Andy Otten Explained

Andy Otten
Fullname:Andrew Otten
Nickname:Otto
Birth Date:15 May 1989
Birth Place:Melbourne, Victoria
Originalteam:Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)
Draftpick:No. 27, 2007 national draft
Debutdate:Round 12, 2008
Debutstadium:AAMI Stadium
Height:192 cm
Weight:92 kg
Position:Utility
Years1:2008 - 2019
Games Goals1:109 (38)
Statsend:2019
Careerhighlights:

Andrew Otten (born 15 February 1989) is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Otten was Adelaide’s second selection in the 2007 National Draft, pick 27 overall, having recorded strong results at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp ranking in the top 2% for the vertical leap (92 cm), top ten for agility and the top 20% for the beep test (14.2).[1]

Early life

Otten attended Whitefriars College in Donvale, graduating in 2007.[2] He played junior football for YJFL club Whitehorse Colts, located in Box Hill North. Otten played basketball in his teen years.[3]

AFL career

Otten made his debut in round 12 against eventual premiers, and played one more game for the 2008 season. The next season, he exploded onto the AFL scene, playing a consistent role as Adelaide's third tall in defence and being likened to former defender Nathan Bassett. Otten won an AFL Rising Star nomination in round 9 for his performance against, in which he collected 23 possessions and kicked a goal,[4] and at the end of the season was voted the runner-up in the ward to Daniel Rich.[5] Otten also scored three votes in the 2009 Brownlow Medal count.

In his 2010 pre-season training, Otten ruptured his left ACL and missed the entire 2010 season as a result.[6] He returned successfully in 2011, playing 15 games in defence and in the midfield. In 2012, however, he struggled with injuries and form, playing six games for the season including the Preliminary Final loss to .[7]

Otten re-established himself in the side in 2013, playing every game and spending time up forward, where he kicked 15 goals, and in the ruck as well as his usual defence position. He was rewarded with the Coach's Award for his willingness to fill any role in the team as needed, and also finished in the top five in the Malcolm Blight Medal for the club's best and fairest player.[8] He also signed a new two-year deal with the Crows at the end of the season.[9] After hyper-extending his left knee in a 2014 pre-season trial game, Otten missed the first nine games of the 2014 season, then played eleven consecutive games before tearing his right ACL in round 20 against the, the opposite knee compared to the one he had reconstructed in 2010. This ruled him out of the game for another 12 months.[10]

Otten made his return in Adelaide's SANFL reserves side in July 2015.[11] He played out the year there, often featuring in the side's best players. At the end of the season he signed another two-year contract keeping him at the club until 2017.[12]

Otten returned to AFL football for the first time in 960 days in Round 1, 2017 against .[13] In the next match, when teammate Josh Jenkins was taken from the ground in the first quarter due to a rib injury, Otten had to take over his role as a part-time ruckman and a key forward, kicking one goal.[14] His stint in the forward line was extended when teammate Mitch McGovern suffered a hamstring injury in the last quarter of the Round 3 Showdown.[15] This enabled him to become a key player in the Crows side as a third tall forward, and he kicked a career-high four goals in the Crows' Round 10 match against, where they won by 100 points.[16]

His brother, Max, was rookie listed with in 2010,[17] but did not play an AFL game.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to end of 2016 season[18]

|- style="background:#eaeaea;"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008| style="text-align:center" | | 22 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 7 || 6 || 13 || 4 || 3 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 3.5 || 3.0 || 6.5 || 2.0 || 1.5|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009| style="text-align:center" | | 22 || 24 || 1 || 1 || 160 || 293 || 453 || 139 || 45 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 6.7 || 12.2 || 18.9 || 5.8 || 1.9|- style="background:#eaeaea;"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011| style="text-align:center" | | 22 || 15 || 2 || 2 || 115 || 152 || 267 || 74 || 46 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 7.7 || 10.1 || 17.8 || 4.9 || 3.1|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012| style="text-align:center" | | 22 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 44 || 34 || 78 || 30 || 15 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 7.3 || 5.7 || 13.0 || 5.0 || 2.5|- style="background:#eaeaea;"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013| style="text-align:center" | | 22 || 22 || 15 || 4 || 166 || 147 || 313 || 102 || 50 || 0.7 || 0.2 || 7.6 || 6.7 || 14.2 || 4.6 || 2.3|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014| style="text-align:center" | | 22 || 10 || 0 || 0 || 63 || 56 || 119 || 33 || 20 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 6.3 || 5.6 || 11.9 || 3.3 || 2.0|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 79! 18! 9! 555! 688! 1243! 382! 179! 0.2! 0.1! 7.0! 8.7! 15.7! 4.8! 2.3|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2007 AFL draft camp results. Herald Sun. 27 April 2017. 7 October 2007.
  2. Web site: Fox Sport visits Whitefriars. www.whitefriars.vic.edu.au. 27 April 2017. 29 April 2015.
  3. News: Laughton. Max. 28 November 2014. Andy Otten's Basketball Background. Adelaide Now.
  4. Web site: NAB AFL Rising Star: Rd 9. Holmesby. Luke. 26 May 2009. AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. 4 July 2010.
  5. Web site: Rich wins rising star. Holmesby. Luke. 2 September 2009. AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. 20 June 2016.
  6. News: Homfray. Reece. 15 December 2010. Otten wants midfield role on return. The Advertiser.
  7. Web site: Andy Otten - AFC.com.au. AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 25 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150404001520/http://www.afc.com.au/player-profile/andy-otten. 4 April 2015. dead.
  8. Web site: 'Selfless' Otten claims Coach's Award. Gill. Katrina. 6 September 2013. AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 20 June 2016.
  9. Web site: Otten Re-Signs With Crows. 22 August 2013. TripleM.com.au. Triple M. 20 June 2016.
  10. Web site: Crow sidelined for a year with knee injury. Thring. Harry. 11 August 2014. AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. 20 June 2016.
  11. Web site: Step by step for Otten. Phillips. Max. 12 July 2015. AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 20 June 2016.
  12. Web site: Otten Re-Signs With Crows. 30 September 2015. TripleM.com.au. Triple M. 20 June 2016.
  13. Web site: Match report: Crows make a giant statement. https://web.archive.org/web/20170308060840/http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2017/1/adel-v-gws. dead. 8 March 2017. AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. 26 March 2017. 1 September 2017.
  14. Web site: Ability to adapt, key to Crows' victory: Pyke. Ryan. Peter. AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. 1 April 2017. 1 September 2017.
  15. Web site: 'We go in expecting to win every game'. Gaskin. Lee. AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. 9 April 2017. 1 September 2017.
  16. Web site: Five talking points: Adelaide v Fremantle. Gaskin. Lee. AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. 27 May 2017. 5 September 2017.
  17. News: From South Africa to the Swans. 27 April 2017. sydneyswans.com.au. December 7, 2010.
  18. Web site: AFL Tables - Andy Otten statistics. AFL Tables.