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The complete history of the Mighty Magpies

Mal Michael

Mal Michael

1997-2000
48

61 CFC Games Played

23 CFC Goals

Date of Birth
24 June 1977
Recruited From
Morningside
Collingwood Debut
Round 7, 1997
Height:
190cm
Weight:
99kg

Biography

Michael almost went home to Queensland after Collingwood did not draft him at the start of 1997, but was coerced into staying by Nathan Buckley. It proved to be a good move as he was promoted from the rookie list when Trent Hotton was dumped. Born in Papua New Guinea, he moved to Queensland at the age of three. He is the grandson of Robert Michael who played one game for Collingwood in 1906. Michael claimed a small piece of history as the first man to play AFL football under the newly introduced rookie system. In his younger days he had trained for a full pre-season with Brisbane and was just 68 kgs when he arrived at Collingwood. He eventually reached 100 kgs. He had to play in key defence roles in his first season against bigger and taller opponents and his determination soon struck a chord with Magpie fans. He was a nomination for the Norwich Rising star award in his first year. In 1998 he had to overcome an ankle injury early in the year then a nagging back injury that turned out to be a stress fracture, but still managed to finish fourth in the best and fairest. His confidence developed in backing himself and he had added several kilograms to his frame. At the start of 1999 he was still troubled by his back and had to wear a brace. He missed the first five games of 1999, but then returned to the side and picked up form. For a couple of games he was even pushed up into attack to add bite to the forward line. Considering the bad start he did well to finish 10th in the best and fairest voting for the club. An ankle injury chopped two months out of his season in 2000, but it was a surprise when Collingwood traded him to Brisbane in its keenness to gain a forward in Jarrod Molloy. Michael had the last laugh, becoming one of the defensive rocks on which the Lions 2001-03 dynasty was built.

Statistics

CFC Career Stats

Season played Games Goals Finals Win %
1997-2000 61 23 0 34%

CFC Season by Season Stats

Season GP GL B K H T D Guernsey No.
1997 13 2 46 54 26 100 48

1997 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 7 North Melbourne W 3 4 1 7 48 View match >
Round 8 Western Bulldogs W 0 48 View match >
Round 12 West Coast L 1 1 4 2 48 View match >
Round 13 Brisbane L 5 10 1 15 48 View match >
Round 14 Geelong L 2 6 3 8 48 View match >
Round 15 Fremantle W 1 3 1 3 4 48 View match >
Round 16 Port Adelaide L 3 8 1 11 48 View match >
Round 17 Melbourne W 6 4 6 48 View match >
Round 18 St Kilda L 5 7 4 12 48 View match >
Round 19 Carlton L 5 6 1 11 48 View match >
Round 20 Essendon W 6 1 2 7 48 View match >
Round 21 Adelaide L 2 3 5 48 View match >
Round 22 North Melbourne W 1 5 7 2 12 48 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1998 16 3 2 84 79 19 163 48

1998 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 3 Western Bulldogs L 10 2 12 48 View match >
Round 4 Richmond W 7 2 9 48 View match >
Round 5 Essendon W 9 3 12 48 View match >
Round 6 Carlton W 1 10 10 3 20 48 View match >
Round 7 Sydney L 7 6 1 13 48 View match >
Round 8 Melbourne L 4 2 4 48 View match >
Round 9 Port Adelaide L 3 7 3 10 48 View match >
Round 10 Fremantle W 1 9 4 10 48 View match >
Round 15 Geelong W 2 2 5 3 5 48 View match >
Round 16 Hawthorn W 1 1 1 2 48 View match >
Round 17 West Coast L 8 6 14 48 View match >
Round 18 Western Bulldogs L 8 6 2 14 48 View match >
Round 19 Richmond L 4 8 12 48 View match >
Round 20 Essendon L 2 2 4 48 View match >
Round 21 Carlton L 5 3 8 48 View match >
Round 22 Sydney L 4 10 14 48 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1999 17 6 5 94 107 19 201 48

1999 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 6 North Melbourne L 0 0 7 7 1 14 48 View match >
Round 7 Brisbane L 0 0 7 7 0 14 48 View match >
Round 8 Fremantle W 0 0 3 4 1 7 48 View match >
Round 9 Western Bulldogs L 0 0 2 6 2 8 48 View match >
Round 10 Sydney L 0 0 5 7 0 12 48 View match >
Round 11 Melbourne L 0 0 5 5 1 10 48 View match >
Round 12 Adelaide L 0 0 6 4 1 10 48 View match >
Round 13 St Kilda W 0 0 4 11 2 15 48 View match >
Round 14 Port Adelaide L 0 0 5 9 1 14 48 View match >
Round 15 Geelong L 0 0 5 6 2 11 48 View match >
Round 16 Hawthorn W 3 1 7 5 0 12 48 View match >
Round 17 Carlton L 0 0 5 4 0 9 48 View match >
Round 18 West Coast L 1 0 4 12 1 16 48 View match >
Round 19 Richmond W 0 1 7 6 2 13 48 View match >
Round 20 Essendon L 0 0 8 4 2 12 48 View match >
Round 21 North Melbourne L 2 2 8 3 1 11 48 View match >
Round 22 Brisbane L 0 1 6 7 2 13 48 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
2000 15 14 8 75 80 18 155 48

2000 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 Hawthorn W 2 0 6 6 0 12 48 View match >
Round 2 Adelaide W 1 2 8 6 0 14 48 View match >
Round 3 Carlton W 1 0 3 6 2 9 48 View match >
Round 11 West Coast L 2 2 7 3 2 10 48 View match >
Round 12 Geelong L 0 0 2 5 1 7 48 View match >
Round 13 Port Adelaide L 2 0 7 3 1 10 48 View match >
Round 14 Melbourne L 1 0 5 6 2 11 48 View match >
Round 15 St Kilda W 0 1 5 3 1 8 48 View match >
Round 16 Hawthorn L 0 0 5 9 1 14 48 View match >
Round 17 Adelaide L 0 0 6 7 3 13 48 View match >
Round 18 Carlton L 0 0 3 8 1 11 48 View match >
Round 19 Sydney L 0 0 1 6 2 7 48 View match >
Round 20 Western Bulldogs L 4 1 8 4 1 12 48 View match >
Round 21 North Melbourne W 0 2 6 3 1 9 48 View match >
Round 22 Essendon L 1 0 3 5 0 8 48 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
Totals 61 23 17 299 320 82 619
Avg/Game   0.38 0.28 4.90 5.25 1.34 10.15
Legend
  • GPGames Played
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • TTackles
  • DDisposals

Key Facts

CFC Debut Number

978

Draft
1996 National AFL Draft by Collingwood
Total AFL Games
238
Total AFL Goals
33
CFC Debut
Round 7, 1997
CFC Last Game
Round 22, 2000
Recruited From
Morningside
Full Name
Mal Michael

Awards

  • Best First Year Player (Harry Collier Trophy)
    1997
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