Australian Football

Famously - or is that fatuously? - referred to as ‘prior conviction’ by 3AW football commentator Rex Hunt, Michael Prior was a feisty, attacking half back who was highly adept at setting up the play. He began and ended his career with East Perth, playing 69 games and kicking 37 goals in 1992-3 and 2002-3, with the highlight coming in 2002 when he was a key member of the Royals team which overcame West Perth in the grand final.

The bulk of Prior’s career was spent at Essendon, where his finely honed aggression and pinpoint disposal skills made him an important player. From 1994 to 2000 he made 81 senior appearances for the Bombers, and booted 19 goals. He was singularly unfortunate in that he lost his place in the side during a 2000 season which was to culminate in an Essendon premiership triumph.

After being de-listed by the Bombers he was picked up by West Coast but a knee injury restricted him to just nine games and one goal in a season and a half.

Over the course of his career Michael Prior played two state of origin games for Western Australia.

Author - John Devaney