Jake Spencer (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jake Spencer is a professional Australian rules football
er currently playing with the with the Melbourne Demons in the Australian Football League
. Spencer, a ruckman
, is the first person from Townsville
to be drafted and play in the AFL
club,
in the AFL Queensland State League gained the attention of several AFL talent scouts. Spencer's uncle is Tony Kelly, chairman of the Brisbane Lions
football club, one of the teams that scouted Spencer but did not select him.
with affiliate club Sandringham where he played seven games at reserves level and 10 in the seniors. He made his NAB Cup debut on 21 February 2009 to encouraging reviews. He played his first AFL game in Round 1 2009 and managed six games for the season. At the conclusion of the 2010 season, Spencer was promoted from the rookie list to the senior list with the 96th selection in the 2010 AFL Draft
. After two senior games in 2010, an injury in Round 14 prematurely ended his season. In May 2011 Spencer suffered a season-ending knee injury, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for VFL affiliate the Casey Scorpions
.
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 currently playing with the with the Melbourne Demons 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...
. Spencer, 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...
, is the first person from Townsville
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
to be drafted and play 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...
club,
Early life
Spencer moved to Townsville at age 18 months of age where he played basketball, becoming a under 18 player. In 2003 he began to play Australian rules football and in 2007 he moved to Brisbane because:"I couldn't really get noticed in Townsville so I moved to Brisbane to get a better standard of football. If I do become the first (Townsville product) to play AFL I would be very proud of it."He completed his schooling at Brisbane Boys College and his performances with Redland Bombers
Redland Australian Football Club
Redland Australian Football Club is a Redland City-based Australian rules football club competing in the AFL Queensland State League competition.-History:...
in the AFL Queensland State League gained the attention of several AFL talent scouts. Spencer's uncle is Tony Kelly, chairman of the 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...
football club, one of the teams that scouted Spencer but did not select him.
AFL career
Melbourne Football Club used its 35th selection in the 2008 Rookie Draft to recruit Spencer in 2008. His first season was spent playing in the Victorian Football LeagueVictorian 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...
with affiliate club Sandringham where he played seven games at reserves level and 10 in the seniors. He made his NAB Cup debut on 21 February 2009 to encouraging reviews. He played his first AFL game in Round 1 2009 and managed six games for the season. At the conclusion of the 2010 season, Spencer was promoted from the rookie list to the senior list with the 96th selection in the 2010 AFL Draft
2010 AFL Draft
The 2010 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2010/11 Australian Football League off-season. These are the Trade Week; held between , the National Draft; held on the , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .This is the first national draft to feature the...
. After two senior games in 2010, an injury in Round 14 prematurely ended his season. In May 2011 Spencer suffered a season-ending knee injury, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for VFL affiliate the Casey Scorpions
Casey Scorpions
The Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships...
.