Luke Tapscott

{{short description|Australian rules footballer (born 1991)}}

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Luke Tapscott

| image =

| fullname = Luke Tapscott

| nickname = Tappers

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1991|6|28}}

| birth_place = Orroroo, South Australia

| originalteam = North Adelaide (SANFL)

| draftpick = 18th overall, 2009
Melbourne

| height = 180 cm

| weight = 86 kg

| position = Utility

| statsend = 2014

| years1 = 2010–2014

| club1 = {{AFL Mel}}

| games_goals1 = 48 (12)

| years2 = 2017-2021

| club2 = Sorrento

| games_goals2 = 78 (133)

| years3 = 2006-09

| club3 = Nth Adelaide

| games_goals3 = 33 (50)

| years4 = 2010-14

| club4 = Casey Demons

| games_goals4 = 29 (23)

| years5 = 2021

| club5 = Orroroo

| games_goals5 = 2 (2)

| years6 = 2016

| club6 = MPNFL

| games_goals6 = 1 (2)

| careerhighlights = * SFC playing coach 2017-2021

• SFC Best & Fairest 2016, 2017

| club7 = Chelsea Heights Demons

| years7 = 2022-present

}}

Luke Tapscott (born 28 June 1991) is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Tapscott started his football for Northern Areas Football Association club Orroroo before moving to Adelaide to attend Prince Alfred College and play football for North Adelaide Football Club. One of Tapscott's Prince Alfred friends was Jack Trengove, who later became his teammate at Melbourne.{{cite news|last=Quayle|first=Emma|title=From classroom to football field, mates stick|url=http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/from-classroom-to-football-field-mates-stick-20110326-1cb98.html|accessdate=31 March 2011|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=27 March 2011}}

He excelled through the ranks as a tough, built, young forward/midfielder with an exceptional penetrating kick, on both the left and right foot. After twice representing South Australia at the AFL Under 18 Championships and being named in the All Australian team, he was picked as the 18th overall pick in the 2009 AFL Draft, by the Melbourne Football Club. At the time he was compared to 2009 AFL Rising Star winner Daniel Rich.{{cite news|last=Milbank|first=Zac|title=Luke Tapscott is rich talent and sheer strength|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/luke-tapscott-is-rich-talent-and-sheer-strength/story-e6freck3-1225796018092|accessdate=31 March 2011|newspaper=The Advertiser|date=10 November 2009}}

After injuring his hip in the 2010 pre-season, Tapscott missed most of the season and was unable to break into Melbourne's senior side when he did return, instead playing for Melbourne's VFL-affiliate Casey,{{cite web|last=Holmesby|first=Luke|title=Young Demon set for debut|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/109871/default.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008000749/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/109871/default.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 October 2012|publisher=AFL BigPond Network|accessdate=31 March 2011|date=24 March 2011}} before injuring his shoulder at the end of 2010. After an impressive 2011 pre-season, Tapscott made his AFL debut in Round One that year.{{cite news|last=Paton|first=Al|title=Melbourne teenager Luke Tapscott to debut against Sydney|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-teenager-luke-tapscott-to-debut-against-sydney/story-e6frf9jf-1226027325561|accessdate=31 March 2011|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=24 March 2011}} Playing in a draw against Sydney, Tapscott played a "tremendous" match, gathering 19 disposals and narrowly missing out on being the AFL Rising Star nominee for round one to {{AFL Ess}}'s Dyson Heppell, who would eventually claim the award at the end of the season.{{cite news|last=Blake|first=Martin|title=Demons, Swans hurting|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demons-swans-hurting-20110327-1cbxi.html|accessdate=31 March 2011|newspaper=The Age|date=28 March 2011}}{{cite news|last=Paton|first=Al|title=Essendon youngster Dyson Heppell wins Rising Star nod|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-youngster-dyson-heppell-wins-rising-star-nod/story-e6frf9jf-1226029906060|accessdate=31 March 2011|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=29 March 2011}}

Tapscott was delisted at the conclusion of the 2014 AFL season.{{cite web|title=Demons leave rookie door open for delisted first-round draft pick Luke Tapscott|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-31/dees-cut-another-top-pick|accessdate=31 October 2014}}