Luke Ottens

He is the son of Dean Ottens,{{Ref AFL Encyc|7th|610}} who was a talented ruckman for Sturt in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Dean played 116 games, won two premierships and representing South Australia seven times.{{cite web|title=Dean Ottens (Sturt & Waratahs)|url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/n-o.htm#Dean_Ottens_(Sturt_&_Waratahs)|publisher=Full Points Footy|accessdate=14 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210082758/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/n-o.htm#Dean_Ottens_(Sturt_&_Waratahs)|archive-date=10 February 2012|url-status=usurped}} Born on 22 May 1976, Luke grew up in a footballing family. His brother, Brad, had a successful AFL career, winning three premierships with Geelong.{{cite news|title=Your club: Daily news on every AFL club|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=news980827_0264_1235|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=27 August 1998}} Brad claims his earliest memory is "playing in the backyard with [Luke]".{{cite web|title=Brad Ottens|url=http://www.gfc.com.au/players/playerprofile/bradottens/tabid/8137/playerid/14233/category/senior/season/2009/selected/bio/default.aspx|publisher=Geelong Football Club|accessdate=14 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231011615/http://www.gfc.com.au/players/playerprofile/bradottens/tabid/8137/playerid/14233/category/senior/season/2009/selected/bio/default.aspx|archive-date=31 December 2009|url-status=dead}}

Ottens began his career with Glenelg, playing in the SANFL. He was drafted in the inaugural rookie draft in 1997 by Port Adelaide, but he failed to play a game for Port, instead continuing to play for Glenelg.{{cite news|last=Denham|first=Greg|title=Ex-Don gets new chance via draft|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=news970226_0230_0266|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=26 February 1997}}{{cite news|last=Reilly|first=Stephen|last2=Happell|first2=Charles|last3=Denham|first3=Greg|title=Who your club drafted|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=news971101_0241_6682|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=1 November 1997}}

Ottens was drafted to the Melbourne Football Club with the 50th selection in the 1997 AFL Draft, the same draft in which his brother, Brad, was drafted by Richmond with the second selection. He injured his groin the December after he was drafted, requiring surgery.{{cite news|title=Your club|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=0&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=news980415_0256_9552|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=15 April 1998}} Ottens made his debut for Melbourne's reserves in April 1998. Ottens was hampered by groin problems for the remainder of 1998 and did not manage to break into the senior team, playing all his matches in the reserves.

Ottens made his AFL debut in the first round of the 1999 season, playing against his brother, Brad, who was playing in his 13th match.{{cite news|last=Cockerill|first=Ian|title=But pain for a retiring ruckman|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=news990329_0073_2966|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=28 March 1999}} Although a key-position defender, Ottens also played as Melbourne's backup ruckman, occasionally rucking directly against his brother during the match.{{cite news|last=Niall|first=Jake|title=Dees look to rookies for opener|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=news990324_0239_2613|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=24 March 1999}} He was, however, "dominated" by his younger, but substantially taller, brother in these encounters. In his third game, Ottens, along with fellow youngster Troy Longmuir, were praised for their "enthusiasm" in a game the Demons narrowly lost.{{cite news|last=Niall|first=Jake|last2=Ryan|first2=Melissa|title=Gritty Cats claw back at the last|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=news990412_0080_9295|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=11 April 1999}} Ottens was dropped from the team for Melbourne's round 5 match{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Len|title=Sheedy keeps word for Anzac Day clash|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=0&clsPage=1&hids=news990423_0197_9147|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=23 April 1999}} and he never made his way back into the Melbourne senior team in a career that was crippled by injury, causing the round 4 game to be his last AFL match.

In May 1999, Ottens the medial ligament in his knee while playing in the reserves, sidelining him for six weeks.{{cite news|last=Reilly|first=Stephen|title=Neitz will not face the Blues|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=0&clsPage=1&hids=news990608_0292_9211,news990803_0405_9618&sids=news990518_0269_4977|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=18 May 1999}} In round 13 of the 1999 season, Ottens injured his left knee, requiring a knee reconstruction,{{cite news|title=Your club|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=0&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=news000627_0309_3033|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=27 June 2000}} which ruled him out for the remainder of the 1999 season and half of the 2000 season. After successfully returning from injury in round 15 of 2000, Ottens then injured his right knee only four games later, again requiring a knee reconstruction. Due to his horrendous run with injuries, Ottens was delisted by the Demons at the end of the 2000 season.{{cite news|title=Melbourne|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?multiview=true&sy=age&page=1&kw=Luke+Ottens&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=article&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&hids=&sids=AGE010326ES3J41JAMCQ|accessdate=14 November 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=26 March 2001}}

After being delisted, Ottens went back to his original team, Glenelg, and played for the Tigers from 2001 to 2002.

Luke finished his career playing for the Encounter Bay Football Club in 2003–04.

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Melbplayer|ref=22109}}
• {{AFL Tables|L/Luke_Ottens}}

{{1997 AFL rookie draft}}

{{1997 AFL national draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ottens, Luke}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Glenelg Football Club players

Category:Living people

Category:Melbourne Football Club players

Category:Australian rules footballers from South Australia