Daniel Wells (footballer)

Daniel Wells (born 3 February 1985) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne and Collingwood in the Australian Football League (AFL). .

Daniel Wells
Wells with Collingwood in March 2017
Personal information
Full name Daniel Wells
Date of birth (1985-02-03) 3 February 1985
Original team(s) Peel (WAFL)
Draft No. 2, 2002 national draft
Height 181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 79 kg (174 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
2003–2016 North Melbourne 243 (150)
2017–2019 Collingwood 015 0(16)
Total 258 (166)
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

AFL career
Wells with North Melbourne in 2012

Wells was selected by North Melbourne with the number two overall pick in the 2002 AFL draft and made his debut in 2003 playing 18 games and averaging 12 disposals per game. He rose to prominence in 2004 when, against Fremantle, he kicked the AFL Goal of the Year, jumping and taking the ball from ruck contest in the goal square and kicking the goal before he landed.[1]

Wells was selected in the Australian team for the 2005 International Rules Series but was unable to play due to injury. He enjoyed a fairly good year in 2006 in which he averaged 18 disposals and finished 2nd in the Syd Barker Medal.

In 2008, Wells enjoyed a good season averaging 21 disposals and having a big impact in matches in the second half of the season during North Melbourne's winning period. He was rewarded with selection in the Australian side that lost to Ireland in that year's International Rules Series.

2009 was a disappointing year for Wells when injuries restricted him to just 7 games.

In 2011 Wells produced a brilliant and consistent season when he won his first Syd Barker Medal which he shared with Andrew Swallow. He would also be named in the 40 man All Australian squad but would miss out on being part of the final 22.

Following the 2013 season, the two-time best and fairest was chosen to represent Australia in the International Rules Series as captain of the exclusively Indigenous team, a rare and memorable honour.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Wells announced his intentions to leave North Melbourne as a free agent[2] and he signed with Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent in October.[3]

On 24 May 2017, it was announced that he would wear number 67 on his guernsey, rather than his usual 3, for the round 10 Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round game against Brisbane Lions. This was to commemorate the 1967 referendum (which allowed Indigenous Australians to be counted with the general population in the census).[4].

Wells retired in September 2019.[5]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2019 season[6]
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
2003 Kangaroos 8181071496721664390.60.48.33.712.03.62.2
2004 Kangaroos 82213823911435389490.60.410.95.216.04.02.2
2005 Kangaroos 822121024614839486430.50.511.26.717.93.92.0
2006 Kangaroos 82211722718040781530.50.310.38.218.53.72.4
2007 Kangaroos 818141819313933270440.81.010.77.718.43.92.4
2008 North Melbourne 82161127117344492590.30.512.98.221.14.42.8
2009 North Melbourne 8741944113530130.60.113.45.919.34.31.9
2010 North Melbourne 819151124615039690430.80.612.97.920.84.72.3
2011 North Melbourne 821171531218049280800.80.714.98.623.43.83.8
2012 North Melbourne 820141629014943972590.70.814.57.522.03.63.0
2013 North Melbourne 822251029117746880521.10.513.28.021.33.62.4
2014 North Melbourne 810441008718739250.40.410.08.718.73.92.5
2015 North Melbourne 820061622160.00.03.08.011.00.53.0
2016 North Melbourne 8195522421543967820.30.311.811.323.13.54.3
2017 Collingwood 3/67101151018418547221.10.510.18.418.54.72.2
2018 Collingwood 342432185014100.51.08.04.512.53.52.5
2019 Collingwood 31306511423.00.06.05.011.04.02.0
Career 258 166 132 3027 1943 4970 1006 681 0.6 0.5 11.7 7.5 19.3 3.9 2.6

Health scare

At the end of the 2011 season Wells had shoulder surgery during which it was discovered that he had a large blood clot on his lungs. The clot was successfully removed and Wells returned to full health and resumed playing.

Media profile and personal life

In 2007, Wells appeared in a television advertisement for AFL on the Gold Coast and in 2009 and he featured in the official advertisement for the AFL, playing Australian Rules on an Association Football ground.

He is a devout Roman Catholic.[7]

On 14 October 2006 Wells married school teacher Mariangela Laudato. They have a daughter, Laudate Angelus.

References
  1. Robinson, Chris (25 May 2018). "Friday Flashback: Daniel Wells' 'Jackie Chan' goal that sunk Fremantle". The West AustralianA. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  2. Navaratnam, Dinny (10 October 2016). "Pies set to swoop as Wells tells Roos he's leaving". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. "Daniel Wells becomes a Magpie, Kanga compo revealed". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  4. "Players' number tribute to indigenous breakthrough". Australian Football League. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  5. "West Aussie Daniel Wells announces retirement ahead of Collingwood preliminary final". The West Australian. 16 September 2019.
  6. "Daniel Wells". AFL Tables. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  7. http://www.cam.org.au/News-and-Events/Features/General-Features/Article/13041/time-out-with-daniel-wells#.USAY2PJ5eSo
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