Cameron Mooney
Encyclopedia
Cameron Mooney was an Australian rules football
er who played with the North Melbourne
and Geelong
Football Clubs in the Australian Football League
(AFL). A forward, 1.95 metres (6 ft) tall and weighing 99 kilograms (218 lb), Mooney is renowned for his passion, as well as his poor tribunal history where he holds the record for the most suspensions in a single season by a VFL/AFL player.
Mooney was selected in the 2007 All-Australian Team
, and was part of Geelong's AFL premiership-winning team in the same year. He also represented the Dream Team
state team in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
in 2008, as well as being the leading goalkicker for Geelong in 2007.
, attending Mount Austin
High School in his teens. He began playing football with Turvey Park Football Club, later representing the NSW/ACT Rams
in the TAC Cup
before being taken by the Kangaroos
with the 56th pick in the 1996 AFL Draft
.
. That year, he was a member of the Kangaroos premiership team
which defeated Carlton
. However, he did not receive a single touch in this game and spent a large portion of the game on the bench.
head to the Kangaroos, allowing Mooney to end up at Geelong. He was traded along with the 53rd and 67th selection in 1999 AFL Draft
. This season also saw a Kangaroos assistant coach, Mark Thompson, take up the head coaching job at Geelong.
, subsequently catapulting Geelong to premiership contention. In 2005
, Mooney's year was interrupted by injury. However, he destroyed Melbourne
in the elimination final. The defining snapshot of Mooney's career was after the siren in the semi final against the Sydney Swans
where Geelong lost by 3 points after Nick Davis
goaled for Sydney with 2 seconds remaining giving the Swans their first and only lead of the entire game. Mooney was gutted by the result and was openly distressed and weeping. The Swans went on to win the 2005 Premiership
.
, after the heartache of 2005, experienced the relative joy of a pre-season premiership
. However, his premiership season was not as fruitful. He was suspended, as well as his 100th game resulting in a loss. Geelong lost this game despite leading the West Coast Eagles
by 54 points in the third quarter. Mooney was suspended on four separate occasions in 2006, leading to the club fining him week's wages. This lack of discipline was seen as detrimental to the team despite Mooney's good form. At the end of 2006 season Mooney also requested to be traded to another club, though he was convinced to stay at Geelong another year.
kicking 5 goals in the premiership victory
over Port Adelaide
.
Mooney started the match well taking a few early marks and end the first quarter with a great goal from the boundary line. All this early good work fell to pieces at half time, when Mooney who seconds before the siren marked the ball about 5 metres out on a slight angle. He too comfortably walked in to kick the goal and sprayed the ball to the left registering a behind, had he kicked a goal Geelong would have gone into half time with a 2 point lead instead of 3 points behind which they ultimately did.
The second half started just as it ended for Mooney another missed opportunity. This time he was 30 metres out directly in front and missed another vital goal. This miss along with a couple of other missed opportunities from team mates really hurt the team and ultimately cost them the game and chance to be called the greatest team ever.
Mooney finished the day with 2 goals 3 behinds from a total of 14 disposals, it was a disappointing day for himself and Geelong.
After a series of injuries that kept him out of the team and the fact that younger players had stepped up to the mark Mooney announced his retirement at the end of the 2011 season.
Team:
Individual:
Milestones:
Key:
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 with the North Melbourne
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...
and Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
Football Clubs 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 forward, 1.95 metres (6 ft) tall and weighing 99 kilograms (218 lb), Mooney is renowned for his passion, as well as his poor tribunal history where he holds the record for the most suspensions in a single season by a VFL/AFL player.
Mooney was selected in the 2007 All-Australian Team
2007 All-Australian Team
The 2007 Australian rules football All-Australian selection committee will provide the 40 leading players of the year in their playing positions at the conclusion of the home and away season before announcing the final 22 at a later date during the All Australian Presentation Dinner...
, and was part of Geelong's AFL premiership-winning team in the same year. He also represented the Dream Team
Dream Team Australian rules football team
The Dream Team was an AFL representative team created to take part in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match against a Victorian representative team....
state team in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
The AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match was a one-off all-star game between two representative sides organised by the Australian Football League to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australian rules football....
in 2008, as well as being the leading goalkicker for Geelong in 2007.
Early life
Mooney grew up in suburban Wagga Wagga with his brother Jason MooneyJason Mooney
Jason Mooney is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Sydney and Geelong Football Clubs in the Australian Football League .Mooney made his debut for Sydney in 1992 and played mostly as a defender and in the ruck...
, attending Mount Austin
Mount Austin, New South Wales
Mount Austin is an inner southern suburb of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. Its boundaries are Fernleigh Road and Leavenworth Drive to the north and south respectively, whilst Glenfield Road and Willans Hill form the western and eastern extents....
High School in his teens. He began playing football with Turvey Park Football Club, later representing the NSW/ACT Rams
NSW/ACT Rams
The NSW/ACT Rams were an under 18 Australian rules football representative club in the TAC Cup.The team, under the guidance of AFL NSW/ACT represented New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and had the moniker of the Ram, partly derived as an acronym from Riverina, ACT, Murrumbidgee...
in 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....
before being taken by the Kangaroos
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...
with the 56th pick in the 1996 AFL Draft
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...
.
1999: Kangaroos
Mooney made his AFL debut with the Kangaroos during round 7 of his first AFL season against the Adelaide CrowsAdelaide 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 ....
. That year, he was a member of the Kangaroos premiership team
1999 AFL Grand Final
The 1999 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between and , held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September 1999. It was the 103rd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the...
which defeated Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. However, he did not receive a single touch in this game and spent a large portion of the game on the bench.
2000: Trade to Geelong
At the end of 1999, Mooney was part of the trade which saw former Geelong captain, Leigh ColbertLeigh Colbert
Leigh Colbert is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club and the Kangaroos in the Australian Football League .-1993–1999: Geelong:...
head to the Kangaroos, allowing Mooney to end up at Geelong. He was traded along with the 53rd and 67th selection in 1999 AFL Draft
1999 AFL Draft
The 1999 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. 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 1999 there...
. This season also saw a Kangaroos assistant coach, Mark Thompson, take up the head coaching job at Geelong.
2004 – 2005
Following four unproductive years off the field, Mooney blossomed in 20042004 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...
, subsequently catapulting Geelong to premiership contention. In 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:...
, Mooney's year was interrupted by injury. However, he destroyed Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the elimination final. The defining snapshot of Mooney's career was after the siren in the semi final against the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
where Geelong lost by 3 points after Nick Davis
Nick Davis (footballer)
Nick Davis is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club and the Sydney Swans in the AFL.- Collingwood:...
goaled for Sydney with 2 seconds remaining giving the Swans their first and only lead of the entire game. Mooney was gutted by the result and was openly distressed and weeping. The Swans went on to win the 2005 Premiership
2005 AFL Grand Final
The 2005 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 2005. It was the 109th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, staged to...
.
2006: Suspensions
Mooney in 20062006 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...
, after the heartache of 2005, experienced the relative joy of a pre-season premiership
2006 NAB Cup
The 2006 NAB Cup was held across Australia between 24 February and 18 March. The NAB Cup was won by Geelong who defeated Adelaide in the Grand Final of the knock-out pre-season competition.- Prize money :...
. However, his premiership season was not as fruitful. He was suspended, as well as his 100th game resulting in a loss. Geelong lost this game despite leading the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
by 54 points in the third quarter. Mooney was suspended on four separate occasions in 2006, leading to the club fining him week's wages. This lack of discipline was seen as detrimental to the team despite Mooney's good form. At the end of 2006 season Mooney also requested to be traded to another club, though he was convinced to stay at Geelong another year.
2007: Premiership glory
Playing permanently in the forward line for the first time, Mooney had an instrumental role as Geelong finished on top of the ladder at the end of the home and away season. Mooney topped the club goalkicking with 55 goals and was awarded with All-Australian selection for the first time. He is seen by some as the heart of the club due to his heart-on-sleeve attitude. Mooney capped off a remarkable season in 20072007 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...
kicking 5 goals in the premiership victory
2007 AFL Grand Final
The 2007 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 2007. It was the 111th annual Grand Final of the VFL/AFL, staged to determine the...
over Port Adelaide
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...
.
2008: Premiership heartbreak
Cameron Mooney’s 08 season was not as good as his 07, he kicked 15 fewer goals (compared to 07) even though Geelong won 3 more games and kicked an extra 130 points. As a result Mooney was not selected for the All Australian team which 7 of his team mates achieved. Mooney’s season turned from memorable to forgettable during 1 half of football – the grand final.Mooney started the match well taking a few early marks and end the first quarter with a great goal from the boundary line. All this early good work fell to pieces at half time, when Mooney who seconds before the siren marked the ball about 5 metres out on a slight angle. He too comfortably walked in to kick the goal and sprayed the ball to the left registering a behind, had he kicked a goal Geelong would have gone into half time with a 2 point lead instead of 3 points behind which they ultimately did.
The second half started just as it ended for Mooney another missed opportunity. This time he was 30 metres out directly in front and missed another vital goal. This miss along with a couple of other missed opportunities from team mates really hurt the team and ultimately cost them the game and chance to be called the greatest team ever.
Mooney finished the day with 2 goals 3 behinds from a total of 14 disposals, it was a disappointing day for himself and Geelong.
After a series of injuries that kept him out of the team and the fact that younger players had stepped up to the mark Mooney announced his retirement at the end of the 2011 season.
Honours and achievements
| Brownlow Medal Brownlow Medal The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game... votes |
|
| Season | Votes |
|---|---|
| 1999 | — |
| 2000 | — |
| 2001 2001 Brownlow Medal The 2001 Brownlow Medal was awarded to Jason Akermanis from the Brisbane Lions for being the best and fairest player during the 2001 Australian Football League home and away season.-Leading votegetters:... |
— |
| 2002 2002 Brownlow Medal The 2002 Brownlow Medal was awarded to Simon Black from the Brisbane Lions during the 2002 Australian Football League home and away season.-Leading votegetters:... |
1 |
| 2003 2003 Brownlow Medal The 2003 Brownlow Medal was awarded to Nathan Buckley from the Collingwood Magpies, Adam Goodes from the Sydney Swans and Mark Ricciuto from the Adelaide Crows for all three being the best and fairest players during the 2003 Australian Football League home and away season.-Leading votegetters: ... |
— |
| 2004 2004 Brownlow Medal The 2004 Brownlow Medal was awarded to Chris Judd from the West Coast Eagles for being the best and fairest player during the 2004 Australian Football League home and away season.-Leading votegetters:... |
3 |
| 2005 2005 Brownlow Medal The Brownlow Medal was awarded in 2005 to Ben Cousins from the West Coast Eagles for being the best and fairest player during the 2005 Australian Football League home and away season. It is the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football and was held at the Crown Palladium in... |
1 |
| 2006 2006 Brownlow Medal The 2006 Brownlow Medal was awarded to Adam Goodes from the Sydney Swans for being the best and fairest player during the 2006 Australian Football League home and away season. It is the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football and was held at the Crown Palladium in... |
4 |
| 2007 2007 Brownlow Medal Round 2 Round 3 Round 4Round 5-Rounds 6–10:Round 6Round 7Round 8Round 9 Round 10-Rounds 11–15:Round 11Round 12 Round 13Round 14 Round 15-Rounds 16–20:... |
1 |
| 2008 2008 Brownlow Medal The 2008 Brownlow Medal was awarded to Adam Cooney of the Western Bulldogs, who was adjudged to have been the best and fairest player during the 2008 Australian Football League home and away season. It is the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football and was held at the Crown... |
3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Key: | |
| Red / Italics = Ineligible | |
Team:
- AFL Premiership (North Melbourne): 1999
- AFL Premiership (Geelong): 2007, 2009
- AFL McClelland Trophy (Geelong): 2007, 2008
- AFL NAB Cup (Geelong): 2006
Individual:
- AFL:
- All-Australian: 2007
- Dream TeamDream Team Australian rules football teamThe Dream Team was an AFL representative team created to take part in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match against a Victorian representative team....
representative honours in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute MatchAFL Hall of Fame Tribute MatchThe AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match was a one-off all-star game between two representative sides organised by the Australian Football League to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australian rules football....
: 2008
- Geelong Football Club:
- Geelong F.C. "Coach's award": 2004
- Geelong F.C. "Community champion" award: 2006
- Geelong F.C. "Leading goalkicker" award: 2007
Milestones:
- North Melbourne:
- AFL/North Melbourne debut: Round 1, 1997 (vs. ) at the Melbourne Cricket GroundMelbourne Cricket GroundThe Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
(North Melbourne won by 56 points) - Finals debut: Qualifying final, 1999 (vs. ) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (North Melbourne won by 44 points)
- AFL/North Melbourne debut: Round 1, 1997 (vs. ) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Geelong:
- Geelong debut: Round 17, 2000 (vs. ) at the Telstra Dome (Geelong lost by 24 points)
- 50th AFL game: Round 4, 2003 (vs. ) at Skilled Stadium (Geelong won by 46 points)
- 50th Geelong game: Round 20, 2003 (vs. ) at Skilled Stadium (Geelong drew with Melbourne)
- 100th AFL game: Round 22, 2005 (vs. ) at Skilled Stadium (Geelong won by 1 point)
- 100th Geelong game: Round 10, 2006 (vs. ) at Skilled Stadium (Geelong lost by 3 points after leading by 54 points in the 3rd qtr.)
- 150th AFL game: Round 6, 2008 (vs. ) at Subiaco OvalSubiaco OvalSubiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
(Geelong won by 1 point) - 150th Geelong game: Round 18, 2008 (vs. ) at Telstra Dome (Geelong won by 63 points)
Tribunal history
| Season | Round | Charge category (level) | Victim | Result | Verdict | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | Striking | Michael Gardiner Michael Gardiner Michael S. Gardiner is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He played for the West Coast Eagles from 1997–2006 and the St Kilda Football Club from 2007–2011.- Early life :... |
Guilty (lost at tribunal) | 2 matches suspension | |
| 17 | Melee involvement | — | Not guilty (won at tribunal) | — | ||
| 19 | Striking | Jess Sinclair Jess Sinclair Jess Sinclair is an Australian rules footballer who formerly played in the Australian Football League, Sinclair was a dashing half back flanker who had played for first the Fremantle Dockers, and later the Kangaroos.-Fremantle career:... |
Guilty (early plea) | 3 matches suspension | ||
| 2003 | 12 | Striking | Graham Polak Graham Polak Graham Polak is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club and the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Fremantle career:... |
Guilty (lost at tribunal) | 2 matches suspension | |
| 2004 | 18 | Rough conduct | Leigh Montagna Leigh Montagna Leigh Montagna is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. Montagna was recruited as the number 37 draft pick in the 2001 AFL Draft. He is a midfielder with St Kilda Football Club.-AFL career:... |
Not guilty (won at tribunal) | — | |
| 2005 | 9 | Striking (1) | Corey Jones Corey Jones Corey Jones is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Kangaroos in the Australian Football League. Jones grew up in the small Victorian town of Wycheproof, near Bendigo.-Career:... |
Guilty (early plea) | 1 match suspension | |
| 18 | Melee involvement | — | Guilty (accepted fine) | $1,500 fine | ||
| 2006 | 6 | Contact with face | Ben Holland Ben Holland Ben Holland is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.A South Australian, Holland was drafted in 1994 to the Fitzroy Football Club, but chose to stay and develop in the SANFL with his local club Nth Adelaide for a year... |
Guilty (lost at tribunal) | 1 match suspension | |
| 15 | Striking (2) | Josh Mahoney Josh Mahoney Joshua William Paul "Josh" Mahoney , is a former professional Australian rules footballer.- VFL career :After beginning his career in the TAC Cup with the Western Jets, Mahoney moved to the Williamstown Seagulls in the VFL, playing 19 games with them in 1996... |
Guilty (early plea) | 1 match suspension | ||
| 17 | Charging | Daniel Pratt Daniel Pratt Daniel Pratt pioneered ventures that opened the door for industry in the U.S. state of Alabama. Prattville in Autauga County and Birmingham's Pratt City in Jefferson County are both named for him... |
Guilty (early plea) | 1 match suspension | ||
| 20 | Striking (3) | Amon Buchanan Amon Buchanan Amon Buchanan is an Australian rules football player from the Brisbane Lions of the AFL.- :Buchanan grew up in the Victorian town of Colac, west of Melbourne. He played football for Colac and the Geelong Falcons Under 18's team, winning a premiership with the Falcons in 2000 and subsequently... |
Guilty (early plea) | 2 matches suspension | ||
| 2008 | 4 | Tripping (1) | Leigh Montagna Leigh Montagna Leigh Montagna is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. Montagna was recruited as the number 37 draft pick in the 2001 AFL Draft. He is a midfielder with St Kilda Football Club.-AFL career:... |
Guilty (won at tribunal) | Reprimand | |
| 2009 | 8 | Striking | Scott Thompson Scott Thompson Scott Thompson is a Canadian television actor and comedian, best known for his time as a member of the comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall.-Personal life:... |
Guilty | 1 match suspension |
Key:
- PS – Pre-season competition
- EF – Elimination final
- QF – Qualifying final
- SF – Semi-final
- PF – Preliminary final
- GF – Grand final