Brad Moran (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Bradley "Brad" Moran is a former Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
.
in the West Midlands of England to English parents, his father Martyn was a former junior soccer player. Moran grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon
with dreams of becoming a soccer player.
As a youth, he represented West Midlands county
in rugby union
. He was also a representative soccer player.
Moran moved to Australia with his family as a 15-year-old, looking to pursue a career in rugby.
One of his school friends encouraged him to try Aussie Rules with the Surfers Paradise AFC juniors, where he was mentored by former Brisbane Bears
captain Roger Merrett
. He took to the game quickly and developed a passion for it. His high school, The Southport School
had a policy against Australian Football being part of its curriculum, so he had to remain playing club football and instead also played rowing
and basketball at school.
Moran quickly showed ability and talent in the ruck. He broke his wrist leading up to the Under 18 national championships, which set back his recruitment. However, after playing football with the Southport Sharks, at age 18 he was recruited to the elite level by the Kangaroos Football Club
in the 2004 AFL Draft
.
, Moran made his debut in 2006 against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium
. He played an effective game in one of the Roos' worst performances of the season. He collected 21 disposals, 10 marks and 10 hitouts, which earned a nomination for the AFL Rising Star Award
. He continued his good form into next week against Collingwood, where the Roos were comprehensively beaten in the second half.
Moran was traded to the Adelaide Football Club at the end of the 2007 Premiership season. He took up the number 2 guernsey, which was also previously worn by Carey during his brief stint at the Crows. After injuries ruined the first half of his 2008 season, he played his first game for the Crows in round 16 and impressed as a tall defender and ruckman
, thereafter becoming a fixture in the lineup. When moved into the forward line against Carlton in round 18 to cover the loss of Jason Porplyzia
, Moran booted four goals for the game to help the Crows to an eight-point victory, thus adding another string to his bow as a utility.
In 2009 Moran quickly became a regular in the Adelaide side, forming a ruck combination with Ivan Maric
. However, midway through the season he injured his knee, which would keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Moran announced his retirement on 31 August 2011 after ongoing injuries.
(the criteria at the time allowed him to as he had moved to Australia as a teenager), he was deliberately overlooked by the national team
because he did not learn the game in England. However Moran is keen to see the sport grow in his former home and is an ambassador for Aussie Rules International
, appearing in an England Dragonslayers guernsey for its junior league promotions.
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 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...
.
Early life
Born in SolihullSolihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
in the West Midlands of England to English parents, his father Martyn was a former junior soccer player. Moran grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
with dreams of becoming a soccer player.
As a youth, he represented West Midlands county
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
in rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. He was also a representative soccer player.
Moran moved to Australia with his family as a 15-year-old, looking to pursue a career in rugby.
One of his school friends encouraged him to try Aussie Rules with the Surfers Paradise AFC juniors, where he was mentored by former 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...
captain Roger Merrett
Roger Merrett
Roger Merrett is a former Australian rules footballer who played in two Victorian Football League premiership sides with the Essendon Football Club in the mid-1980s before moving to the fledging Brisbane Bears, later captaining the new club for seven seasons...
. He took to the game quickly and developed a passion for it. His high school, The Southport School
The Southport School
The Southport School , is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school for boys, located in Southport, a suburb on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia....
had a policy against Australian Football being part of its curriculum, so he had to remain playing club football and instead also played rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
and basketball at school.
Moran quickly showed ability and talent in the ruck. He broke his wrist leading up to the Under 18 national championships, which set back his recruitment. However, after playing football with the Southport Sharks, at age 18 he was recruited to the elite level by the Kangaroos Football Club
Kangaroos 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...
in the 2004 AFL Draft
2004 AFL Draft
The 2004 AFL Draft, concerning player acquisitions in the 2004/05 Australian Football League off-season, consisted of a trade period, a national draft, a pre-season draft, and the elevation of rookies...
.
AFL career
Wearing the famous number 18 guernsey, made famous by Kangaroos legend Wayne CareyWayne Carey
Wayne Carey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne and Adelaide Football Clubs in the Australian Football League ....
, Moran made his debut in 2006 against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium
Aurora Stadium
York Park is a sports ground in the Inveresk and York Park Precinct, Launceston, Australia. Holding 20,000 people—more than any other stadium in Tasmania—York Park has been known as Aurora Stadium under a six-year naming rights agreement signed with Aurora Energy in 2004...
. He played an effective game in one of the Roos' worst performances of the season. He collected 21 disposals, 10 marks and 10 hitouts, which earned a nomination for the AFL Rising Star Award
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...
. He continued his good form into next week against Collingwood, where the Roos were comprehensively beaten in the second half.
Moran was traded to the Adelaide Football Club at the end of the 2007 Premiership season. He took up the number 2 guernsey, which was also previously worn by Carey during his brief stint at the Crows. After injuries ruined the first half of his 2008 season, he played his first game for the Crows in round 16 and impressed as a tall defender and 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...
, thereafter becoming a fixture in the lineup. When moved into the forward line against Carlton in round 18 to cover the loss of Jason Porplyzia
Jason Porplyzia
Jason Porplyzia is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He wears the number 40 for the Adelaide Football Club, and is known as a dangerous forward with a strong mark for his size. He is also widely regarded as one of the most accurate kicks for goal in the competition...
, Moran booted four goals for the game to help the Crows to an eight-point victory, thus adding another string to his bow as a utility.
In 2009 Moran quickly became a regular in the Adelaide side, forming a ruck combination with Ivan Maric
Ivan Maric
Ivan Maric is an Australian rules football player of Croatian descent in the Australian Football League and was the number 20 of the Adelaide Crows Football Club. He currently plays for the Richmond Football Club.- Early career :...
. However, midway through the season he injured his knee, which would keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Moran announced his retirement on 31 August 2011 after ongoing injuries.
International Qualification
In 2008, although Moran was eligible to represent Great Britain at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup2008 Australian Football International Cup
The 2008 Australian Football International Cup was the third time the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition, has been contested....
(the criteria at the time allowed him to as he had moved to Australia as a teenager), he was deliberately overlooked by the national team
Great Britain national Australian rules football team
The Great Britain National Australian Rules Football team is known as the British Bulldogs. The team is made up of the best British born players selected from the clubs of AFL Britain affiliated competitions in England, Wales and Scotland...
because he did not learn the game in England. However Moran is keen to see the sport grow in his former home and is an ambassador for Aussie Rules International
Aussie Rules International
Aussie Rules International promotes and develops the sport of Australian rules football internationally. Committed to working with all stakeholders to assist the international growth of the sport, its focus is on:...
, appearing in an England Dragonslayers guernsey for its junior league promotions.