Jeremy Finlayson

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Jeremy Finlayson

| image = Jeremy Finlayson 2018.1.jpg

| caption = Finlayson playing for Greater Western Sydney in April 2018

| fullname = Jeremy Finlayson

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|02|09|df=y}}

| birth_place = Albury, New South Wales

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Culcairn, {{NEAFL SydHills}} (NEAFL)

| draftpick = No. 85, 2014 national draft

| debutdate = Round 15, 2017

| debutteam = {{AFL GWS}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Gee}}

| debutstadium = Spotless Stadium

| height = 197cm

| weight = 94kg

| position = Key forward / ruck

| currentclub = {{AFL PA}}

| guernsey = 11

| years1 = 2015–2021

| club1 = {{AFL GWS}}

| games_goals1 = 66 (90)

| years2 = 2022–

| club2 = {{AFL PA}}

| games_goals2 = 60 (76)

| games_goalstotal = 126 (166)

| sooyears1 = 2025

| sooteam1 = Indigenous All-Stars

| soogames_goals1 = 1 (0)

| statsend = round 11, 2025

| careerhighlights =

Port Adelaide leading goalkicker: (2023)

}}

Jeremy Finlayson (born 9 February 1996) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having been initially drafted to {{AFL GWS}}.

Personal life

Finlayson was born in Culcairn, New South Wales, into a family of Indigenous Australian (Yorta Yorta) descent.{{cite news|url=http://www.aflplayers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Indigenous-Player-Map-Update-2019_LR-1.pdf|title=AFL Players Launch 2019 Indigenous Map|date=20 May 2019|work=AFL Players Association|access-date=25 July 2019|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921021230/http://www.aflplayers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Indigenous-Player-Map-Update-2019_LR-1.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/6187781/gws-star-eyes-afl-indigenous-coach-pathway/?cs=2375|title=GWS star eyes AFL Indigenous coach pathway|last=Forsaith|first=Rob|date=28 May 2019|work=Blue Mountains Gazette|access-date=21 July 2019}} He grew up playing an array of sports including cricket, lawn bowls and tennis but mostly focused on Australian rules football. Finlayson attended Billabong High School in Culcairn and played his junior football with the Culcairn Lions in the Hume Football League, making his senior debut for the club in 2012 at the age of 16.{{cite news|url=https://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=192439129&client=1-1039-69945-209915-8424817|title=2012 Hume Football League Player Statistics- Jeremy Finlayson|work=SportsTG.com|access-date=30 August 2018}}

In late 2012, he moved to Sydney to join the GWS Giants' academy program full time to increase his chances of being drafted.{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/jeremy-finlayson-s-giant-climb-to-the-starting-line-20190419-p51fnt.html|title=Jeremy Finlayson's giant climb to the starting line|last=Ryan|first=Peter|date=19 April 2019|work=The Age|access-date=21 July 2019}} Finlayson was selected with the 85th pick in the 2014 AFL draft.{{cite news|url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2018-11-21/the-drafts-hidden-gems|title=The Draft's Hidden Gems|last=Giese|first=Susie|date=21 November 2018|work=gwsgiants.com.au|access-date=21 July 2019}} He completed his high school education at Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/jeremy-finlayson-s-giant-climb-to-the-starting-line-20190419-p51fnt.html|title=Jeremy Finlayson's giant climb to the starting line|last=Ryan|first=Peter|date=19 April 2018|work=The Age|access-date=5 February 2020}}

Finlayson married Kellie Gardner in 2023. Kelly learned in August 2021 she was diagnosed with terminal lung and bowel cancer just a few months after giving birth to a daughter with her future husband;{{cite news| last=Kemp | first=Miles | title=‘Hope she’s watching. I love her so much’: Finlayson’s tearful tribute to Kellie | website=adelaidenow | date=9 April 2023 | url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/port-adelaide-match-winner-jeremy-finlaysons-emotional-tribute-to-terminally-ill-wife-kellie/news-story/a9df3bd4fc65898d61adabc8e473fd3d | access-date=29 May 2023}} she started chemotherapy in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Madigan |first=Nicole |date=2023-12-29 |title='Before I married my husband, he already knew he'd soon be a single dad.' |url=https://www.mamamia.com.au/terminal-bowel-cancer-under-50/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Mamamia |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Kellie Finlayson’s difficult cancer update: ‘Today we start another fight’ |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/kellie-finlayson-begins-six-month-round-of-chemotherapy-as-afl-star-husband-jeremy-shares-touching-message-c-13244799 |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=7NEWS |language=en}}

AFL career

Finlayson made his debut against {{AFL Gee}} at Spotless Stadium in Round 15 of the 2017 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/gws-youngster-finlayson-set-for-afl-debut/3195465/|title=GWS youngster Finlayson set for AFL debut|last=Moir|first=David|date=30 June 2017|work=The Northern Star|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=9 July 2017}}

Finlayson was traded to {{AFL PA}} via request, citing family reasons at the conclusion of the 2021 AFL season.{{Cite tweet |user=AFL_House|number=1445576868460056585|date=6 October 2021|title=Trade paperwork lodged. }}

References

External links

{{Portplayer}}
{{AFL Tables}}
{{AustralianFootball}}

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Culcairn

Category:Greater Western Sydney Giants players

Category:East Coast Eagles players

Category:Port Adelaide Football Club players

Category:Australian rules footballers from New South Wales

Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football

Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people

Category:People educated at Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown