Mark LeCras

Mark LeCras
Personal information
Full name	Mark LeCras
Nickname(s)	Lecca,[1] The Frenchman
Date of birth	30 August 1986 (1986-08-30) (age 25)
Place of birth	Cervantes, Western Australia
Original team	Cervantes Football Club (CMCFL)
Draft	#37, 2004 National Draft, West Coast
Height/Weight	183 cm / 80 kg
Position(s)	Forward pocket, half-forward flanker
Club information
Current club	West Coast
Number	2
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2005–	West Coast	100 (234)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 season .
Career highlights
Under-18 All-Australian team 2004 West Coast leading goalkicker 2009, 2010 West Coast Club Champion Award 2010 All-Australian Team 2010

Mark LeCras (born 30 August 1986) is an Australian rules footballer, currently playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League. Mainly playing as a small forward, he led the West Coast's goalkicking in 2009 and 2010, and was named in the All-Australian team in 2010.

Early life

LeCras was born to Peter and Lynne LeCras on 30 August 1986. His father played senior football for East Fremantle in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), and his brother, Brent LeCras, played for North Melbourne in the AFL. His cousins, Toby, Ashley and Cory McGrath, also played senior football in the WAFL and AFL.^[2] Originally from Cervantes, he began with the Cervantes Football Club in the Central Midlands Coastal Football League (CMCFL),^[3] but moved to Perth to attend Aquinas College, playing with Whitfords JFC and Quinns, before returning to Cervantes after his graduation.^[4]

He played for Western Australia at the 2003 and 2004 Under-18 Championships, and was named in the 2004 Under-18 All-Australian team. He played colts football for West Perth in the WAFL in 2003 and 2004, and was named as a half-forward flank in the Team of the Year in both seasons.^[4] LeCras made his senior debut for West Perth against Claremont in round 20 of the 2004 season, and played two further games for the season, in rounds 21 and 23.^[5]

Career

LeCras was recruited by the West Coast Eagles with the 37th pick overall in the 2004 National Draft. After spending the first half of the season with West Perth, He made his debut for West Coast in round 10 of the 2005 AFL season, kicking two goals and recording 12 disposals. He played one more game before being dropped back to the WAFL, where he played the rest of the season.

He was recalled in 2006 for the Round 14 clash against Hawthorn, but only managed a total of 16 disposals in two games before being dropped and recalled for the Round 22 demolition of Richmond, where LeCras put in a surprise performance, booting 5 goals. LeCras placed fourth in the Sandover medal for the best player in the WAFL in 2006. The award was won by fellow West Coast Eagle player Matt Priddis. He fought his way back into the team in 2007, and had a stellar season, kicking 36 goals for the season.

2009 season

In 2009, Mark LeCras kicked 58 goals in the home-and-away season, leaving him in All-Australian contention. Ultimately he missed out on selection, but 2009 remains his best season to date. In round 13, 2009, he scored his 100th AFL career goal in West Coast's 20 point win against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval. For the overall 2009 season, LeCras became the most potent forward in the team kicking 30 goals in the first 12 rounds, and 58 for the season, topping the Eagles' goalkicking list.

2010 season

In round 16 of 2010, LeCras kicked a personal best of 12 goals, doubling his previous record of 6, in an outstanding individual display against Essendon at Etihad Stadium. It broke the record for the most goals kicked by an individual in a game at the stadium, the previous record of 11 (kicked by Stephen Milne, now the stadium's leading goalkicker, in a match between St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions in 2005).^[6] This was one of a few highlights in a dark season for the Eagles in which they won the wooden spoon for the first time in its history. The performance also earnt LeCras 226 points in the Herald Sun Supercoach competition, the highest score for the 2010 season.^[7] LeCras later finished Third in the Coleman Medal with 63 goals from 21 games, behind Jack Riewoldt and Barry Hall. On 10 September 2010, LeCras was awarded the prestigious award of the West Coast Eagles Club Champion. ^[8] On 13 September, LeCras was selected at forward-pocket in the 2010 All-Australian team, the only player from the West Coast Eagles in the team.^[9] He was also nominated as one of the three contenders for goal of the year for his effort against Essendon in Round 16, one of twelve goals scored on the night, eventually losing out to Lance Franklin for the award.^[10]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to end of the 2011 season.

Playing information			Totals								Averages (per game)

Season	Team	#	Games	D	K	H	M	T	G	B	D	K	H	M	T	G	B
2005	West Coast	19	2	13	12	1	7	3	2	0	6.5	6.0	0.5	3.5	1.5	1.0	0.0
2006	West Coast	19	4	35	23	12	15	6	5	6	8.8	5.8	3.0	3.8	1.5	1.3	1.5
2007	West Coast	2	19	179	122	57	58	43	36	19	9.4	6.4	3.0	3.1	2.3	1.9	1.0
2008	West Coast	2	11	115	87	28	49	8	23	8	10.5	7.9	2.5	4.5	0.7	2.1	0.7
2009	West Coast	2	21	292	194	98	87	48	58	26	14.8	8.6	6.2	2.6	1.6	2.8	0.2
2010	West Coast	2	21	286	213	73	97	36	63	24	13.6	10.1	3.5	4.6	1.7	3.0	1.1
2011	West Coast	2	22	358	237	121	92	86	47	29	16.3	10.8	5.5	4.2	3.9	2.1	1.3
Career			100	1278	888	390	405	230	234	112	12.8	8.9	3.9	4.1	2.3	2.3	1.1

Legend
D	Disposals	K	Kicks	H	Handballs	M	Marks	T	Tackles	G	Goals	B	Behinds

Personal life

LeCras has an older brother, Brent LeCras, who played for North Melbourne Football Club. Mark is engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Emily Marshall.

External links

• Mark LeCras's profile on the Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles Football Club
• Mark LeCras's statistics from AFL Tables

References

1. ^ Eagles known Lecca hard act to follow – thewest.com.au. Published 29 March 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
2. ^ Ooh Aah LeCras, McGrath – lmsc.com.au. Written by Melissa "Frizz" Ferguson. Published 5 May 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
3. ^ Cervantes, Western Australia – scoreboardpressure.com. Published 1 August 2011. Written by Vin Maskell. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
4. ^ ^{a b} Pick 37: Mark LeCras – eaglesflyinghigh.com. Published 20 November 2004. Written by Danny Brockhoff. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
5. ^ Mark LeCras (West Perth) – wafl.com.au. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
6. ^ LeCras' dozen breaks Bomber hearts
7. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/afl/blogs/western-eyes/lecras-shows-le-class-to-save-the-eagles/20100718-10g7g.html
8. ^ http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7155/newsid/102400/default.aspx
9. ^ http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/7936478/lecras-sandi-named-in-all-australian-side/
10. ^ http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/98572/default.aspx

Persondata
Name	LeCras, Mark
Alternative names
Short description	Australian rules footballer
Date of birth	30 August 1986
Place of birth	Cervantes, Western Australia, Australia
Date of death
Place of death