Luke Power

[christicehurst]

Number: 6
Games: 241
Goals: 198
Height: 179cm
Weight: 78kg
DOB: 01-08-1980 [quote]

2009 Brisbane Lions United Medalist

Introduction
The skilful and elusive Luke Power remains a cornerstone of the Lions’ midfield brigade. After beginning his AFL career as a cheeky forward pocket, he quickly developed into an elite on-baller and one of the Club’s most reliable and consistent performers.

Background
• Power was born in Melbourne, raised in Balwyn and schooled at Trinity College.
• He was a life-long Fitzroy supporter with strong football pedigree – his grandfather Jack Power played at Collingwood and Melbourne in the 1930s and his father Kevin was a standout player in the amateurs.

• He played TAC Cup U18s football with the Oakleigh Chargers and was a member of the 1997 Victorian Metropolitan side that won the National U18 Championships.

• He earned All-Australian honours for his age group in 1995, 1996 and 1997 to stamp himself as an outstanding prospect.

• The Lions drafted Power with their first round selection (Pick No.5 overall) at the 1997 AFL National Draft – the selection received from Fremantle in exchange for Adrian Fletcher.

1998
• Power had a dream introduction to AFL football, touring South Africa with the Lions in February for the historic pre-season competition clash with Fremantle in Cape Town.

• He was a steady contributor throughout the pre-season competition but narrowly missed selection for the Lions’ season opener.

• He got his chance in Round 2 against Sydney at the SCG and made an immediate impact. He collected 19 possessions, kicked three goals and earned an AFL Rising Star nomination for his performance.

• He unfortunately missed the following match with a calf injury and found it difficult to find a spot in the senior team thereafter.

• He played a total of nine senior matches in his debut season as was narrowly beaten by team-mate Simon Black for the Lions’ Best First Year Player award.

1999
• After struggling to cement a position in the senior side at the beginning of the season, Power played the final 14 matches in the senior team, kicked 17 goals and officially ‘arrived’ on the AFL scene.

• He became a dangerous player and valuable goal-sneak and in Round 20 he earned the rare distinction of receiving a second Rising Star nomination for his 20 disposal effort against the Eagles. He ultimately finished fifth in the AFL Rising Star award.

• He also made an impressive finals debut against Carlton. Playing as a forward, Power dominated All-Australian defender Andrew McKay and helped his team to an emphatic victory.

2000
• Power enjoyed a break-out season as a small forward, playing 22 matches and kicking a career-high 52 goals.

• Power, Daniel Bradshaw and Alastair Lynch became only the 10th trio of team-mates in AFL history to kick 50 goals or more each in the same season.

• He kicked a career-high six goals against Collingwood in Round 9 and was best afield in the Elimination Final win over the Bulldogs with five goals.

• The defensive aspect of Power’s game was equally impressive, with him winning the Forward 50 Attitude Barometer Award for his tackles, smothers and defensive efforts.

• He was ruled out of the team’s Semi Final against Carlton with a groin injury and had to watch from the sidelines as the Lions suffered their worst finals defeat post merger.

2001
• After suffering persistent groin injuries through the first half of the season, Power reached Round 15 having only played five AFL games – only two of which he had completed. A season-ending groin operation looked a probability but thanks to the advice and encouragement of specialists, Power played on.

• It proved a wise decision as he went on to play a vital role in the team’s breakthrough premiership victory against Essendon at the MCG – kicking a team-high three goals in the Lions’ 26-point win over the Bombers.

2002
• Power had his wish to play more regularly in the midfield granted during the pre-season competition when he filled in magnificently for the occasionally absent Michael Voss and Nigel Lappin.

• He missed a month after damaging his knee in the opening round of the regular season but bounced back with a string of quality performances.

• He collected a season-high 24 touches against Port Adelaide in Round 7 and was among the team’s best in no less than six of their final ten matches.

• Power also conjured up a genuine ‘Goal of the Year’ contender against West Coast when he ran from nowhere to dive under opposition ruckman Michael Gardiner, pick up the ball, spin out of a tackle and snap a bouncing goal from 40m out on the boundary.

• He finished with a total of 22 matches for the season including a 13 disposal performance against Collingwood in the Club’s victorious 2002 Grand Final.

2003
• Power enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career in 2003, featuring in every senior match and playing a key role for the team both in the midfield and in front of goals.

• He had earned a more regular spot in the Lions’ star-studded midfield but also managed to hurt the opposition on the scoreboard with 27 goals for the season.

• He further stamped his importance to the team by being among the Lions’ best players in each of their four finals matches. This feat earned him the prestigious honour of being named Best Finals Player in the same year the Lions won an historic hat-trick of premierships.

• He finished a then career-best equal second with Simon Black behind skipper Michael Voss in the Club Champion award.

2004
• Power’s remarkable durability saw him play 24 of a possible 25 matches, culminating in the Lions’ devastating Grand Final loss to Port Adelaide.

• His transition from clever forward to star midfielder was never more evident than in the Lions’ Preliminary Final win over Geelong when he collected an astounding 13 possessions in the final quarter despite suffering the after-effects of a heavy knock earlier in the match.

• His clutch performance helped the Lions to a heart-stopping nine-point win over Geelong and a fourth consecutive Grand Final berth.

• Further proof of Power’s rise into the AFL’s elite came at season’s end when he followed his first All-Australian berth with a second straight second place finish in the Club’s Best and Fairest voting.

2005
• The newly appointed Vice-Captain played a total of 20 matches (missing two matches mid-season with a broken hand), finished fifth in the Lions’ Club Champion and finished 10th in the AFL’s Brownlow Medal.

• He contributed across a variety of positions proving his versatility. He twice performed shut-down roles as a back pocket, starred in attacking roles and continued to find plenty of the ball in the middle. Wherever he played, he invariably tried to lift the fortunes of his team with tireless running and ability to find the football.

• Power rejected a number of lucrative offers to return home to Melbourne at season’s and instead signed a new long-term deal with the Club in what he described as one of the toughest decisions of his life.

2006
• A model of consistency, Power was one of only a handful of Lions players to play in every match and remained a standout performer with more than 500 disposals and more Inside 50s than anyone at the Club.

• He amassed 38 disposals in a scintillating performance against Hawthorn in Round 16 and collected 33 disposals or more on three other occasions during the year.

• He averaged a career-high 25.7 disposals (the Club’s leading possession winner) and finished top three in the Club’s Best and Fairest award for the third time in four years.
• He was honoured mid-year with selection in the Lions' Team of the Decade in a forward pocket.
2007
• Following the retirement of Michael Voss, Power was named one of five Club Co-Captains prior to the commencement of the season. It was a fitting reward for his leadership both on and off the field.

• As one of the more experienced players, Power helped shoulder much of the midfield load and maintained an elite performance.

• He averaged close to 24 possessions in his 19 matches (second only at the Club to Nigel Lappin) and seemed to thrive on his new leadership responsibilities.

• He finished fourth in the Club Champion award at season’s end and was among the Club leaders in tackles, contested possessions, inside 50s, clearances and hard ball gets.

2008
• The now 28 year-old further enhanced his role as a creative ball-winning midfielder with a penchant for the tough stuff by leading the Club in key statistical categories including disposals, tackles and goal assists.

• He averaged 24.6 disposals per game and was one of only four Lions player to feature in every match for the season.

• His finest performance for the season – and arguably his 11-year career – came in Round 13 against Adelaide at the Gabba when he collected a Club-record 40 possessions. His near perfect four-quarter domination bettered Simon Black and Marcus Ashcroft’s 39 disposal efforts and helped steer the Lions to victory.

• He represented his State for the first time after being selected in Victoria’s team for the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match in May.

• Lion-hearted Power continued his remarkably consistent run in the Club’s Best and Fairest award by finishing third in the 2008 Merrett-Murray Medal vote count. It was amazingly the sixth consecutive time that he had finished among the team’s top five.

• Such a feat of sustained excellence had only been achieved once before when former skipper Michael Voss finished the Club Champion top five each year from 2000 to 2005.

• The popular midfielder also edged out crowd favourite Simon Black to receive his first Members Player of the Year award as voted on by Lions fans.

2009
• Following former team-mate Michael Voss’ appointment as Senior Coach, Power formed part of a revamped Leadership Group. He was named one of four Vice-Captains to Club Captain Jonathan Brown.

• The ever consistent and reliable midfielder maintained his status among the AFL's elite in 2009 after playing all 24 senior matches and averaging a Club-high 25.6 disposals throughout the season.

• The Lions' most prolific ball-winner for the season collected 30 touches or more on seven occasions but also led the team in total tackles with 121.

• He further stamped himself as one of the competition's best 'big-game' players when he won the Lions' Best Finals Player award for the second time of his career. Power was voted as the team's best player throughout the 2009 Finals campaign by the Match Committee and was one of only few contributors in the side's Semi-Final loss to the Bulldogs at the MCG.

• His incredible performance on Club Champion night continued when he finished fourth in the Merrett-Murray Medal voting - the seventh consecutive time that he had finished among the team’s top five.

• 2009 proved yet another year of consistency for Power who had achieved an almost unrivalled period of sustained individual excellence.

http://www.lions.com.au/players/play...o/default.aspx

[christicehurst]

My favourite player and one who is underrated at times. I hope he goes well for this year and does some damage against the other teams.

[the_champ33]

He'll be fine. He has grown up a lot over the years.

I wasn't a big fan of him when he was 18-21 playing in the forward pocket. I thought he was soft. He had to learn to harden up being thrown into the midfield. Improved, grown up and super since.

Interesting to see him named across half-forward for this week.

[christicehurst]

Originally Posted by Spanner

Interesting to see him named across half-forward for this week.

He will be fine. Go the Power. I mean the Luke Power. Nearly got into trouble

Originally Posted by christicehurst

He will be fine. Go the Power. I mean the Luke Power. Nearly got into trouble

I was going to have to murder you for a second there.

[christicehurst]

You mean, virtual murder me ;D

yeah i think he will do fine in the forward line

he will most probably move into the midfield eny ways

[christicehurst]

I like him in the midfield and moving up to forward pockets.

so do i

did he orginally negin his carrer as a forward or midfielder