Paul Medhurst

Infobox afl player NEW
playername = Paul Medhurst
fullname = Paul Beaumont Medhurst


firstname = Paul
lastname = Medhurst


| birthdate = birth date and age|1981|12|11|df=y
age = 26
birthplace = Western Australia
originalteam = Claremont Football Club
heightweight = 179cm / 84kg
years = 2002-2006
2007-
clubs = Fremantle
Collingwood
games(goals) = 99 (166)
41 (74)
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend =
careerhighlights =

Fremantle
* AFL Rising Star nomination (2002)
* Beacon Award winner (2002)
* Fremantle Leading Goal Kicker (2003, 2004)

Collingwood
* Round 13, 2007 AFL Army Award nomination
* ANZAC Day Medallist (2008)
* Collingwood Leading Goal Kicker (2008)
* All-Australian (2008)
* R.T Rush Trophy (2008)
* Gordon Coventry Trophy (2008) Paul Medhurst (born 11 December 1981) is an Australian rules footballer.

He plays for the Collingwood Football Club as a small forward. Medhurst was originally selected by the Fremantle Football Club with a 4th round selection in the 2001 AFL Draft after winning the Bernie Naylor Medal in 2001 for the most goals in the WAFL, where he played for the Claremont Football Club. He was traded to Collingwood in 2007 as part of the deal that sent Chris Tarrant to Fremantle. Medhurst was selected to the All-Australian side in 2008.

Fremantle career

Medhurst made a successful debut in round 1, 2002 in a Western Derby against the West Coast Eagles, kicking three goals and earning an AFL Rising Star nomination. At the end of 2002, he won the Beacon Award as the best young player on the Fremantle team. He was Fremantle's leading goalkicker in 2003 and 2004, kicking 50 and 41 goals respectively, including nine against Brisbane in 2004 and seven against Carlton in 2003. His 166 career goals for Fremantle is the club's equal-fourth highest tally.

After wearing guernsey number 34 from his debut in 2002 until 2005, he changed to number six for the 2006 season, the number worn by his idol, ex-Fremantle and Adelaide champion goalkicker Tony Modra. However he had the poorest season of his career, only scoring 12 goals from 12 games.

Collingwood career

Medhurst joined Collingwood in 2007 in the deal which saw Chris Tarrant become a Docker, and Ben Reid, draft selection eight, join the Magpies. Despite playing his 100th match (his first in Magpie colours, round one against the Kangaroos), Medhurst began the season slowly, injuring his foot during a four-goal performance against Richmond in round three, which sidelined him for much of the season. Medhurst returned to face Fremantle in round 10 at the MCG, and Collingwood won by 10 points. Neither Medhurst nor Tarrant were among the goals, sharing three behinds between them.

The following six weeks saw Medhurst struggle to hold his place in the Collingwood outfit, a number of low-possession efforts in the seniors forcing the former Docker to play with Williamstown in the VFL. He returned to form towards the end of the season, scoring three goals in the round 19 loss to Richmond, before following up with another three against Melbourne a week later.

Medhurst played a part in Collingwood's win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval in their semi-final extra-time win. He gathered 16 disposals, 15 of them kicks, booted two goals and laid six tackles.

Although the Magpies lost to Geelong the following week in the preliminary final by a five points, Medhurst's three goals helped keep his team in the contest.

Medhurst won the ANZAC Day Medal in The 2008 ANZAC Day Clash after kicking 6 goals.

Medhurst has kicked five goals or more on several occasions in 2008 and has emerged as one of Collingwood's key small forwards, along with Leon Davis, Alan Didak and Dale Thomas.

Paul Medhurst will remain a Magpie until at least the end of the 2010 season, having signed a new two-year contract with Collingwood. [ [http://collingwoodfc.com.au/NewsFeatures/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5586/Default.aspx?newsId=65509] Medhurst commits to Collingwood ]

Medhurst was selected in the 2008 All-Australian side as a forward pocket.

Medhurst was runner-up in Collingwood best-and-fairest in 2008. He was rewarded the R.T Rush Trophy and the Gordon Coventry Trophy (leading goal kicker for Collingwood (50)).

References

External links

* [http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/Home/Players/PlayerProfile/tabid/8170/Default.aspx?playerid=14188&typeid=2 Paul Medhurst Player Profile on CollingwoodFC.com.au]
*
* [http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=427&ContentID=69881 Article in The West Australian 26 April 2008]