Archie Perkins Explained

Archie Perkins
Fullname:Archie Perkins
Nickname:perko
Birth Date:26 March 2002
Originalteam:Sandringham Dragons
Draftpick:No. 9, 2020 national draft
Debutdate:3 April 2021
Debutstadium:Marvel Stadium
Height:188 cm
Weight:85 kg
Position:Midfielder
Guernsey:16
Statsend:2023
Years1:2021–
Games Goals1:78 (48)
Careerhighlights:

nominee

Archie Perkins (born 26 March 2002) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the with the 9th draft pick in the 2020 AFL draft.[1] [2] [3]

Early life

Archie was born to mother Victoria and father Simon, both of New Zealand, who emigrated in their 20s.[4] He studied at Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne. Perkins trained with well-known AFL players such as Hunter Clark and Max King as a part of the NAB AFL Academy program.[5] He also played for the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League, where he played a 6-game season in 2019, his coach at the time describing him as "a very confident kid,a pretty talented footballer and just a well-rounded person."[6] Despite being touted as a midfielder, Perkins averaged 1.7 goals a game in the NAB League, as well as averaging 14.2 disposals.[7] [8]

AFL career

Perkins debuted in 's shock win over in the 3rd round of the 2021 AFL season.[9] [10] [11] On debut, Perkins collected 14 disposals, 1 behind and 6 inside 50s.[12] He received a Rising Star nomination after collecting 18 disposals, 4 marks and 3 goals in a dominant performance against .[13]

He signed a 2-year contract extension in 2022, to remain at Essendon until at least the end of 2024.[14]

Perkins played his 50th AFL game in 2023, out of a possible 56 across his career, with only Errol Gulden the only player from the 2020 draft class to have played more games at the same point.[15]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2023.[16] |-| 2021 || || 16| 21 || 9 || 14 || 116 || 122 || 238 || 58 || 42 || 0.4 || 0.7 || 5.5 || 5.8 || 11.3 || 2.8 || 2.0 || 2|-| 2022 || || 16| 18 || 16 || 13 || 151 || 68 || 219 || 68 || 45 || 0.9 || 0.7 || 8.4 || 3.8 || 12.2 || 3.8 || 2.5 || 0|-| 2023 || || 16| 23 || 18 || 13 || 219 || 132 || 351 || 95 || 65 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 9.5 || 5.7 || 15.3 || 4.1 || 2.8 || |- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 62 !! 43 !! 40 !! 486 !! 322 !! 808 !! 221 !! 152 !! 0.7 !! 0.6 !! 7.8 !! 5.2 !! 13.0 !! 3.6 !! 2.5 !! 2|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AFL Draft 2020: Logan McDonald heads to Sydney with Pick 4, Denver Grainger-Barras goes to Hawthorn. Robinson. Chris. Massey. Kate. The West Australian. 9 December 2020. 21 March 2021.
  2. Web site: AFL Draft 2020: Pick-by-pick. 9 December 2020. The Age. 21 March 2021.
  3. Web site: AFL Draft 2020: Tears flow in No. 1 pick's emotional moment. Otto. Tyson. 22 April 2021. News.com.au. 9 December 2020.
  4. https://www.afl.com.au/news/525187/going-places-archie-perkins-day-2 Going Places: How footy's sanctuary helped Archie get ready to fly
  5. Web site: Going Places: The powerful X-factor 'robbed' by COVID's curveball. Twomey. Callum. AFL Media. 22 April 2021. 25 November 2020.
  6. Web site: 'Unique character': New Bomber backed to succeed. Cherny. Daniel. The Age. 2 April 2021. 22 April 2021.
  7. Web site: Pick No.9: Archie Perkins. 9 December 2020. essendonfc.com.au. 22 April 2021.
  8. Web site: Archie Perkins. Aussie Rules Draft Central. 22 April 2021.
  9. Web site: Dons confirm two more debutants. Trantino. Julian. 1 April 2021. essendonfc.com.au. 22 April 2021.
  10. Web site: 'Conservative' Dons in no rush to bring back sore skipper. AFL Media. 1 April 2021. Chadwick. Justin. 22 April 2021.
  11. Web site: TEAMS: Big guns back, Dons swing axe, Tigers dump flag hero. AFL Media. 22 April 2021. 2 April 2021. Sutton. Ben.
  12. Web site: Essendon vs St Kilda - Player Stats. AFLTables. 22 April 2021.
  13. Web site: Another Bomber joins Rising Star club after sizzling three-goal game. AFL Media. 13 July 2021. 13 July 2021.
  14. Web site: Young gun re-signs in boost for Bombers . AFL.com.au . 17 May 2022 . 19 November 2023.
  15. Web site: Twomey . Callum . Striving for glory in his own way: Fearless Bomber continues to grow . AFL.com.au . 3 June 2023 . 19 November 2023.
  16. Web site: Archie Perkins. AFLTables. 12 April 2021.