Matthew Primus
Encyclopedia
Matthew Richard Primus is the current coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club
and a former Australian rules football
er, captain and All Australian ruckman.
in what was to be their final season in the AFL
. At the end of the season, He had kicked 5 goals and played 20 games and was one of their key players. He signed with the Port Adelaide Football Club
as an uncontracted zone player during their AFL
establishment in 1996
.
and 2nd in Port Adelaide's 1997 Best and Fairest
, Primus had established himself as one of the game's top ruckmen
, but his close losses in the Best and Fairest counts would be a pointer to the bad luck he would face later in his career. As his star rose as a player, Primus was also getting noticed off the field, being voted Cleo
Magazine's "Most Eligible Bachelor" in 1998. Primus was promoted to captain of the club in 2001.
and knee injuries, and only played 9 games. The worst was yet to come, however, and in 2004 it would be the ultimate heartbreak for Primus. In his return game in Round 3, he suffered an ACL
rupture after his left knee bent the wrong way, requiring a knee reconstruction and putting him out of the game for the rest of the 2004 season. Warren Tredrea
took over the captaincy, and after plenty of near-misses in the finals, Port Adelaide would go on to win the premiership that year, with Primus, missing out.
.
from December 2005 to July 2010.
Just over midway through the 2010
season, with the Power's record getting worst week by week, Williams stepped down as coach after Round 15, and Primus was appointed the caretaker coach for the remainder of the 2010 season. As caretaker coach, Primus won his first game in the showdown against the in-form Adelaide Crows
and followed it up a week later with a win over the also in-form Hawthorn Hawks. He finished the 2010 season with 5 wins out of 7 games as the caretaker coach and earnt numerous praises from players, staff and supporters for the job in 2011. The club administration had started the search for a new coach and it was believed that the Power would appoint someone who had never been associated with the club before. Nevertheless, Primus was appointed as the senior coach of the club for 3 years.
Primus' first full-season as Port Adelaide coach, only won three games for the 2011 season. Port Adelaide we're last coming into the final round against , which the Power won by 8 points, avoiding the wooden spoon.
Individual:
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...
and a former 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...
er, captain and All Australian ruckman.
Early career (1996)
Primus began his career with the Fitzroy Football ClubFitzroy 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 what was to be their final season in 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...
. At the end of the season, He had kicked 5 goals and played 20 games and was one of their key players. He signed with the Port Adelaide Football Club
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...
as an uncontracted zone player during their 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...
establishment in 1996
1996 AFL Draft
The 1996 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1996 Australian Football League season.The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.Clubs receive picks based...
.
Career high (1997–2002)
After finishing 2nd in Fitzroy's 1996 Best and FairestBest 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...
and 2nd in Port Adelaide's 1997 Best and Fairest
John Cahill Medal
The John Cahill Medal, named after Port Adelaide Power's inaugural AFL coach John Cahill, is awarded to the Best and Fairest player every season for the Port Adelaide Football Club.-Recipients:-Multiple Recipients:...
, Primus had established himself as one of the game's top ruckmen
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...
, but his close losses in the Best and Fairest counts would be a pointer to the bad luck he would face later in his career. As his star rose as a player, Primus was also getting noticed off the field, being voted Cleo
Cleo
Cleo is a given name that is short for Cleopatra or Cleophalus and an alternate spelling of Clio. It is a Greek prefix often translated to mean 'pride', 'fame' or 'glory'.Cleo may refer to:-People:...
Magazine's "Most Eligible Bachelor" in 1998. Primus was promoted to captain of the club in 2001.
Injuries (2003–2004)
In 2003 he was hampered by hamstringHamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
and knee injuries, and only played 9 games. The worst was yet to come, however, and in 2004 it would be the ultimate heartbreak for Primus. In his return game in Round 3, he suffered an ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
rupture after his left knee bent the wrong way, requiring a knee reconstruction and putting him out of the game for the rest of the 2004 season. 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...
took over the captaincy, and after plenty of near-misses in the finals, Port Adelaide would go on to win the premiership that year, with Primus, missing out.
Final season (2005)
In 2005, Primus made another return to the AFL. His form was not indicative of the Primus of old, however, and it seemed Port were playing Primus out of respect that he was the captain. Not only that, but Port Adelaide were not the same strong side they were just a year earlier. While they eventually had a few results go their way and managed to scrape into the finals, Primus injured his knee again in the final round of the home-and-away season. He was expected to miss the finals series at first, but later scans revealed that he would require a third knee reconstruction. The likelihood, would be that he would not be able to play until 2007, at the age of 30 he announced his retirement from AFLAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Port Adelaide (2005–present)
Primus was the assistant coach to Mark WilliamsMark M. Williams
Mark "Choco" Williams is a former Australian rules footballer who coached the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1999 to 2010...
from December 2005 to July 2010.
Just over midway through the 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...
season, with the Power's record getting worst week by week, Williams stepped down as coach after Round 15, and Primus was appointed the caretaker coach for the remainder of the 2010 season. As caretaker coach, Primus won his first game in the showdown against the in-form Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
and followed it up a week later with a win over the also in-form Hawthorn Hawks. He finished the 2010 season with 5 wins out of 7 games as the caretaker coach and earnt numerous praises from players, staff and supporters for the job in 2011. The club administration had started the search for a new coach and it was believed that the Power would appoint someone who had never been associated with the club before. Nevertheless, Primus was appointed as the senior coach of the club for 3 years.
Primus' first full-season as Port Adelaide coach, only won three games for the 2011 season. Port Adelaide we're last coming into the final round against , which the Power won by 8 points, avoiding the wooden spoon.
Personal life
Primus married Melissa Tucker in January 2007. They have two daughters together, Skye Isabella (born April 2006) and Holly Jessica (born July 2007). They had their third child in September 2008.Honours and achievements
Team:- Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe 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...
Pre Season Premiership 2001, 2002
Individual:
- All Australian 2001, 2002
- Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe 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...
Second Best & FairestJohn Cahill MedalThe John Cahill Medal, named after Port Adelaide Power's inaugural AFL coach John Cahill, is awarded to the Best and Fairest player every season for the Port Adelaide Football Club.-Recipients:-Multiple Recipients:...
1997 - FitzroyFitzroy Football ClubThe 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...
Second Best and FairestBest and FairestBest 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...
1996 - Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe 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...
Best & FairestJohn Cahill MedalThe John Cahill Medal, named after Port Adelaide Power's inaugural AFL coach John Cahill, is awarded to the Best and Fairest player every season for the Port Adelaide Football Club.-Recipients:-Multiple Recipients:...
2002 - Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe 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...
Best Team Man 2000, 2001 - Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe 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...
Captain 2001–2005 - Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe 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...
Coach 2010–present - International Rules Series 2002