Troy Simmonds

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Troy Simmonds

| image = File:Troy Simmonds (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 250px

| alt =

| caption = Simmonds in May 2011

| fullname = Troy Simmonds

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1978|7|13}}

| birth_place = Melbourne, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Box Hill (VFL)

| draftpick = No. 9, 1999 pre-season draft:
{{AFL Mel}}

| height = 197 cm

| weight = 99 kg

| position = Ruck / forward

| currentclub = {{AFL Ric}}

| guernsey = 5

| statsend = 2010

| years1 = 1999 – 2001

| club1 = {{AFL Mel}}

| games_goals1 = {{0}}40 {{0|00}}(7)

| years2 = 2002 – 2004

| club2 = {{AFL Fre}}

| games_goals2 = {{0}}64 {{0}}(59)

| years3 = 2005 – 2010

| club3 = {{AFL Ric}}

| games_goals3 = {{0}}93 {{0}}(66)

| games_goalstotal = 197 (132)

| sooyears1 = 2008

| sooteam1 = {{flagicon|Victoria}} Victoria

| soogames_goals1 = 1 (0)

| careerhighlights = *AFL Grand Final appearance: 2000

}}

Troy Simmonds (born 13 July 1978) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne, Fremantle and Richmond in the Australian Football League.

AFL career

=Melbourne: 1999 – 2001=

Simmonds was first drafted by Melbourne in the 1999 pre-season draft. He played only five 5 games in 1999 but then played 22 in 2000, including the Grand Final, during which he was carried from the field on a stretcher following a head-on charge by Essendon's Michael Long.{{cite news|last1=Short|first1=Paul|title=Essendon crash Melbourne's party|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/essendon-crash-melbournes-party-700535.html|access-date=17 September 2017|work=The Independent|date=2 September 2000}}

=Fremantle: 2002 – 2004=

In 2002 he was traded to Fremantle as part of a three way trade that included Daniel Bandy moving to the Western Bulldogs and Craig Ellis moving to Melbourne.{{cite book|title=AFL 2002|editor=Lovett, Michael|publisher=AFL Publishing|location=Melbourne, Victoria|year=2002|pages=333|isbn=0-9580300-0-6}} This was seen as a chance for Simmonds to become Fremantle's main ruckman, as opposed to being Jeff White's understudy at Melbourne.{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} In three seasons at Fremantle Simmonds played in 64 out of a possible 67 games, including Fremantle's first ever finals game in 2003.

=Richmond: 2005 – 2010=

At the end of the 2004 season, Simmonds was traded back to Victoria, again in a three-way deal, with Heath Black returning to Fremantle, Aaron Fiora moving to St Kilda and Simmonds moving to Richmond.{{cite web|url=http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2012-10-09/top-20-tiger-trade-pickups-no-19-|title=Top 20 Tiger trade pick-ups: No. 19|last=Greenberg|first=Tony|date=2012-10-09|publisher=Richmond Football Club|access-date=21 October 2012}} In a move surprising to many, Simmonds signed a five-year deal with the Tigers, as opposed to the usual two or three-year contracts.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Simmonds-deserves-more-credit-Wallace/2006/02/16/1140064189799.html Simmonds deserves more credit: Wallace]; The Age; 16 February 2006 After a serviceable first year with Richmond, Simmonds played some of the best football of his career in 2006 - taking several big marks and scoring several goals up forward.{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} At the end of 2009 Simmonds signed a one-year contract for the 2010 season.Smith, Patrick & Denham, Greg (3 July 2009) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090704004503/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25724423-2722,00.html Sheedy's new pitch welcomed]; The Australian Prior to Round 10, 2010, Simmonds announced his retirement.{{cite news|title=Simmonds hangs up boots|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/richmonds-troy-simmonds-to-retire-reports/news-story/9b96ce5acfa21f755f9c22905404c9c6?sv=4799928e0f40db9cf406fc3ac7b56d0c&nk=76a8a0e279d6b123d45d7a6a0f6c99e9-1505608379|access-date=17 September 2017|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia|date=27 May 2010}}