Jason Gram

Jason Gram (born 27 April 1984) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who previously played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Jason Gram
Personal information
Full name Jason Gram
Date of birth (1984-04-27) 27 April 1984
Place of birth Victoria, Australia
Original team(s) Gippsland Power (TAC Cup)
Draft 19, 2001 National Draft
Brisbane Lions
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 88 kg (194 lb)
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2002–2003 Brisbane Lions 002 0(0)
2004–2012 St Kilda 154 (71)
Total 156 (71)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2012.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

AFL career
Gram at training prior to the 2009 AFL Grand Final

As a junior with Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup, Gram quit football for basketball with a view to making the elite level in that sport. It took one phone call from the Power coach of the day, dual Essendon premiership player Darren Bewick, to reverse his decision.[1]

Brisbane

Gram was drafted by the Brisbane Lions as the 19th pick in the 2001 AFL Draft. But in two years, both of which culminated in Lions' premierships, Gram was chosen for only two games, amounting to 20 minutes of total playing time.

His last minutes as a Brisbane player would prove unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. His attempted clearance was smothered and led to a goal that lost the Lions the lead against Fremantle late in a game.

Gram cherished his brief moments of senior footy at Brisbane but was ready to go home, where he felt he would have more opportunities.

St Kilda Football Club

Gram was recruited by St Kilda in 2003 from Brisbane for draft pick 23.

2004: Debut

He made his debut wearing No. 15 guernsey for St Kilda in Round 15 of the 2004 AFL Premiership Season against Melbourne, playing two games for the 2004 season.

After playing five senior games in 2005, Gram played in all of St Kildas 23 matches in the 2006 season, including his first finals match in the 2006 elimination finals.

He averaged 20.5 possessions per game in 2006, finishing second in the Trevor Barker Award, and at the conclusion of the season it was announced that Gram had signed for a further two years. He accepted the Number 1 guernsey from the retiring Justin Peckett.

2008: NAB Cup and Michael Tuck Medal

Gram's 2008 started well when he was awarded the Michael Tuck Medal for his best on ground performance during St Kilda's 2008 NAB Cup win. [2][3]

He played in all of St Kilda Football Clubs matches in the 2008 season – averaging 20.5 possessions per game in 25 matches including three finals matches.

2009: Minor premiership and grand finalist

Gram played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the 2009 finals, winning the club's third minor premiership.[4] He averaged 23.9 possessions per game in the 2009 season.

St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final after qualifying and preliminary finals wins over Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs. St Kilda were defeated in the 2009 AFL Grand Final by 12 points.

He was among the best players on the ground in the grand final,[5] in which St Kilda lost to Geelong. He finished equal on votes in the Norm Smith Medal vote with Paul Chapman of Geelong, with Chapman receiving the medal on a countback. Chapman was awarded the medal on the basis of a greater number of 3 votes, as per the rules of the medal. However Gram was the only player to have received votes from all five judges.[6]

At the end of the 2009 season, Gram had played in seven finals matches including one grand final and one pre-season cup final.

2010 season

Gram played 18 games in 2010, a season in which he was hampered by injury, and averaged 21 possessions – including a career-high 35 possessions against Essendon in Round 18, followed by 34 possessions against North Melbourne in Round 20.

2011 season

Gram played a total of 20 games in the 2011 season, including the elimination final loss to the Swans. Gram had a season-high, thirty-three disposal game against the Bombers in Round 3, which earned him a Brownlow vote. Gram gathered twenty or more disposals on fourteen occasions in season 2011. He kicked five goals for the season.

End of 2012: contract termination

In October 2012, Gram had his contract terminated prematurely by St Kilda after being arrested by police for breaching an intervention order places by his then estranged wife Sarah.[7]

Career highlights

References
  1. "Jason Gram: rebound ace". Fox Sports. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  2. "St Kilda wins NAB cup". The Age. Australia. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  3. "Saints are NAB Cup Champions in 2008". Jeld-Wen. 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  4. "2009 Season Scores and Results – Ladder". AFL Tables. 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  5. "Stab of brilliance decides thriller". Real Footy. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  6. "Hamstrung Chapman wins Norm Smith Medal". Afl.com.au. 26 September 2009. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  7. http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/150513/default.aspx
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