Brad Close
{{short description|Australian football league player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Brad Close
| image = File:BradCloseGF.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Bradley Close
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|07|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Mount Gambier, South Australia
| draftpick = No. 14, 2019 Rookie draft, {{AFL Gee}}
| originalteam = North Gambier, Glenelg
| debutdate = 27 July 2020
| debutteam = {{AFL Gee}}
| debutopponent = Fremantle
| debutstadium = Optus Stadium
| height = 183 cm
| weight = 71 kg
| position = Medium Forward
| currentclub = {{AFL Gee}}
| guernsey = 45
| years1 = 2020–
| club1 = {{AFL Gee}}
| games_goals1 = 115 (100)
| statsend = round 14, 2025
| careerhighlights =
- AFL premiership player: 2022
- Geelong best young player: 2020
- SANFL premiership player: 2019
| nickname =
}}
Bradley Close (born 30 July 1998) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Geelong Cats with the 14th pick in the 2019 rookie draft.
Early football
Close played local football for the North Gambier Football Club.{{cite web|title=North Gambier Football Club|url=https://borderwatch.com.au/wbfl-tigers-advance-grand-final/|date=11 September 2017|last1=Jackson|first1=Trevor|work=The Border Watch|accessdate=21 August 2020}}{{cite web|title=Brad Close|work=SANFL Media|url=https://sanfl.com.au/draft-pick/brad-close/|accessdate=21 August 2020}} He also played in the SANFL for the Glenelg Football Club in the 2019 season, where he kicked a total of 13 goals over 21 matches, while also winning the 2019 SANFL premiership{{cite web|title=Brad Close|work=Aussie Rules Draft Central|url=https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/player/brad-close/|accessdate=21 August 2020}}{{cite web|title=Two more selected in AFL Rookie Draft|url=https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/two-more-selected-in-afl-rookie-draft/|work=SANFL Media|last1=Milbank|first1=Zac|date=December 2019|accessdate=21 August 2020}}{{cite web|title=Close to debut|url=https://www.krockfootball.com.au/geelong-cats-news/close-to-debut/|work=K Rock Football|date=25 July 2020 |accessdate=21 August 2020}}
AFL career
Close debuted in Geelong's thirty-two point win over the Fremantle Dockers in the eighth round of the 2020 AFL season.{{cite web|title=Fremantle held goalless in first half as Cats maul Dockers by 32-points|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/fremantle-held-goalless-in-first-half-as-cats-maul-dockers-by-32-points-ng-b881622025z|work=The West Australian|date=27 July 2020|last1=Quartermaine|first1=Braden|accessdate=21 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=GAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geelongadvertiser.com.au%2Fsport%2Fafl%2Fnew-cat-brad-close-a-combination-of-the-new-game-and-a-classic-upbringing%2Fnews-story%2Fc9693faa3cd67e4766f2408c193e4f27&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21suffix=105-b|title=Old fashioned Close reeady for modern debut|work=The Geelong Adveriser|accessdate=21 August 2020}}{{cite web|title=Mature-age rookie to debut as gun Cat faces lengthy layoff|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/474681/mature-age-cat-to-debut-as-dahlhaus-faces-lengthy-layoff|date=24 July 2020|last1=Cleary|first1=Mitch|work=AFL Media|accessdate=21 August 2020}} Close kicked his first goal with his first kick just one minute into the game, also picking up 14 disposals, 3 marks and 4 tackles.{{cite web|title=Round 8 • Fremantle v Geelong Cats - Player Stats|url=https://www.geelongcats.com.au/matches/2811#player-stats|accessdate=21 August 2020}}{{cite web|title=Geelong Cats debutant Brad Close joins first kick first goal club against Fremantle Dockers|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-cats-debutant-brad-close-joins-first-kick-first-goal-club-against-fremantle-dockers/news-story/2d3e4fefbf37594f9da4931bdd74a238|date=27 July 2020|last1=McMurtry|first1=Andrew|work=News.com.au|accessdate=21 August 2020}} Close took home the Best Young Player Award for the Geelong Football Club at the conclusion of the season.{{cite web|title=Guthrie wins Carji Greeves Medal|url=https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/832556/guthrie-wins-carji-greeves-medal|date=29 October 2020|last1=Diggerson|first1=Kevin|accessdate=16 November 2020|work=Geelong Cats Media}} Close signed a contract extension with the Cats in November 2020.{{cite web|title=Three Cats Sign On|url=https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/837712/three-cats-sign-on|last1=Diggerson|first1=Kevin|date=23 November 2020|accessdate=23 November 2020|work=Geelong Cats Media}} Geelong's general manager of football, Simon Lloyd, said "Brad also played well as a forward and we see him having a good future at AFL level. He will continue to develop his game through his strong drive and professionalism and we look forward to seeing Brad further enhance his game in 2021."
Statistics
Updated to the end of round 6, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/B/Brad_Close.html|title=Brad Close|work=AFL Tables|accessdate=11 July 2020}}
{{AFL player statistics legend|p=y}}
{{AFL player statistics start}}
|-
| 2020{{efn|The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.}} || {{AFL Gee}} || 45
| 8 || 2 || 2 || 29 || 41 || 70 || 13 || 24 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 3.6 || 5.1 || 8.8 || 1.6 || 3.0
|-
| 2021 || {{AFL Gee}} || 45
| 22 || 15 || 10 || 132 || 159 || 291 || 61 || 72 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 6.0 || 7.2 || 13.2 || 2.7 || 3.2
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | 2022# || {{AFL Gee}} || 45
| 25 || 26 || 20 || 181 || 213 || 394 || 85 || 93 || 1.0 || 0.8 || 7.2 || 8.5 || 15.8 || 3.4 || 3.7
|-
| 2023 || {{AFL Gee}} || 45
| 6 || 9 || 8 || 40 || 38 || 78 || 19 || 10 || 1.5 || 1.3 || 6.6 || 6.3 || 13.0 || 3.1 || 1.6
|- class=sortbottom
! colspan=3 | Career
! 61 !! 52 !! 40 !! 382 !! 451 !! 833 !! 178 !! 199 !! 0.8 !! 0.6 !! 6.2 !! 7.3 !! 13.6 !! 2.9 !! 3.2
|}
{{notelist}}
Honours and achievements
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Geelplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
{{Geelong player squad}}
{{2022 Geelong premiership players}}
{{2020 AFL rookie draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Close, Bradley}}
Category:Geelong Football Club players
Category:Geelong Football Club premiership players
Category:Glenelg Football Club players
Category:Australian rules footballers from South Australia
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players
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