Kieren Briggs Explained

Kieren Briggs
Birth Date:6 October 1999
Birth Place:Pennant Hills, New South Wales
Draftpick:Round 2, Pick #34 2018 AFL National Draft
Debutdate:Round 9, 2021
Debutstadium:Marvel Stadium
Height:201cm
Weight:108 kg
Position:Ruckman
Originalteam:GWS Academy/Pennant Hills
Guernsey:32
Statsend:round 21, 2024
Years1:2019–
Games Goals1:46 (8)

Kieren Briggs (born 6th October 1999) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early football

Growing up, Briggs prioritised soccer until he joined the Pennant Hills Junior Football club at age 11. Two years later, he joined the GWS Academy program. Despite Pennant Hills falling within the Sydney Swans Academy zone,[1] due to the fact that he lived in Carlingford, he was consequently tied to the GWS Academy.

After going undrafted in 2017, he emerged as a strong contender for the 2018 draft after an exceptional year, where he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for both the GWS Academy side and the Allies team in the 2018 AFL Under 18 championships. That same year, he was named as the ruckman in the championship's All-Australian team.[2] [1] He was then drafted by GWS in the 2018 AFL draft, when they matched the bid made by West Coast with the 34th selection.[3]

AFL career

Briggs did not debut for the Giants until late into the 2021 AFL season.[4] He only played 9 games in two and a half seasons, before being recalled in round 10 of the 2023 AFL season. He held his position for the remainder of the year and was considered one of the best ruckmen in the league.[5] In September 2023, after playing his first ever finals game, Briggs signed a two-year contract extension.[6]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 13, 2024[7] |-| 2019 || || 32| 0 ||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—|- | 2019 || || 32| 0 ||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—|- | 2021 || || 32| 5 || 2 || 0 || 23 || 26 || 49 || 9 || 22 || 85 || 0.4 || 0.0 || 4.6 || 5.2 || 9.8 || 1.8 || 4.4 || 17.0 |- | 2022 || || 32| 4 || 1 || 3 || 26 || 11 || 37 || 9 || 7 || 49 || 0.3 || 0.8 || 6.5 || 2.8 || 9.3 || 2.3 || 1.8 || 12.3 |- | 2023 || || 32 | 17 || 4 || 6 || 165 || 97 || 262 || 47 || 77 || 440 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 9.7 || 5.7 || 15.4 || 2.8 || 4.5 || 25.9 |-| 2024 || || 32| 12 || 0 || 6 || 114 || 77 || 191 || 19 || 49 || 347 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 9.5 || 6.4 || 15.9 || 1.6 || 4.1 || 28.9|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 38 !! 7 !! 15 !! 328 !! 211 !! 539 !! 84 !! 155 !! 921 !! 0.2 !! 0.4 !! 8.6 !! 5.6 !! 14.2 !! 2.2 !! 4.1 !! 24.2|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018-11-13 . AFL draft 2018: Rise of Kieren Briggs from the Coles checkout to best young ruckman . 2023-09-19 . Fox Sports . en.
  2. News: Twomey . Callum . 5 June 2018 . SA stars dominate U18 All Australian side . AFL Media . Telstra Media . 7 April 2019.
  3. Web site: 2018-11-23 . Sensational Six: 2018 Draft Wrap . 2023-09-19 . gwsgiants.com.au . en.
  4. Web site: 2021-05-13 . Ruckman's debut another Giant hit for 'Mumford and sons' . 2023-09-19 . afl.com.au . en.
  5. Web site: 2023-06-14 . Unheralded tall takes Giant step into League's elite . 2023-09-19 . afl.com.au . en.
  6. Web site: 2023-09-15 . Breakout ruck star Kieren Briggs re-signs with Giants . 2023-09-19 . PerthNow . en.
  7. Web site: AFL Tables - Kieran Briggs - Stats - Statistics. afltables.com. 2024-06-08.