's brother Tim was a promising ruckman who also played for West Torrens and was recruited by Fitzroy but did not play a game due to chronic injury.