Meg Downie
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Meg Downie
| image = Meg Downie 19.01.18.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Downie playing for Melbourne in January 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|01|03|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = St Kilda Sharks (VFL Women's)
| draftpick = 2016 free agent: {{AFLW|Mel}}
| debutdate = Round 1, 2017
| debutteam = {{AFLW|Mel}}
| debutopponent = {{AFLW|Bri}}
| debutstadium = Casey Fields
| height = 176 cm
| weight =
| position = Utility
| years1 = 2017–2021
| club1 = {{AFLW|Mel}}
| games_goals1 = 22 (0)
| careerhighlights =*AFL Women's All-Australian team: 2018
}}
Meg Downie (born 3 January 1989) is a retired Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition.
AFLW career
Downie was recruited by Melbourne as a free agent in October 2016.{{cite news|last1=Burgan|first1=Matt|title=Corrigan, Downie join as free agents|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-10-21/corrigan-downie-join-as-free-agents|accessdate=15 May 2017|work=Melbourne FC|publisher=Bigpond|date=21 October 2016}} She made her debut in the 15 point loss to {{AFLW|Bri}} at Casey Fields in the opening round of the 2017 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-03/aflw-all-the-round-one-teams|title=AFLW: All the round one teams|author=Australian Associated Press|author-link=Australian Associated Press|date=3 February 2017|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=15 May 2017}} She played in the next round against {{AFLW|Col}}, during which she was knocked out in a brutal clash with Collingwood player Sophie Casey. Downie suffered a heavy concussion and was unconscious for several minutes before leaving the ground on a stretcher. Casey was given a two match ban for the incident and Downie missed the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury suffered moments before the clash.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/womens-afl/melbournes-meg-downie-and-stephanie-de-bortoli-to-miss-rest-of-aflw-season-20170214-guccs8.html|title=Melbourne's Meg Downie and Stephanie De Bortoli to miss rest of AFLW season|last=Lerner|first=Ronny|date=14 February 2017|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=15 May 2017}}
Melbourne re-signed Downie for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017.{{cite web|title=AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period - AFL.com.au|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-26/aflw-all-the-clubs-full-lists-after-trade-period|website=afl.com.au|publisher=Telstra Media|accessdate=26 May 2017|date=26 May 2017}} In June 2021, after five seasons at the club, Downie retired from the game.
Downie's on field career highlights included selection in the 2018 All Australian team. Her off field contributions included her election to the AFL Players Association Board replacing her predecessor Daisy Pearce where she served for two years. She was the second ever female to serve on the board in the AFL's history. Other contributions included being a member of the AFL Bushfire Relief Governance Committee where she contributed to the distribution of funds to communities impacted by the 2020 Victorian Bushfires.
Ever since the retirement, very little is known about her personal life.{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/954288/downie-calls-time-as-a-dee|title=Downie calls time as a Dee|first=Caitlin|last=Nobles|publisher=Telstra|work=Melbourne|date=8 June 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Melbplayer}}
- {{AustralianFootball|ref=Meg%2BDownie/19949}}
{{Inaugural Melbourne AFL Women's team}}
{{2018 AFL Women's All-Australian team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downie, Meg}}
Category:Melbourne Football Club (AFLW) players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:All-Australians (AFL Women's)
Category:Victorian Women's Football League players
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