Oliver Dempsey
{{short description|Australian rules footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Oliver Dempsey
| image = Ollie Dempsey.jpg
| caption = Dempsey in 2024
| fullname = Oliver Dempsey
| nickname = Ollie
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2003|01|07}}
| originalteam = Old Carey / Carey Grammar
| draftpick = No. 15, 2021 rookie draft
| position = Forward
| debutdate = Round 6, 2022
| debutteam = {{AFL Gee}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL|WC}}
| debutstadium = GMHBA Stadium
| weight = 74 kg
| height = 187 cm
| currentclub = {{AFL Gee}}
| guernsey = 28
| club1 = {{AFL Gee}}
| years1 = 2022–
| games_goals1 = 46 (46)
| statsend = round 14, 2025
| careerhighlights =
- Ron Evans Medal: 2024
- 22under22 team: 2024
- Tom Wills Award: 2024}}
Oliver Dempsey (born 7 January 2003) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for Geelong in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Geelong selected Dempsey with pick 15 in the 2022 rookie draft.{{cite news |date=26 November 2021 |title=AFL draft: Fremantle Dockers take Karl Worner in rookie draft |work=PerthNow.com.au |publisher=Perth Now |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl-draft/afl-draft-fremantle-dockers-take-karl-worner-in-rookie-draft-c-4712516 |access-date=7 May 2023}} Dempsey made his AFL debut in round 6 of the 2022 AFL season against North Melbourne.{{Cite web |title=AFL Team Selection |url=https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/1288610/afl-team-selection-round-2 |access-date=2021-04-02 |website=geelongcats.com.au |language=en}} He won the AFL Rising Star award in 2024.
Junior career
Originally playing point-guard in basketball which he represented his state in, Dempsey was scouted by the Cats while playing school football with Melbourne's Carey Baptist Grammar School during his final year of school in 2021.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-23 |title=Cat completes meteoric rise from obscurity to AFL debut |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/746791/cat-ollie-dempsey-completes-meteoric-rise-from-obscurity-to-afl-debut |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}} In his younger years he played community football for Hawthorn Citizens and Boroondara Hawks in the Yarra Junior Football League.
AFL career
Dempsey made his debut in round 6 of the 2022 AFL season. In 2023, Dempsey played five senior AFL games and kicked one goal.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-31 |title=Dempsey Relishes Opportunity in VFL Return |url=https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/1347837/dempsey-relishes-opportunity-in-vfl-return |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=geelongcats.com.au |language=en}}
In round 1 of the 2024 AFL season Dempsey received a nomination for the Rising Star Award.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-18 |title='Complete' Cat lands Rising Star nomination after standout display |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1089959/complete-geelong-cat-ollie-dempsey-lands-afl-rising-star-nomination-after-standout-display |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}} He was named the winner of the AFL Rising Star in August 2024.{{Cite web |last=Waterworth |first=Ben |date=2024-08-29 |title=‘One of the happiest guys you’ll meet’: Humble Cat Ollie Dempsey claims AFL Rising Star award in 17-year first |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-rising-star-2024-votes-leaderboard-and-winner-how-every-judge-voted-ollie-dempsey-wins-award/news-story/23d5837c339a5a336e025d998fb6071e |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Geelplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
{{Geelong player squad}}
{{Ron Evans Medal}}
{{2024 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{2022 AFL rookie draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dempsey, Oliver}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne
Category:Geelong Football Club players
Category:People educated at Carey Baptist Grammar School
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
Category:AFL Rising Star winners
{{AFL-bio-2000s-stub}}