Eric Hipwood

Eric Hipwood (born 13 September 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Eric Hipwood
Hipwood in August 2018
Personal information
Full name Eric Hipwood
Nickname(s) Eel, Hippo
Date of birth (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997
Original team(s) Aspley (NEAFL)
Draft No. 14 (Academy selection), 2015 AFL national draft
Height 202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current club Brisbane Lions
Number 30
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2016– Brisbane Lions 84 (123)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 9, 2020.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Hipwood was born in Melbourne's inner suburb of St Kilda.[1] His parents were passionate St Kilda Saints fans who had married in the stands of Moorabbin Oval prior to his birth.[2] His grandfather, Ken, was instrumental in establishing the Aspley Football Club in Brisbane's northern suburbs and his father, Brad, was a former senior player for Aspley.[3] His grandparents are also life members of the Aspley Football Club.[4] At the age of three, Eric moved to his father's home state of Queensland and settled on the Sunshine Coast with his family where he began playing junior football for Kawana Park at the age of eight.

At 13 years of age he was placed in the Brisbane Lions developmental academy[5] and switched allegiances to the Caloundra Australian Football Club. Two years later, at the age of 15, he played his first QFA senior match for Caloundra in their away clash against Aspley and kicked three goals on debut.[6] In his final year of junior football he switched clubs again and played for Aspley in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL). Hipwood was selected to represent Queensland at the 2015 AFL Under 18 Championships and was named in the All Australian team for his performances.[7] He was then invited to attend the AFL Draft Combine in November 2015.[8]

Hipwood was also a very talented cricketer in his younger years[9] and accepted an invitation to join the cricket sports excellence program at Maroochydore State High School in Year 10.[10]

AFL career

Hipwood was drafted by the Brisbane Lions with their second selection and fourteenth overall in the 2015 national draft as an academy selection after Brisbane matched Richmond's bid on him.[11] He made his AFL debut in the forty-nine point loss against West Coast at the Gabba in round 13 of the 2016 season.[12] After the thirty-two point loss against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in round five of the 2017 season, in which he recorded twelve disposals, five marks, four tackles and three goals, he was the round nominee for the AFL Rising Star.[13]

2018

Hipwood played all 22 matches of the 2018 season. With 37 goals, he was Brisbane's leading goalkicker for the year. In round 16, Hipwood kicked 6 goals in Brisbane's win against Carlton. Hipwood received three Brownlow Medal votes in both this game and the round 9 win against Hawthorn.[14]

2019

2019 saw Hipwood play 23 games including finals with 35 goals kicked for the year. He signed a contract extension, keeping him at Brisbane until at least the end of 2023.[15]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of Round 17, 2018.[16]
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
2016 Brisbane Lions 3010111660359530111.11.66.03.59.53.01.1
2017 Brisbane Lions 302030161244817259251.50.86.22.48.63.01.3
2018 Brisbane Lions 302237271334723393241.91.28.32.911.23.90.9
2019 Brisbane Lions 302132271719621696381.51.38.12.911.23.90.9
Career 73 110 86 317 130 447 152 51 1.5 1.1 6.9 2.8 9.7 3.3 1.1

References
  1. "Brisbane Lion wants to be a one-club player". Herald Sun. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  2. Mallinder, Terry (24 November 2015). "Footy career taking on Eric proportions". Sunshine Coast Daily. APN News & Media. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  3. "Hipwood to debut for Lions". AFL Queensland. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  4. "Life Members – Aspley Hornets Football Club". aspleyhornets.com.au. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  5. Waterworth, Ben (21 November 2015). "AFL draft 2015: Eric Hipwood Brisbane Lions academy gun, part of star draft trio Josh Schache, Ben Keays". Fox Sports (Australia). News Corp Australia. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  6. Wiles, Andrew (16 November 2015). "8 Days until the Draft: Eric Hipwood". AFL Queensland. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  7. "Queensland dominates U18 All-Australian team". AFL Queensland. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  8. "Five Queenslanders invited to the Draft Combine". AFL Queensland. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  9. Zemek, Steve (4 March 2009). "For my next trick..." Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  10. "Hipwood on the Marngrook Footy Show". Brisbane Lions. 1 September 2017.
  11. Whiting, Michael (14 June 2016). "Giant Lion Hipwood to debut against Eagles". AFL.com.au. Telstra. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  12. Davis, Greg (15 June 2016). "Eric Hipwood says his Brisbane Lions debut is a credit to Queensland football pathway". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  13. McGowan, Marc (26 April 2017). "Lion takes out Rising Star nomination". AFL.com.au. Telstra. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  14. Grewar, Jessie (28 September 2018). "Player Review: Eric Hipwood". lions.com.au. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  15. Reddaway, Nick (26 September 2019). "Hipwood's Future Bright with Lions". lions.com.au. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  16. "Eric Hipwood". AFL Tables. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
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