Jarrod Witts

Jarrod Witts
Witts playing for Gold Coast in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Jarrod Witts
Date of birth (1992-09-13) 13 September 1992
Place of birth Sydney, New South Wales
Original team(s) St Ives/Sydney University
Draft No. 67, 2011 national draft
Height 209 cm (6 ft 10 in)
Weight 113 kg (249 lb)
Position(s) Forward/ruck
Club information
Current club Gold Coast
Number 28
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2012–2016 Collingwood 40 (18)
2017– Gold Coast 40 0(4)
Total 80 (22)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2018.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jarrod Witts (born 13 September 1992) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).[1] He previously played for the Collingwood Football Club from 2012 to 2016.

Early life

Witts was born in Sydney and grew up in the northern suburb of Normanhurst. He attended Barker College on the North Shore of Sydney.[2] His first sporting interest was Australian rules football and he would often attend Sydney Swans home games in his youth. In 1999, Witts was in attendance at the Sydney Cricket Ground the day Tony Lockett broke Gordon Coventry's all-time goal kicking record and ran onto the field after the historic achievement.[3]

Despite his early interest in Australian rules football, Witts switched allegiances later in childhood and took up rugby union in winter and cricket in the summer months throughout his adolescence. As a cricketer, he was selected in the New South Wales Emerging Blues squad and played alongside future Australian representative Pat Cummins. At the age of 15, he was convinced by school friends to try Australian rules football again and joined the under-16 side at the St Ives Football Club. In just his third game for St Ives, Witts was scouted by Collingwood employee Rod Carter, who informed the Magpies' recruiting manager Derek Hine of Witts' potential. A week later, Hine offered Witts a NSW scholarship to join Collingwood and the deal was accepted.

In 2009, he joined Sydney University's under-18's team and continued his development. As a part of the NSW scholarship program, Witts played numerous games for Greater Western Sydney's TAC Cup team in 2010. The following year saw him elevated to Collingwood's senior list and his AFL journey began.

AFL career

He made his AFL debut for Collingwood against St Kilda in Round 6 of the 2013 AFL season. At the conclusion of the 2016 season, he was traded to the Gold Coast Football Club.[4]

Witts is currently the third tallest player in the AFL. He stands at 209 cm just behind Fremantle big man Aaron Sandilands who is 211 cm and Collingwood player Mason Cox who stands at 211.4 cm.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2016 season[5]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles  H/O  Hit-outs
Season Team # Games G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
Totals Averages (per game)
2013 Collingwood 157532935642320740.70.44.15.09.13.32.910.6
2014 Collingwood 1520841089119957703750.40.25.44.610.02.93.518.8
2015 Collingwood 151154585711523412450.50.45.35.210.52.13.722.3
2016 Collingwood 15201881638310.00.54.04.08.01.54.015.5
Career 40 18 12 203 191 394 106 139 725 0.5 0.3 5.1 4.8 9.9 2.7 3.5 18.1

References

  1. Cordy, Neil (22 November 2011). "Collingwood snatch rising ruck prospect Jarrod Witts from under nose of Sydney Swans and GWS". The Daily Telegraphy.
  2. Chen, Torin (8 May 2013). "Our juniors Jarrod Witts and Will Sierakowski hit the AFL big time in super style". North Shore Times.
  3. Developing Collingwood ruckman Jarrod Witts making the most of his opportunity
  4. "Big Pie joins Suns, Dogs and Gold Coast swap picks". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  5. "Jarrod Witts". AFL Tables.
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