Luke Ottens
Encyclopedia
Luke Ottens is a former Australian rules football
er who played with the Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He is the elder brother of All-Australian and premiership player, Brad Ottens
, and the son of Dean Ottens.
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL), playing 116 games, winning two premierships and representing South Australia seven times, Born on 22 May 1976, he grew up in a footballing family. His brother, Brad, had a successful AFL career, winning three premierships with Geelong. Brad claims his earliest memory is "playing in the backyard with [Luke]".
Ottens began his career with Glenelg, playing in the SANFL. He was drafted in the inaugural Rookie Draft in 1997 by Port Adelaide
, but he failed to play a game for Port, instead continuing to play for Glenelg.
with the 50th selection in the 1997 AFL Draft
, the same draft in which his brother, Brad
, was drafted by Richmond
with the second selection. He injured his groin the December after he was drafted, requiring surgery. Ottens made his debut for Melbourne's reserves in April 1998. Ottens was hampered by groin problems for the remainder of 1998 and did not manage to break into the senior team, playing all his matches in the reserves.
Ottens made his AFL debut in the first round of the 1999 season, playing against his brother, Brad, who was playing in his 13th match. Although a key-position defender, Ottens also played as Melbourne's backup ruckman, occasionally rucking directly against his brother during the match. He was, however, "dominated" by his younger, but substantially taller, brother in these encounters. In his third game, Ottens, along with fellow youngster Troy Longmuir
, were praised for their "enthusiasm" in a game the Demons narrowly lost. Ottens was dropped from the team for Melbourne's round 5 match and he never made his way back into the Melbourne senior team in a career that was crippled by injury, causing the round 4 game to be his last AFL match.
In May 1999, Ottens the medial ligament in his knee while playing in the reserves, sidelining him for six weeks. In round 13 of the 1999 season, Ottens injured his left knee, requiring a knee reconstruction, which ruled him out for the remainder of the 1999 season and half of the 2000 season. After successfully returning from injury in round 15 of 2000, Ottens then injured his right knee only four games later, again requiring a knee reconstruction. Due to his horrendous run with injuries, Ottens was delisted by the Demons at the end of the 2000 season.
After being delisted, Ottens went back to his original team, Glenelg, and played for the Tigers from 2001 to 2002.
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 Melbourne Football Club
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 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). He is the elder brother of All-Australian and premiership player, Brad Ottens
Brad Ottens
Brad "Otto" Ottens is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club and Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Richmond: 1998–2004:...
, and the son of Dean Ottens.
Early life
The son of Dean Ottens, who was a talented ruckman for SturtSturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL), playing 116 games, winning two premierships and representing South Australia seven times, Born on 22 May 1976, he grew up in a footballing family. His brother, Brad, had a successful AFL career, winning three premierships with Geelong. Brad claims his earliest memory is "playing in the backyard with [Luke]".
Ottens began his career with Glenelg, playing in the SANFL. He was drafted in the inaugural Rookie Draft in 1997 by 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...
, but he failed to play a game for Port, instead continuing to play for Glenelg.
AFL career
Ottens was drafted to the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne 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....
with the 50th selection in the 1997 AFL Draft
1997 AFL Draft
The 1997 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1997 Australian Football League season. A pre-season draft was also held prior to the 1998 season....
, the same draft in which his brother, Brad
Brad Ottens
Brad "Otto" Ottens is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club and Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Richmond: 1998–2004:...
, was drafted by Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
with the second selection. He injured his groin the December after he was drafted, requiring surgery. Ottens made his debut for Melbourne's reserves in April 1998. Ottens was hampered by groin problems for the remainder of 1998 and did not manage to break into the senior team, playing all his matches in the reserves.
Ottens made his AFL debut in the first round of the 1999 season, playing against his brother, Brad, who was playing in his 13th match. Although a key-position defender, Ottens also played as Melbourne's backup ruckman, occasionally rucking directly against his brother during the match. He was, however, "dominated" by his younger, but substantially taller, brother in these encounters. In his third game, Ottens, along with fellow youngster Troy Longmuir
Troy Longmuir
Troy John Longmuir is an Australian rules footballer formerly in the Australian Football League . He is the older brother of former Fremantle player Justin Longmuir....
, were praised for their "enthusiasm" in a game the Demons narrowly lost. Ottens was dropped from the team for Melbourne's round 5 match and he never made his way back into the Melbourne senior team in a career that was crippled by injury, causing the round 4 game to be his last AFL match.
In May 1999, Ottens the medial ligament in his knee while playing in the reserves, sidelining him for six weeks. In round 13 of the 1999 season, Ottens injured his left knee, requiring a knee reconstruction, which ruled him out for the remainder of the 1999 season and half of the 2000 season. After successfully returning from injury in round 15 of 2000, Ottens then injured his right knee only four games later, again requiring a knee reconstruction. Due to his horrendous run with injuries, Ottens was delisted by the Demons at the end of the 2000 season.
After being delisted, Ottens went back to his original team, Glenelg, and played for the Tigers from 2001 to 2002.