Paul Salmon
Encyclopedia
Paul Salmon is a former Australian rules football
er. Recruited from North Ringwood, the 206 cm (6' 9") Salmon was, at the time, along with Carlton's Justin Madden
, the tallest man to play AFL football. Affectionately known as "Fish", Salmon was a well known ruckman
over a very long period of time in the Australian Football League
.
, however it was during the '84 season in which he established himself as the league's leading full forward kicking 63 goals in 12 games. His effectiveness in the position was due to his athleticism and ability to win one-on-one marking contests using his height and mobility. Despite leading the goalkicking, half way through the season a serious knee injury which required a full reconstruction left him sidelined for over a year, he recovered to kick 6 goals 4 behinds in the '85 premiership side. From this point onward he would rotate between full forward and his favoured ruck position with all time great Simon Madden. He endured further minor complications with his knee injury and numerous soft tissue injuries over the next few years and was never allowed to settle in a specific role on field, despite this he played a vital role for the team becoming Vice Captain in '92 and culminating in 7 leading goalkicker awards and the '93 premiership where he kicked 5 goals. After serious injuries to his achilles and groins in '93 and '94, and with the knowledge time was running out, he decided his time as a 'Bomber' was over at 31 years of age so he requested a new home and was subsequently traded to Hawthorn, the club whom he supported as a child. He was selected in Kevin Sheedy's best team of his 27 years as coach and at number 26 in the 'Champions of Essendon' which was a list of the best of the past century who wore the red and black.
, where he played from 1996–2000, and revived his career winning the Best and Fairest in '96 and '97 as well as the Most Consistent Award in '98. He became Vice Captain in '98 and also finished in the top ten in every best and fairest in each of his five years at the club. After 5 season's and 100 games with the Hawks he retired at the age of 35 and not long after was named in Hawthorn's 'Team of the Century'.
In 1997, Salmon achieved All-Australian selection after also gaining selection for Victoria that year as first ruck.
In 1999, he won the Michael Tuck Medal
for a best on ground performance in the winning Hawk's night Grand Final
.
twice.
But that wouldn't be the last of Salmon at AFL
level. In 2002, he made a comeback, drafted by Kevin Sheedy in a fairytale move that would see him finish his career at his original club. He re-entered the league at 37 years of age, but was still one of the best tap ruckmen
in the league, and helped Essendon to the finals, as well as teaching younger ruckmen such as David Hille
the nuances of ruckwork.
At the end of his career, Salmon had amassed a total of 324 league games, 2 day premierships and 3 night premierships, 3 All Australian selections, 14 times a Victorian State of Origin representative, 7 times leading goalkicker for Essendon, 2 times Best and Fairest at Hawthorn, a Tassie medal and Michael Tuck medal were highlights. But maybe the most significant achievement of all was his standing amongst the best players for both clubs of the past century, Hawthorn 'Team of the Century' and a 'Champion of Essendon'.
and 'Time Out for Serious Fun' for the Nine Network, and has released several books. He released an autobiography called The Big Fish : Paul Salmon's Own Story in 2001, and Fish Tales, a book recalling humorous on and off field incidents, in 2002. He followed up in 2003 with another titled called More Fish Tales.
He also worked as a coach of the First XVIII Football team at Carey Baptist Grammar School
, he retired from that position in 2008 to spend more time with his family, and concentrate on business interests.
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. Recruited from North Ringwood, the 206 cm (6' 9") Salmon was, at the time, along with Carlton's Justin Madden
Justin Madden
Madden was 206 cm tall, and one of the tallest men ever to play Australian Rules football, and his potential in this area was fully utilized by Carlton, who used him as their main ruckman. Over the next fifteen seasons, Madden became a mainstay of the Carlton side, and one of the most...
, the tallest man to play AFL football. Affectionately known as "Fish", Salmon was a well known 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...
over a very long period of time 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...
.
Essendon career
He made his debut in 1983 with EssendonEssendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, however it was during the '84 season in which he established himself as the league's leading full forward kicking 63 goals in 12 games. His effectiveness in the position was due to his athleticism and ability to win one-on-one marking contests using his height and mobility. Despite leading the goalkicking, half way through the season a serious knee injury which required a full reconstruction left him sidelined for over a year, he recovered to kick 6 goals 4 behinds in the '85 premiership side. From this point onward he would rotate between full forward and his favoured ruck position with all time great Simon Madden. He endured further minor complications with his knee injury and numerous soft tissue injuries over the next few years and was never allowed to settle in a specific role on field, despite this he played a vital role for the team becoming Vice Captain in '92 and culminating in 7 leading goalkicker awards and the '93 premiership where he kicked 5 goals. After serious injuries to his achilles and groins in '93 and '94, and with the knowledge time was running out, he decided his time as a 'Bomber' was over at 31 years of age so he requested a new home and was subsequently traded to Hawthorn, the club whom he supported as a child. He was selected in Kevin Sheedy's best team of his 27 years as coach and at number 26 in the 'Champions of Essendon' which was a list of the best of the past century who wore the red and black.
Hawthorn years
At the end of 1995, Salmon moved to HawthornHawthorn 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...
, where he played from 1996–2000, and revived his career winning the Best and Fairest in '96 and '97 as well as the Most Consistent Award in '98. He became Vice Captain in '98 and also finished in the top ten in every best and fairest in each of his five years at the club. After 5 season's and 100 games with the Hawks he retired at the age of 35 and not long after was named in Hawthorn's 'Team of the Century'.
In 1997, Salmon achieved All-Australian selection after also gaining selection for Victoria that year as first ruck.
In 1999, he won the Michael Tuck Medal
Michael Tuck Medal
Since 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final. It is named after Michael Tuck, the current AFL games record holder who played 426 senior matches for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1972 and 1991....
for a best on ground performance in the winning Hawk's night Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
.
Retirement and comeback
He was named in their Team of the Century and won two Peter Crimmins Trophys. At the end of 2000, Salmon announced his retirement after playing in two day and three night premierships and being selected as Best and FairestBest and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
twice.
But that wouldn't be the last of Salmon at 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...
level. In 2002, he made a comeback, drafted by Kevin Sheedy in a fairytale move that would see him finish his career at his original club. He re-entered the league at 37 years of age, but was still one of the best tap ruckmen
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...
in the league, and helped Essendon to the finals, as well as teaching younger ruckmen such as David Hille
David Hille
David Hille is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.He debuted in 2001 with the Essendon Football Club and has been a solid ruckman for a number of years....
the nuances of ruckwork.
At the end of his career, Salmon had amassed a total of 324 league games, 2 day premierships and 3 night premierships, 3 All Australian selections, 14 times a Victorian State of Origin representative, 7 times leading goalkicker for Essendon, 2 times Best and Fairest at Hawthorn, a Tassie medal and Michael Tuck medal were highlights. But maybe the most significant achievement of all was his standing amongst the best players for both clubs of the past century, Hawthorn 'Team of the Century' and a 'Champion of Essendon'.
Career after football
Salmon has also worked in the media co hosting 'Sportsworld' for the Seven NetworkSeven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
and 'Time Out for Serious Fun' for the Nine Network, and has released several books. He released an autobiography called The Big Fish : Paul Salmon's Own Story in 2001, and Fish Tales, a book recalling humorous on and off field incidents, in 2002. He followed up in 2003 with another titled called More Fish Tales.
He also worked as a coach of the First XVIII Football team at Carey Baptist Grammar School
Carey Baptist Grammar School
Carey Baptist Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Christian, international, day school consisting of four campuses in Victoria, Australia - Kew , Donvale , the Carey Sports Complex in Bulleen and an outdoor education camp near Paynesville in eastern Gippsland called Carey...
, he retired from that position in 2008 to spend more time with his family, and concentrate on business interests.