| Michael Prior | |
| Fullname: | Michael Prior |
| Birth Date: | 1973 9, df=yes |
| Originalteam: | East Perth (WAFL) |
| Debutdate: | Round 20, 5 August 1994 |
| Debutteam: | Essendon |
| Debutopponent: | Collingwood |
| Debutstadium: | MCG |
| Height: | 182 cm |
| Weight: | 79 kg |
| Statsend: | 2002 |
| Years1: | 1994–2000 |
| Games Goals1: | 81 (19) |
| Years2: | 2001–2002 |
| Games Goals2: | 9 (1) |
| Games Goalstotal: | 90 (20) |
| Careerhighlights: |
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| Coachyears1: | 2022 (S6)–2023 |
| Coachclub1: | (W) |
| Coachgames Wins1: | 28 (5-23-0) |
| Coachstatsend: | round 8, 2023 |
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 the former senior coach of the in the AFL Women's competition.
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 colorfully referred to by 3AW commentator Rex Hunt as "prior conviction".
His son Jaxon has played for the Brisbane Lions since 2020.[1]
Prior coached the West Coast Eagles in the AFL Women’s competition from season six (2022) until season eight (2023).
On October 25, 2023, Prior announced his departure from the Eagles after round 8 of the 2023 season (season 8). He was later replaced by Daisy Pearce as senior coach.
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