Riley Thilthorpe Explained

Fullname:Riley Thilthorpe
Nickname:Filthy
Riley Thilthorpe
Birth Date:7 July 2002
Draftpick:No. 2, 2020 AFL draft,
Debutdate:25 April 2021
Debutstadium:University of Tasmania Stadium
Guernsey:7
Position:Ruck / Forward
Heightweight:201cm / 105kg
Originalteam:West Adelaide (SANFL)
Goodwood Saints
Years1:2021–
Games Goals1:50 (52)
Statsend:round 21, 2024
Careerhighlights:

Riley Thilthorpe (born 7 July 2002) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Adelaide Football Club with the 2nd draft pick in the 2020 AFL draft.[1]

AFL career

Thilthorpe debuted in round 6 of the 2021 AFL season, as he was impressive with 16 disposals and kicked 5 goals.[2] His 5 goals is the highest ever by a Crows debutant, tied with Josh Rachele who matched the record a year later. Jason Dunstall noted the performance as "the emergence of a future star."[3]

In round 13, against St Kilda, Thilthorpe kicked the match winning goal over his head on his opposite boot in the last minute of the game. It completed Adelaide's 36-point comeback.[4] Thilthorpe was rewarded with the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for Round 13.[5]

After a strong off-season prior to 2024, Thilthorpe sustained a knee injury in a pre-season match against . He had surgery and missed more than four months of football.[6] Thilthorpe finally made his return in July of 2024, coming on as the substitute in the fourth quarter against and kicking two match-winning goals.[7] He played his 50th game just a few weeks later against, and kicked three goals in the same game, the first of which was his 50th career goal.[8]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to round 19, 2024.|- | 2021| || 7 | 14 || 18 || 10 || 94 || 58 || 152 || 44 || 19 || 25 || 1.29 || 0.71 || 6.71 || 4.14 || 10.86 || 3.14 || 1.36 || 1.79 || 0|- | 2022| || 7 | 11 || 8 || 7 || 70 || 43 || 113 || 49 || 24 || 55 || 0.73 || 0.64 || 6.36 || 3.91 || 10.27 || 4.45 || 2.18 || 5.00 || 0|- | 2023| || 7 | 21 || 18 || 9 || 126 || 97 || 223 || 74 || 31 || 116 || 0.86 || 0.43 || 6 || 4.62 || 10.62 || 3.52 || 1.48 || 5.52 || 2|-| 2024| || 7 | 2 || 4 || 1 || 11 || 6 || 17 || 5 || 0 || 5 || 2.00 || 0.50 || 5.50 || 3.00 || 8.50 || 2.50 || 0 || 2.50 || TBC|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 48 !! 48 !! 27 !! 301 !! 204 !! 505 !! 172 !! 74 !! 201 !! 1.00 !! 0.56 !! 6.27 !! 4.25 !! 10.52 !! 3.58 !! 1.54 !! 4.19 !! 2|}

References

  1. Web site: NAB AFL Draft recap: Every pick as it happened. 2021-04-24. afl.com.au. en.
  2. Web site: Hawthorn Hawks vs Adelaide Crows – AFL Round 6, 2021. 2021-04-25. FOX SPORTS. en-AU.
  3. Web site: 2021-04-25. ‘A bag of tricks’: Riley Thilthorpe breaks Adelaide club record in super debut. 2021-04-25. Fox Sports. en.
  4. Web site: Thilthorpe's magic downs Saints in final minute. 2021-06-13. wwos.nine.com.au. en.
  5. Web site: Crows' match-winning hero nabs Rising Star nomination. 2021-06-15. afl.com.au. en.
  6. Web site: Huge Crows blow as key forward sidelined for months. afl.com.au. Australian Football League. 5 March 2024. Martin. Smith.
  7. Web site: Match Report: Crows prove too good for Saints in the wet. Adelaide Football Club. 13 July 2024. Steve. Larkin. Howard. Kimber.
  8. Web site: Thilthorpe-led Crows learn familiar lesson in Cats thriller. The Chronicle. tags.news.com.au. 3 August 2024.