Michael Hurley (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Hurley is an Australian rules football
er for the Essendon Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). A key position utility, 1.93m (6 ft 4 in) tall and weighing 92 kilograms (202.8 lb), Hurley predominately played in the forward and backline in his AFL career to date.
and footballer, Hurley entered top-level football early, joining the TAC Cup
competition for the Northern Knights
. His accomplishments as a junior included selection as full-back in the All-Australian TAC Cup Team of the Year
sides in 2007 and 2008. Despite concerns about his gall bladder—consequently removed in January—and a lack of pace, Hurley was selected with Essendon's first pick
, and fifth overall, in the 2008 AFL Draft
.
in round 20, but played only nine regular season matches because of a quad strain and broken wrist. In round 22, nine matches into his career, Hurley scored four goals, in a match-winning performance against Hawthorn. In the following week, former Brisbane Lions
coach Leigh Matthews said, "Very few young talls have the physical maturity to match it with their older and stronger opponents, which is why the brilliant early form of young Bomber Michael Hurley is quite amazing."
On 25 September 2009 Hurley was arrested after a drunken altercation with a taxi driver, after the driver demanded payment for the fare when Hurley asked him to stop at a fast food drivethrough. Hurley was later charged with multiple counts of assault; it is alleged that he punched the driver and kicked him in the groin.
As of season 2010, Hurley has inherited the No.18 jumper left vacant by the retired Matthew Lloyd
, effectively keeping the No.18 guernsey in Essendon's goalsquare.
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 for 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...
in the Australian 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...
(AFL). A key position utility, 1.93m (6 ft 4 in) tall and weighing 92 kilograms (202.8 lb), Hurley predominately played in the forward and backline in his AFL career to date.
Junior career
A good junior cricketerCricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
and footballer, Hurley entered top-level football early, joining the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
competition for the Northern Knights
Northern Knights
The Northern Knights are an Australian rules football club playing in the TAC Cup, an under-18 competition in Victoria, Australia. They are based in Preston, representing the northern suburban area of Melbourne....
. His accomplishments as a junior included selection as full-back in the All-Australian TAC Cup Team of the Year
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
sides in 2007 and 2008. Despite concerns about his gall bladder—consequently removed in January—and a lack of pace, Hurley was selected with Essendon's first pick
AFL Draft
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.-History:...
, and fifth overall, in the 2008 AFL Draft
2008 AFL Draft
The 2008 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2008/09 Australian Football League off-season. These were Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft...
.
AFL career: 2009–present
Hurley made his AFL debut in 2009, winning the AFL Rising Star nominationAFL 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 round 20, but played only nine regular season matches because of a quad strain and broken wrist. In round 22, nine matches into his career, Hurley scored four goals, in a match-winning performance against Hawthorn. In the following week, former Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
coach Leigh Matthews said, "Very few young talls have the physical maturity to match it with their older and stronger opponents, which is why the brilliant early form of young Bomber Michael Hurley is quite amazing."
On 25 September 2009 Hurley was arrested after a drunken altercation with a taxi driver, after the driver demanded payment for the fare when Hurley asked him to stop at a fast food drivethrough. Hurley was later charged with multiple counts of assault; it is alleged that he punched the driver and kicked him in the groin.
As of season 2010, Hurley has inherited the No.18 jumper left vacant by the retired Matthew Lloyd
Matthew Lloyd
Matthew James Lloyd is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and was the captain of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League...
, effectively keeping the No.18 guernsey in Essendon's goalsquare.