Leigh Adams (footballer)
Leigh Adams (born 6 April 1988) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Leigh Adams | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Leigh Adams | ||
Date of birth | 6 April 1988 | ||
Original team(s) | Eastern Ranges (TAC Cup) | ||
Draft | No. 3, 2007 Rookie Draft, Kangaroos | ||
Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Weight | 78 kg (172 lb) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
2007–2015 | North Melbourne | 104 (72) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2015. | |||
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
A small midfielder who was selected in the 2007 Rookie Draft from Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup, he captained the Victorian Metro team in the 2006 AFL Under 18 Championships and won the team's Most Valuable Player award. He was hampered at the AFL draft camp after he suffered a hip injury requiring surgery.[1]
He was elevated from the rookie list in 2007, replacing Leigh Harding.[1] after playing well for Tasmanian Devils Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Despite playing only 13 games for Tasmania, he won their best and fairest award in 2007.[2] He has struggled with injury since then, missing the entire 2008 season due to an Anterior cruciate ligament tear whilst playing for Werribee Football Club in the VFL.[3]
Adams returned to the North Melbourne side in Round 15, 2009, over two years after his last game.[2] He was one of North's best players in their loss to the West Coast Eagles in Round 20, kicking three goals.[4]
Adams retired on 1 August 2015 due to ongoing issues with concussion.[5]
Since retiring, Adams went straight into coaching with South Croydon in the Eastern Football League. After a lackluster 2016 season only managing six wins, the 2017 season saw Adams lead them to twelve wins & third place on the ladder in Division One. After suffering a 76 point loss to Vermont in the second semi-final, the two sides would meet again in the Grand Final, for South Croydon to cause a massive 18 point upset win over Vermont, whom had only suffered one loss all season. Adams was also named the competitions Coach of the Year.
Less than a week after the Grand Final Victory, Adams was named as the newly appointed Coach of Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football League, ironically replacing a former North Melbourne past player in Peter German. Adams' first season was a tough one with the club only winning one game (along with one draw), however was credited with the teams improvement in 2019, and while they only won two games, Coburg looked a whole lot more competitive. He resigned on the 25th of July with four games left remaining in the season.
In September 2019, it was announced Adams would return to North Melbourne as a Development Coach.
Statistics
G | Goals | B | Behinds | K | Kicks | H | Handballs | D | Disposals | M | Marks | T | Tackles |
Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
2007 | Kangaroos | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
2008 | North Melbourne | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2009 | North Melbourne | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 53 | 49 | 102 | 23 | 26 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 17.0 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
2010 | North Melbourne | 13 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 166 | 133 | 299 | 59 | 56 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 11.1 | 8.9 | 19.9 | 3.9 | 3.7 |
2011 | North Melbourne | 13 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 198 | 219 | 417 | 94 | 87 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 9.4 | 10.4 | 19.9 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
2012 | North Melbourne | 13 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 180 | 164 | 344 | 50 | 59 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 19.1 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
2013 | North Melbourne | 13 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 173 | 188 | 361 | 73 | 66 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 8.7 | 9.4 | 18.1 | 3.7 | 3.3 |
2014 | North Melbourne | 13 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 154 | 183 | 337 | 73 | 63 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 15.3 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
2015 | North Melbourne | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Career | 104 | 72 | 67 | 929 | 944 | 1873 | 374 | 364 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 18.0 | 3.6 | 3.5 |
References
- "Midfield key against Cats". Herald Sun. AAP. 26 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- "North to Patch things up". 9 July 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- Siragusa, Leonard (16 April 2008). "Adams out for the season". AAP. Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- "Eagles blow away Roos at Subiaco". The Age. AAP. 15 August 2009.
- Schmook, Nathan (1 August 2015). "Kangaroo Leigh Adams calls time after latest concussion". AFL.com. Bigpond. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- "Leigh Adams statistics". AFL Tables. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
External links
- Leigh Adams's playing statistics from AFL Tables