Luke Power

{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1980}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Luke Power

| image = Luke_Power.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Power training with the {{AFL BL}} in 2008

| fullname = Luke Power

| nickname = Finger

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|01|08|df=y}}

| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)

| draftpick = No. 5, 1997 national draft

| height = 180 cm

| weight = 79 kg

| position = Utility

| statsend = 2012

| years1 = 1998–2011

| club1 = {{AFL BL}}

| games_goals1 = 282 (226)

| years2 = 2012

| club2 = {{AFL GWS}}

| games_goals2 = {{0}}20 {{0}}(0)

| games_goalstotal = 302 (226)

| sooyears1 = 2008

| sooteam1 = Victoria

| soogames_goals1 = 1 (0)

| nationalyears1 = 2000, 2003

| nationalteam1 = Australia

| nationalgames_goals1 = 4

| coachyears1 = 2023–

| coachclub1 = {{AFL Car}} (VFL)

| coachgames_wins1 = 18 (10-8-0)

| coachstatsend = the end of the 2023 season

| careerhighlights = * 3× AFL premiership player: 2001, 2002, 2003

}}

Luke Power (born 8 January 1980) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). A member of the Brisbane Lions's 2001, 2002, and 2003 premiership winning teams, he played 282 games for the Lions before moving to Greater Western Sydney where he played his final season.

Early life

Power grew up in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and attended Trinity Grammar School.{{Cite web |title=2016 CBD Lunch with Luke Power |url=http://www.otga.com.au/2016-cbd-lunch-with-luke-power |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=Old Trinity Grammarians’ Association Inc |language=en-AU}} He played junior football for Balwyn in the YJFL.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-28 |title=Grand Final Day – A great conclusion to the 2017 season |url=https://www.yarrajfl.org.au/post/grand-final-day-a-great-conclusion-to-the-2017-season |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=YARRA new |language=en}}

AFL career

=Brisbane Lions (1998–2011)=

==Premiership sides (1998–2003)==

Power debuted for the Lions as an 18-year-old in 1998, and he has been noted ever since for his skills and desire to win the ball. He has played in all three of Brisbane's premierships.{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/105141/luke-power|title=Luke Power|date=27 November 2019|access-date=29 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Luke%2BPower/13990|title=LUKE POWER|access-date=29 June 2022}}

==Leadership (2004–2009)==

Power was named as a vice-captain in 2004, where he won All-Australian selection in 2004. Midway through 2005 he was out of contract and was expected to arrive at the Collingwood FC, but decided he would stay with the Brisbane Lions. He retained the position in 2005. In 2006, he was an inaugural member of the Brisbane Lions Leadership group, under captain Michael Voss. When Voss retired at the end of 2006, Power was named as co-captain of the side in 2007, alongside Black, Lappin, Chris Johnson, and Jonathan Brown. After Johnson's retirement in 2007, Power was one of four co-captains. Lappin's retirement at the end of 2008 means there was only three of the original five co-captains remaining. At the start of 2009, the new coach, Michael Voss, changed the co-captain system. Jonathon Brown was made stand-alone captain, with four vice-captains - Simon Black, Jed Adcock, Daniel Merrett and Power. In 2009, he was another consistent year for Luke Power as he led the Disposal count for the Lions with 615. He finished 4th in the Best and Fairest voting behind Mitch Clark, Simon Black and eventual winner Jonathan Brown.{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/105141/luke-power|title=Luke Power|date=27 November 2019|access-date=29 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Luke%2BPower/13990|title=LUKE POWER|access-date=29 June 2022}}

==End of Brisbane Lions career (2010–2011)==

In Round 10 of the 2010 season, in which the Lions took on Collingwood at the Gabba, Power played his 250th game, a match where the Lions upset the eventual premiers Collingwood by eight points, giving Power the perfect celebration for his milestone. In 2011, Power remained one of only three players (the others being Simon Black and Jonathan Brown) from the triple-premiership winning Brisbane Lions sides of 2001-2003. Luke Power retired after the Round 23 match against {{AFL WC}}, having played 282 games for the Lions. His retirement was primarily due to being told that his position in the Lions side would not be guaranteed in 2012.[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/brisbane-lions-gallant-after-luke-power-makes-surprise-retirement-announcement/story-e6frf9jf-1226123575505 Brisbane Lions gallant after Luke Power makes surprise retirement announcement][https://web.archive.org/web/20121011011754/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/122261/default.aspx Power in demand][http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/mike-sheahan-and-paul-roos-say-brisbane-lions-great-luke-power-would-be-a-perfect-fit-for-greater-western-sydney/story-e6frf3e3-1226124939401 Mike Sheahan, Paul Roos say Brisbane Lions great Luke Power would be perfect for Greater Western Sydney]{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/105141/luke-power|title=Luke Power|date=27 November 2019|access-date=29 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Luke%2BPower/13990|title=LUKE POWER|access-date=29 June 2022}}

=Greater Western Sydney (2012)=

File:6 Luke Power.png

On 17 September 2011, it was announced, he would be joining Greater Western Sydney. He was made co-captain alongside Phil Davis and Callan Ward. In Round 21 of the 2012 season, Power became the 66th person to play 300 VFL/AFL games, (282 for the Brisbane Lions, 18 for GWS). Power then retired from his playing career at the end of the 2012 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/105141/luke-power|title=Luke Power|date=27 November 2019|access-date=29 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Luke%2BPower/13990|title=LUKE POWER|access-date=29 June 2022}}

Statistics

:[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/L/Luke_Power.html Luke Power's player profile at AFL Tables]

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start}}

|-

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 1998

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 9 || 3 || 3 || 83 || 44 || 127 || 27 || 12 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 9.2 || 4.9 || 14.1 || 3.0 || 1.3

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 1999

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 16 || 17 || 15 || 157 || 76 || 233 || 42 || 22 || 1.1 || 0.9 || 9.8 || 4.8 || 14.6 || 2.6 || 1.4

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2000

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 22 || 52 || 19 || 260 || 136 || 396 || 70 || 47 || 2.4 || 0.9 || 11.8 || 6.2 || 18.0 || 3.2 || 2.1

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 2001

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 131 || 64 || 195 || 41 || 27 || 1.1 || 1.1 || 8.7 || 4.3 || 13.0 || 2.7 || 1.8

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 2002

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 22 || 19 || 10 || 253 || 129 || 382 || 78 || 60 || 0.9 || 0.5 || 11.5 || 5.9 || 17.4 || 3.5 || 2.7

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 2003

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 26 || 27 || 12 || 349 || 190 || 539 || 120 || 72 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 13.4 || 7.3 || 20.7 || 4.6 || 2.8

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2004

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 24 || 15 || 14 || 364 || 169 || 533 || 90 || 78 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 15.2 || 7.0 || 22.2 || 3.8 || 3.3

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2005

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 20 || 12 || 9 || 314 || 131 || 445 || 88 || 65 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 15.7 || 6.6 || 22.3 || 4.4 || 3.3

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2006

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 22 || 15 || 7 || 376 || 185 || 561 || 106 || 81 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 17.1 || 8.4 || 25.5 || 4.8 || 3.7

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2007

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 19 || 9 || 8 || 246 || 206 || 452 || 65 || 96 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 12.9 || 10.8 || 23.8 || 3.4 || 5.1

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 22 || 7 || 8 || 286 || 256 || 542 || 73 || 100 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 13.0 || 11.6 || 24.6 || 3.3 || 4.5

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 24 || 6 || 6 || 307 || 308 || 615 || 94 || 121 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 12.8 || 12.8 || 25.6 || 3.9 || 5.0

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 21 || 9 || 4 || 269 || 212 || 481 || 84 || 79 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 12.8 || 10.1 || 22.9 || 4.0 || 3.8

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL BL}}

| 6 || 20 || 19 || 9 || 191 || 192 || 383 || 61 || 80 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 9.6 || 9.6 || 19.2 || 3.1 || 4.0

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL GWS}}

| 6 || 20 || 0 || 1 || 227 || 182 || 409 || 84 || 52 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 11.4 || 9.1 || 20.5 || 4.2 || 2.6

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 302

! 226

! 142

! 3813

! 2480

! 6293

! 1123

! 992

! 0.7

! 0.5

! 12.6

! 8.2

! 20.8

! 3.7

! 3.3

|}

Honours and achievements

Team

  • AFL Premiership (Brisbane Lions): 2001, 2002, 2003

Individual

  • All-Australian: 2004
  • Brisbane Lions A.F.C. Co-Captain: 2007–2008
  • AFL Players’ Association Madden Medal: 2012

Coaching career

=Greater Western Sydney=

Shortly after his retirement from his playing career, Power then became an assistant coach with Greater Western Sydney Giants in their second AFL season in the 2013 season. Power served in this capacity for five seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/558838/luke-power|title=Luke Power|date=January 31, 2020|access-date=29 June 2022}}

=AFL Academy High Performance coach=

In 2017, Power became the AFL Academy High Performance coach, leading the Underage national team to consecutive victories against New Zealand in 2017,2018 and 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/558838/luke-power|title=Luke Power|date=January 31, 2020|access-date=29 June 2022}}

=Carlton Football Club=

In September 2019, Power then became an assistant coach at Carlton Football Club in the position of Head of Development, with the primary responsibility being to manage the players' performance and development.{{cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/35352/blues-boost-with-playfair-power|title=Blues boost with Playfair, Power|date=17 September 2019|access-date=18 December 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/558838/luke-power|title=Luke Power|date=January 31, 2020|access-date=November 4, 2021}} However in the middle of the 2021 season, fellow Carlton assistant coach John Barker departed the club because of an external review the club had decided to undertake, to improve its on-field results. Power then replaced Barker to be promoted to a higher assistant coaching position within the Carlton Football Club as the stoppages coach.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/628871/triple-brisbane-premiership-midfielder-luke-power-will-step-up-to-carltons-coaching-panel|title=Triple premiership Lion to step up to Carlton's coaching panel|date=June 10, 2021|access-date=November 4, 2021}}

In 2021, Power won the AFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year at the AFL Coaches Association awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/1019453/power-named-aflca-assistant-coach-of-the-year#:~:text=LUKE%20Power%20has%20tonight%20received,the%20competition%20in%20the%20process.|title=Power named AFLCA Assistant Coach of the Year|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=November 4, 2021}}

In 2022, Power was made Head Coach of Carlton's reserves team, which is competing in the VFL.

References

{{Reflist}}