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The complete history of the Mighty Magpies

Paul Medhurst

Paul Medhurst

2007-2010
7

69 CFC Games Played

108 CFC Goals

Date of Birth
11 December 1981
Recruited From
Fremantle
Collingwood Debut
Round 1, 2007
Height:
179cm
Weight:
84kg

Biography

Mercurial, explosive and with a highlights reel comparable to the game’s best small forwards, Medhurst won Collingwood’s heart with a 50-goal season that culminated in All-Australian selection in 2008.

The gap between his best and worst fluctuated on occasions, but he provided wonderful value in 69 games after crossing from Fremantle at the end of 2006.

Recruited from Claremont, Medhurst’s career as a Fremantle Docker got underway with a three-goal haul against West Coast in the first round of 2002.

Aged 20, he kicked 36 goals for the season including four against Collingwood in round 12.

By the time he had followed it up with 50 in Fremantle’s run to September the following year, Medhurst appeared on the verge of superstardom in the west.

But form issues took their toll, despite a bag of nine against Brisbane mid-way through 2004, and when he could average only a goal per game across 12 outings in 2006, he found himself on the move to Victoria.

Medhurst was known as the ‘steak knives’ in the trade that saw Chris Tarrant become a Docker and Collingwood land the eighth selection in the 2006 National Draft (Ben Reid). But by the time he hit his straps, Pies fans knew they had got more than they had bargained for.

Medhurst began 2007 slowly, having his tonsils removed during the pre-season, breaking a bone in his foot during a practice match and straining ankle ligaments early in the year.

Despite all this, he played in the first three rounds of the season, kicking four against Richmond under lights.

His season only really gained momentum late in the piece when he recorded two three goals in the space of seven days against Richmond and Melbourne on the eve of the finals.

Medhurst showed his true colours in September, kicking two important goals in the win over the Eagles in extra-time before taking a leading role in the epic Preliminary Final cliffhanger against Geelong, kicking three goals including the one that brought the Pies to within a kick with a minute to play.

He enjoyed a career-best season in 2008, kicking 50 goals, landing a place in the All-Australian team and receiving the R.T. Rush Trophy as runner-up in Collingwood’s best and fairest.

After a slow start to the year, Medhurst clicked into gear during a horror loss to North Melbourne in round five, kicking five majors before backing it up with six against Essendon on ANZAC Day to win the ANZAC Day Medal as best afield in a 73-point win.

Two more bags of five followed, against West Coast and Adelaide (when he kicked 5.5 in round 15), and he ended the season with at least one goal in all bar three of his 24 games.

Although his form tapered off slightly at the tail end of the season, Medhurst was an important contributor in the surprise win over the Crows in the Elimination Final.

He started 2009 in solid touch, peaking with four goals and 13 disposals against the Lions in round four, a night memorable due to the fact that he kicked his last goal concussed and did not know at the time which way his team was kicking.

Injuries began to take their toll as the year wore on and meant he could not get the continuity in his football that made him so dangerous twelve months prior.

Medhurst kicked just five goals in his last nine games and only one in September, but started 2010 on the right foot with four goals against the Western Bulldogs in round one.
Unfortunately, injuries again took their toll and his best form deserted him as a result. He had one final spike, kicking three goals in consecutive weeks against the Blue and the Kangaroos in rounds six and seven but would play just three more games for the year as foot injuries robbed him of his momentum.

He was brought back for one time against Essendon in round 20 but appeared rusty.

After the game, coach Mick Malthouse admitted he had kept Medhurst in the VFL for too long.

“I thought he (Medhurst) played like a VFL player coming up to play AFL football,” Malthouse said after the 98-point win.

“I’ve said it all year – he typifies the level of skill which is not necessarily greater than VFL, but the level of intensity is massive.

“And if you’re out of it too long, and that’s my fault, he has probably been out of it for too long. He’ll need time to reacquaint himself with that sort of intensity.

“Paul understands that, the longer you’re down there, it gets harder.”

Sadly, that Friday night against Essendon was the last the AFL saw of Medhurst.

He played out the remainder of the season in the VFL, and according to coach Gavin Brown was his side’s best player in the Elimination Final loss to the Northern Bullants at North Port Oval.

“Paul was our best player,” Brown told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“He had an interrupted start to the game as he was held as a carry-over player (for the seniors’ match against Hawthorn). He drove from the MCG to North Port and arrived at the ground 10 minutes into the first term.”

Medhurst announced his retirement three days after the team’s win over St Kilda in the Grand Final Replay, and soon returned to the WAFL where he continued to dazzle the local supporters.

“He has outstanding abilities and possesses a wonderful mark and a beautiful kick for goal,” Malthouse wrote in an online tribute to Medhurst.

“It would be fair to say through his career he had highs and lows, not about his abilities, but about his mindset and focus.

“At 28, he has several years left in footy but he has also got a calling outside of football where he wants to spend his life doing other things.

“He got on very well with people. I am delighted we were able to get him over here and play for Collingwood.

“I am not surprised and very happy for him that he made a decision and left something in the tank and people will remember how good he is.”

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Statistics

CFC Career Stats

Season played Games Goals Finals Win %
2007-2010 69 108 7 62%

CFC Season by Season Stats

Season GP GL B K H T D Guernsey No.
2007 17 24 16 145 33 30 178 7

2007 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 North Melbourne W 2 2 11 1 4 12 7 View match >
Round 2 West Coast L 0 0 6 2 1 8 7 View match >
Round 3 Richmond W 4 0 5 3 2 8 7 View match >
Round 9 Brisbane W 1 0 12 2 0 14 7 View match >
Round 10 Fremantle W 0 1 10 3 2 13 7 View match >
Round 11 Melbourne L 1 0 5 2 1 7 7 View match >
Round 13 Hawthorn L 2 2 11 2 1 13 7 View match >
Round 14 St Kilda W 0 2 4 2 1 6 7 View match >
Round 15 Geelong L 1 0 3 0 1 3 7 View match >
Round 18 Carlton W 0 0 4 2 2 6 7 View match >
Round 19 Richmond L 3 2 8 2 2 10 7 View match >
Round 20 Melbourne W 3 1 9 4 4 13 7 View match >
Round 21 Sydney W 1 2 9 2 2 11 7 View match >
Round 22 Adelaide L 0 0 14 2 0 16 7 View match >
Elimination Final Sydney W 1 2 15 2 1 17 7 View match >
Semi Final West Coast W 2 2 15 1 6 16 7 View match >
Preliminary Final Geelong L 3 0 4 1 0 5 7 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
2008 24 50 27 309 67 53 376 7

2008 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 Fremantle W 1 1 14 2 6 16 7 View match >
Round 2 Brisbane L 1 4 16 0 2 16 7 View match >
Round 3 Richmond W 3 1 20 4 1 24 7 View match >
Round 4 Carlton L 1 0 9 1 0 10 7 View match >
Round 5 North Melbourne L 5 2 15 2 3 17 7 View match >
Round 6 Essendon W 6 2 13 4 4 17 7 View match >
Round 7 Hawthorn L 1 0 6 2 3 8 7 View match >
Round 8 St Kilda W 2 1 11 3 2 14 7 View match >
Round 9 Geelong W 3 1 13 3 3 16 7 View match >
Round 10 West Coast W 5 0 13 3 4 16 7 View match >
Round 11 Melbourne W 1 1 10 1 3 11 7 View match >
Round 12 Carlton L 4 2 18 3 1 21 7 View match >
Round 13 Western Bulldogs L 2 0 11 2 0 13 7 View match >
Round 14 Sydney W 2 0 17 4 2 21 7 View match >
Round 15 Adelaide W 5 5 16 3 2 19 7 View match >
Round 16 North Melbourne L 2 0 8 3 2 11 7 View match >
Round 17 Essendon L 2 0 12 4 2 16 7 View match >
Round 18 Hawthorn L 1 0 11 0 1 11 7 View match >
Round 19 St Kilda W 0 0 14 2 1 16 7 View match >
Round 20 Port Adelaide W 0 0 10 7 1 17 7 View match >
Round 21 Sydney W 1 2 15 3 5 18 7 View match >
Round 22 Fremantle L 0 0 12 6 3 18 7 View match >
Elimination Final Adelaide W 1 3 13 1 1 14 7 View match >
Semi Final St Kilda L 1 2 12 4 1 16 7 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
2009 18 22 19 155 71 28 226 7

2009 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 Adelaide L 2 0 12 5 3 17 7 View match >
Round 2 Melbourne W 1 2 8 2 4 10 7 View match >
Round 3 Geelong L 3 1 11 5 3 16 7 View match >
Round 4 Brisbane W 4 2 11 2 1 13 7 View match >
Round 5 Essendon L 1 2 9 2 1 11 7 View match >
Round 6 North Melbourne W 1 1 8 2 1 10 7 View match >
Round 13 Fremantle W 2 1 9 8 1 17 7 View match >
Round 14 Essendon W 1 0 4 5 2 9 7 View match >
Round 15 Western Bulldogs W 2 0 8 1 1 9 7 View match >
Round 16 Hawthorn L 1 0 6 2 1 8 7 View match >
Round 17 Carlton W 0 0 6 6 0 12 7 View match >
Round 18 Brisbane W 1 3 12 4 1 16 7 View match >
Round 19 Adelaide W 0 2 12 7 2 19 7 View match >
Round 20 Richmond W 1 2 11 6 2 17 7 View match >
Round 21 Sydney W 1 2 14 4 1 18 7 View match >
Round 22 Western Bulldogs L 0 1 4 6 0 10 7 View match >
Qualifying Final St Kilda L 1 0 8 2 0 10 7 View match >
Semi Final Adelaide W 0 0 2 2 4 4 7 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
2010 10 12 5 68 42 37 110 7

2010 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 Western Bulldogs W 4 1 9 4 1 13 7 View match >
Round 2 Melbourne W 1 0 6 3 5 9 7 View match >
Round 3 St Kilda L 0 0 8 4 3 12 7 View match >
Round 4 Hawthorn W 0 1 8 9 3 17 7 View match >
Round 5 Essendon W 1 0 5 4 4 9 7 View match >
Round 6 Carlton W 3 1 7 0 5 7 7 View match >
Round 7 North Melbourne W 3 0 8 5 5 13 7 View match >
Round 11 Western Bulldogs W 0 1 6 2 1 8 7 View match >
Round 12 Melbourne D 0 0 5 7 6 12 7 View match >
Round 20 Essendon W 0 1 6 4 4 10 7 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
Totals 69 108 67 677 213 148 890
Avg/Game   1.57 0.97 9.81 3.09 2.14 12.90
Legend
  • GPGames Played
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • TTackles
  • DDisposals

Key Facts

CFC Debut Number

1060

Total AFL Games
168
Total AFL Goals
274
CFC Debut
Round 1, 2007
CFC Last Game
Round 20, 2010
Recruited From
Fremantle
Full Name
Paul Medhurst
Nickname
Medders

Awards

  • Anzac Day medal
    2008
  • All Australian
    2008
  • Leading Goalkicker (Gordon Coventry Trophy)
    2008
  • Runner up Best and Fairest (R.T. Rush Trophy)
    2008
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