Craig Bird

Last updated

Craig Bird
Personal information
Full name Craig Bird
Date of birth (1989-01-21) 21 January 1989 (age 34)
Original team(s) NSW/ACT Rams (TAC Cup)
Nelson Bay (BDAFL)
Draft No. 59, 2007 national draft
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2008–2015 Sydney 137 (56)
2016–2017 Essendon 020 0(3)
Total157 (59)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2017.
Career highlights
  • AFL premiership player: 2012
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Craig Bird (born 21 January 1989) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Sydney Swans and Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Contents

He was drafted to the Swans with the 59th pick in the 2007 AFL draft after previously being part of the NSW AFL scholarship program. He was recruited from Nelson Bay and made his debut in round one of 2008 season, wearing the number 14 guernsey, previously worn by club legends Paul Kelly and Bob Skilton. [1] At the end of the 2008 season he was named as the Sydney Swans Rising Star of 2008 tied with Kieren Jack. [2]

His 2010 season was delayed due to a stress fracture of the toe. [3]

Bird enjoyed his best year at the Swans in 2011, managing to play 22 out of 24 games for the season. Bird was given a tagging role for much of the year and played the role exceptionally well for the most part. He played on some of the best midfielders in the league over the course of the season. However his best performance of the year came against the Western Bulldogs in round 18 when he kicked 4 goals as a defensive forward having been given the job of limiting the influence of dangerous rebounding defender, Rob Murphy.

Bird continued his consistent run of form in 2012 as he played on the competition's best midfielders and running defenders. Bird took his place in the Swans' 22 for the 2012 AFL Grand Final victory and went on to finish 9th in the 2012 Bob Skilton Medal, the highest placing of his career to date. After the 2012 AFL Premiership, Craig Bird has been regularly referred to in popular culture by the nicknames "Premiership Bird" and "PB", owing to his significant contribution during the Sydney Swans Premiership victory.

By 2015, however he had lost a regular spot in the side, as talent such as Tom Mitchell and Jake Lloyd cemented their spots. This left Bird struggling for opportunities.

In October 2015, Bird was traded to the Essendon Football Club. [4]

At the conclusion of the 2017 season, he was delisted by Essendon. [5]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 5, 2015 [6]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game)
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2008 Sydney 14218314414428862470.40.16.96.913.73.02.2
2009 Sydney 14155310813023841480.30.27.28.715.92.73.2
2010 Sydney 1441035346914110.30.08.88.517.33.52.8
2011 Sydney 1422119184170354431130.50.48.47.716.12.05.1
2012 Sydney 14251212220207427691050.50.58.88.317.12.84.2
2013 Sydney 142310526915242153840.40.211.76.618.32.33.7
2014 Sydney 142165206209415581050.30.29.810.019.82.85.0
2015 Sydney 1453148499715190.60.29.69.819.43.03.8
Career13656381214109523093555320.40.38.98.117.02.63.9

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References

  1. ↑ Buckle, Greg (20 March 2008) Bird gets early chance with Swans Archived 27 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Warren, Adrian (3 October 2008) McVeigh judged as the best Swan Archived 12 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Toe injury grounds Bird
  4. ↑ Ryan, Peter (21 October 2015). "Carlisle becomes a Saint, Dons get another top pick". Australian Football League. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Dons announce list changes". EssendonFC.com.au. Bigpond. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  6. ↑ Craig Bird's player profile at AFL Tables
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