Bradley Close

Bradley Close (born 30 July 1998) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Geelong Cats with the 14th pick in the 2019 rookie draft.

Brad Close
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-07-30) 30 July 1998
Place of birth Mount Gambier, South Australia
Draft No. 14, 2019 Rookie draft, Geelong
Debut 27 June 2020, Geelong
vs. Fremantle, at Optus Stadium
Height 181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 68 kg (150 lb)
Position(s) Forward/Midfield
Club information
Current club Geelong
Number 45
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020– Geelong 8 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Career highlights
  • Geelong Cats Best Young Player (2020)
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early football

Close played local football for the North Gambier Football Club.[1][2] He also played in the SANFL for the Glenelg Football Club in the 2019 season, where he kicked a total of 13 goals over 21 matches.[3][4][5]

AFL career

Close debuted in Geelong's thirty-two point win over the Fremantle Dockers in the eighth round of the 2020 AFL season.[6][7][8] Close kicked his first goal with his first kick just one minute into the game, also picking up 14 disposals, 3 marks and 4 tackles.[9][6][10] Close took home the Best Young Player Award for the Geelong Football Club at the conclusion of the season.[11] Close signed a contract extension with the Cats in November 2020.[12] Geelong's general manager of football, Simon Lloyd, said "Brad also played well as a forward and we see him having a good future at AFL level. He will continue to develop his game through his strong drive and professionalism and we look forward to seeing Brad further enhance his game in 2021."[12]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season [13]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2020[lower-alpha 1] Geelong 4582229417013240.30.33.65.18.81.63.0
Career 8 2 2 29 41 70 13 24 0.3 0.3 3.6 5.1 8.8 1.6 3.0
  1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References
  1. Jackson, Trevor (11 September 2017). "North Gambier Football Club". The Border Watch. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  2. "Brad Close". SANFL Media. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  3. "Brad Close". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  4. Milbank, Zac (December 2019). "Two more selected in AFL Rookie Draft". SANFL Media. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  5. "Close to debut". K Rock Football. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  6. Quartermaine, Braden (27 July 2020). "Fremantle held goalless in first half as Cats maul Dockers by 32-points". The West Australian. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. "Old fashioned Close reeady for modern debut". The Geelong Adveriser. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  8. Cleary, Mitch (24 July 2020). "Mature-age rookie to debut as gun Cat faces lengthy layoff". AFL Media. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  9. "Round 8 • Fremantle v Geelong Cats - Player Stats". Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  10. McMurtry, Andrew (27 July 2020). "Geelong Cats debutant Brad Close joins first kick first goal club against Fremantle Dockers". News.com.au. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  11. Diggerson, Kevin (29 October 2020). "Guthrie wins Carji Greeves Medal". Geelong Cats Media. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  12. Diggerson, Kevin (23 November 2020). "Three Cats Sign On". Geelong Cats Media. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  13. "Brad Close". AFL Tables. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
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