Paul Puopolo
Encyclopedia
Paul Puopolo is an Australian rules football
er with the Hawthorn Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
in 2007 and started out as a small forward/midfielder. Puopolo, who hails from the Hope Valley, South Australia
quickly built a reputation as the South Australian National Football League
's best lockdown small defender. He was converted from into a defender by former Norwood coach Trevor Hill in 2008. Despite his lack of height, he has always had the strength and speed to counter his rivals. In 2008 he was a SANFL Coca Cola Star Search Award Nominee. By the time he got drafted by Hawthorn at the end of 2010 he had played 68 senior games and kicked 13 goals for the Redlegs
.
in Round 7 of the 2011 AFL season
against Port Adelaide
. He is the AFL's ninth shortest player, standing at 173 cm. In his debut game, Puopolo had a reasonable performance, having nine kicks, six handballs and laying two tackles. He showed signs of being a tough-no-nonsense player. He has since flourished in what has become a permanent role in the Hawks' back pocket position.
After making his debut in Round 7, Puopolo went on to play Hawthorn's remaining 19 games of the 2011 season, including three finals. He finished his debut season with 20 games and 8 goals, gaining much experience in a brilliant first season. He was awarded Hawthorn's Best First Year Player Award.
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 with the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
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).
Norwood
Puopolo made his debut for NorwoodNorwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
in 2007 and started out as a small forward/midfielder. Puopolo, who hails from the Hope Valley, South Australia
Hope Valley, South Australia
-History:Hope Valley was more the result of random settlement than of actual town planning. Jacob Pitman first purchased an section in 1839. In the early 1840s he sold a few allotments. One such allotment was purchased by William Holden in 1841, on which he set up a butcher and general store...
quickly built a reputation as 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....
's best lockdown small defender. He was converted from into a defender by former Norwood coach Trevor Hill in 2008. Despite his lack of height, he has always had the strength and speed to counter his rivals. In 2008 he was a SANFL Coca Cola Star Search Award Nominee. By the time he got drafted by Hawthorn at the end of 2010 he had played 68 senior games and kicked 13 goals for the Redlegs
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
.
Hawthorn
Puopolo made his debut for the HawksHawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in Round 7 of the 2011 AFL season
2011 AFL season
The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams...
against 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...
. He is the AFL's ninth shortest player, standing at 173 cm. In his debut game, Puopolo had a reasonable performance, having nine kicks, six handballs and laying two tackles. He showed signs of being a tough-no-nonsense player. He has since flourished in what has become a permanent role in the Hawks' back pocket position.
After making his debut in Round 7, Puopolo went on to play Hawthorn's remaining 19 games of the 2011 season, including three finals. He finished his debut season with 20 games and 8 goals, gaining much experience in a brilliant first season. He was awarded Hawthorn's Best First Year Player Award.
External links
- Paul Puopolo's draft profile on the Official AFL Website of the Hawthorn Football Club