Jared Polec
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Jared Polec
| image = Jared Polec 2017.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Polec playing for Port Adelaide in June 2017
| fullname = Jared Polec
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|10|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Adelaide, South Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = {{SANFL WWT}} (SANFL), Seaton Ramblers
| draftpick = No. 5, 2010 national draft
| height = 187 cm
| weight = 84 kg
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = {{AFL NM}}
| guernsey = 13
| years1 = 2011–2013
| club1 = {{AFL BL}}
| games_goals1 = 16 {{0}}(9)
| years2 = 2014–2018
| club2 = {{AFL PA}}
| games_goals2 = 90 (46)
| years3 = 2019–2022
| club3 = {{AFL NM}}
| games_goals3 = 42 (20)
| games_goalstotal = 148 (75)
| statsend = 2022
| careerhighlights =
}}
Jared Polec (born 12 October 1992) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club, Port Adelaide and Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).
He was selected with the Brisbane Lions' first selection (pick 5 overall) in the 2010 national draft from SANFL club, Woodville-West Torrens.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/105433/default.aspx|title=Lions's last gasp call on Polec|publisher=AFL.com.au|date=2010-11-19|access-date=2009-12-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121030156/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/105433/default.aspx|archive-date=21 November 2010|df=dmy-all}}
Of Polish descent, Polec was an outside midfielder who, prior to being drafted, played senior football with Woodville West Torrens and was a key player in their 2010 finals series. Woodville-West Torrens coach Michael Godden described Polec as being "as good a junior as I've seen come through the system" and praised him for his skill, composure and work ethic.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jared-polec-the-complete-package/story-e6frf9jf-1225953797620|title=Jared Polec the complete package|publisher=Herald Sun|date=2010-11-15 |access-date=2009-12-08}}
Polec missed games for both Port Adelaide and North Melbourne due to a recurrent injury to his foot.{{cite web | url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1102375/afl-r5-injury-update-successful-surgery-for-polec | title=AFL R5 injury update: Surgery for Polec, Thomas progressing | date=12 April 2022 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-01/powers-jared-polec-ready-to-play-after-near-career-ending-injury/7130758 | title=Power's Jared Polec reveals his last season's foot injury nearly 'ended his career' | newspaper=ABC News | date=February 2016 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/70910/port-declare-polec-done-for-the-year-with-foot-injury | title=Port declare Polec done for the year with foot injury | date=10 August 2015 }}
AFL career
=Brisbane Lions (2011–2013)=
Polec was selected in the initial extended squad for the Lions in round 2 in the 2011 season, but was left out of the final team. He made his AFL debut against {{AFL Mel}} in round 3.{{cite news|url=http://www.lions.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/5085/newsid/111101/default.aspx|title=Polec named for AFL debut|publisher=lions.com.au|date=2011-04-08|access-date=2011-04-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411053422/http://www.lions.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/5085/newsid/111101/default.aspx|archive-date=11 April 2011|df=dmy-all}} In his first three seasons at Brisbane, he played in sixteen games. In September 2013, Polec requested a trade to a South Australian team,{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/talented-south-australian-jared-polec-wants-to-return-home/story-fnia3y5g-1226716785941|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130911090050/http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/talented-south-australian-jared-polec-wants-to-return-home/story-fnia3y5g-1226716785941|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2013|title=Talented South Australian Jared Polec Wants To Return Home|website=The Courier Mail}} and in October, he nominated Port Adelaide as his preferred club of destination.{{Cite web |url=http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2013-10-16/polec-nominates-port-adelaide |title=Polec nominates Port Adelaide - portadelaidefc.com.au |access-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019043329/http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2013-10-16/polec-nominates-port-adelaide |archive-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}
=Port Adelaide (2014–2018)=
Polec officially joined Port Adelaide in October 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2013-10-24/deal-done-port-gets-polec|title=Deal Done: Port gets its man in complex trade|publisher=portadelaidefc.com.au|date=2011-10-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027125055/http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2013-10-24/deal-done-port-gets-polec|archive-date=27 October 2013|df=dmy-all}} Polec had an immediate impact at Port Adelaide, achieving a career-high thirty disposals in round 7 against {{AFL GWS}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-05-03/match-report-gws-v-port-adelaide|title=Powering on: Polec shines as Giants wilt|last=Dampney|first=James|date=3 May 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=10 December 2016}}
2015 was not to be for Polec, suffering a stress reaction in his foot which developed into a navicular fracture, forcing him out for the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-05-07/foot-injury-to-sideline-power-mid-for-eight-weeks-|title=Port finally forced to pull the pin on Polec|last=Thring|first=Harry|date=7 May 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=10 December 2016}} In early 2016, scans cleared Polec of the fracture and he was declared fit to resume full training.{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/power-buoyed-by-jared-polec-upping-the-ante-at-preseason-training/news-story/60cdb1ae73a77cf7991242cbb78487de|title=Power buoyed by Jared Polec upping the ante at pre-season training|last=Homfray|first=Reece|date=3 January 2016|work=The Advertiser|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=10 December 2016}} On 13 September 2018, Polec advised Port Adelaide that he wished to be traded to North Melbourne.
=North Melbourne (2019–2022)=
In October 2018, Polec was traded to North Melbourne on a five-year contract for seasons 2019 to 2023,{{cite web|url=http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2018-10-10/north-trade-doubles-power|title=North trade doubles Power|publisher=nmfc.com.au|date=10 October 2018}} however was delisted after the 2022 season following an ongoing foot injury that kept him out of the team throughout 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1244119/kangaroos-part-ways-with-midfielder | title=Kangaroos part ways with midfielder | date=2 November 2022 }}
Post-AFL career
In September 2023, Polec was appointed as head coach of Hoppers Crossing Football Club in the Western Region Football League, on a two-year contract.{{cite web | url=https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/sport/polec-to-coach-hoppers-crossing/ | title=Polec to coach Hoppers Crossing | date=10 September 2023 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{NMplayer}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
- {{AFL Tables|J/Jared_Polec}}
{{2010 AFL national draft}}
{{2022 AFL rookie draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polec, Jared}}
Category:Australian people of Polish descent
Category:Australian rules footballers from Adelaide
Category:Brisbane Lions players
Category:Port Adelaide Football Club players
Category:Port Adelaide Football Club players (all competitions)
Category:Woodville-West Torrens Football Club players