Michael Prior

Michael Prior (born 6 September 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the AFL's Essendon Football Club and the West Coast Eagles. He is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Fremantle Football Club.[1]

Michael Prior
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-09-06) 6 September 1973
Original team(s) East Perth (WAFL)
Debut Round 20, 5 August 1994, Essendon
vs. Collingwood, at MCG
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 79 kg (174 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1994–2000 Essendon 81 (19)
2001–2002 West Coast Eagles 09 0(1)
Total 90 (20)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2002.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com
For the theologian of the same name, see Michael Prior (theologian)

Drafted third overall in the 1992 AFL Draft, he made the unusual choice at the time to remain with his original club, East Perth, for the 1993 season, Essendons famous 'Baby Bombers' premiership winning year, as he felt that playing regular league football in the WAFL would be better for his development. Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy disagreed with this theory but allowed him to do so.

He played 81 games for the Bombers between 1994 and 2000. After the 2000 season, he was dropped by the Bombers and then picked up by West Coast. He spent two seasons with the Eagles and played just nine games for them due to a devastating knee injury suffered in Round 7 2001, he recovered and continued his tally of games with East Perth in the WAFL when not required and was a member of their 2002 premiership side.

After retiring from AFL football he continued to play with East Perth until the end of the 2003 season. In total he played 69 games for the Royals.

He was colourfully referred to by 3AW commentator Rex Hunt as "prior conviction".

At the end of 2007 he ended his stint as coach of East Perth Colts and is now a skills coach at Fremantle.

References
  1. "Coaching Staff". fremantlefc.com.au. Fremantle Football Club. Retrieved 16 August 2015.


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