Nathan Burke

Nathan Burke (born 6 February 1970) is a former Australian rules footballer and current coach of the Western Bulldogs team in the AFL Women's competition (AFLW). He was a tough rover who always backed himself in a contest and was one of the most courageous footballers to play for the St Kilda Football Club. He set the club record for most games at his retirement, with 323 games which was broken by former team-mate Robert Harvey in round 7, 2006. His tough playing style led to him using a helmet. In 2019 he was elevated to Legend status in the St Kilda Hall of Fame. One of only 9 Saints to achieve this honour. Burke's uncle Nick Bloom also played for St Kilda.[1]

This article is about the Australian rules footballer. For the musician, see Nathan Burke (musician).

Nathan Burke
Personal information
Full name Nathan Burke
Date of birth (1970-02-06) 6 February 1970
Original team(s) Pines
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Position(s) Utility
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1987–2003 St Kilda 323 (123)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
2020– Western Bulldogs (AFLW) 0 (0–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2003.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

VFL/AFL playing career

Burke was co-captain in St Kilda's 1996 AFL Ansett Australia Cup winning side – the club's first AFL Cup win.[2][3]

He started his football playing career with the Pines Football Club. His professional career spanned 1987–2003 despite missing most of 2002 with a knee injury, with Burke deciding to retire late in the season, in the Round 18 clash with Richmond, which the Saints won by 80 points. It was also notable for the fact that the coaching panel of Richmond that day included fellow St Kilda teammates Danny Frawley and Stewart Loewe, who stayed on the ground in honour of Burke following his parade lap (with Alex Lloyd's "Amazing" played at the ground).

Post-playing career

Burke had been a director of the St Kilda Football Club from 2008 to 2015. He had joined the board with fellow player Andrew Thompson.

He is also a regular expert commentator on ABC Grandstand football coverage, an AFL analyst for Fox Sports News, and co hosts the Sunday Session on ABC radio. He is a feature article writer for Inside Football magazine also. This work complements his corporate guest speaking and school programs.

In 2015 he rejoined the AFL Match Review Panel, a role he held prior to joining the Board at St Kilda.

Personal life

Burke's daughter, Alice, plays for St Kilda in the AFL Women's competition, and made her playing debut against the Western Bulldogs, whom he coaches.[4]

Playing statistics
[5]
Legend
 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
1987 St Kilda 4816201799627540330.10.011.26.017.22.52.1
1988 St Kilda 29226832112144270380.30.414.65.520.13.21.7
1989 St Kilda 292112426514340866380.60.212.66.819.43.11.8
1990 St Kilda 29142113311024332270.10.19.57.917.42.31.9
1991 St Kilda 29233131618049664530.10.013.77.821.62.82.3
1992 St Kilda 3249629615845464690.40.312.36.618.92.72.9
1993 St Kilda 3209732214847068720.50.416.17.423.53.43.6
1994 St Kilda 3227333517350884770.30.115.27.923.13.83.5
1995 St Kilda 3189731812244075490.50.417.76.824.44.22.7
1996 St Kilda 32215943414658092640.70.419.76.626.44.22.9
1997 St Kilda 32591446920066999750.40.618.88.026.84.03.0
1998 St Kilda 322101234318753081750.50.515.68.524.13.73.4
1999 St Kilda 3214129915745696490.20.014.27.521.74.62.3
2000 St Kilda 3228736314150492520.40.316.56.422.94.22.4
2001 St Kilda 3101021278220928221.00.212.78.220.92.82.2
2002 St Kilda 333022163811101.00.07.35.312.73.73.3
2003 St Kilda 3186101328922157380.30.67.34.912.33.22.1
Career 323 124 92 4674 2269 6943 1119 841 0.4 0.3 14.5 7.0 21.5 3.5 2.6

Honours and achievements
Brownlow Medal votes
Season Votes
1987 —
1988 3
1989 —
1990 —
1991 —
1992 10
1993 6
1994 4
1995 10
1996 20
1997 18
1998 4
1999 11
2000 6
2001 1
2002 —
2003 2
Total 95
Key:
Green / Bold = Won

References
  1. "'Hard' Bloom passes". afl.com.audate=2011-07-26. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  2. "AFL 1996 Ansett Cup Grand Final – St Kilda v Carlton". Slattery Media Group. 23 March 1996. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  3. "AFL 1996 Ansett Cup Grand Final – St Kilda v Carlton – St Kilda holds up the trophy after winning the 1996 Ansett Cup". Slattery Media Group. 23 March 1996. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  4. Caffrey, Oliver (30 January 2021). "'We will treasure it forever': AFLW dad and daughter's 'photo of the year'". Seven News. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. Nathan Burke's player profile at AFL Tables
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