Australian Football

Troy Bond commenced with Port Adelaide in 1991 and impressed as a highly skilled, smooth moving midfielder or forward with plenty of goal sense. 

Having been drafted by Carlton in 1992, Bond made the decision to cross to Victoria in 1994 on the back of a victory in the previous season's Port Adelaide best and fairest award. He did well with the Blues, but when he was dropped from their 1995 grand final team he returned home to Adelaide on the eve of the match without speaking either to the coach David Parkin or any of his team mates. He had played 36 AFL games for Carlton and kicked 26 goals.

The 1996 season saw Troy Bond at Adelaide where he would produce some sparkling football, capped by an exuberantly eye-catching series of displays during the Crows' ultimately successful 1997 finals campaign. In the grand final defeat of St Kilda, playing as a crumbing forward, Bond kicked four goals to make a significant contribution to his team's triumph.

The 1998 and 1999 seasons brought a series of injuries which limited Bond's appearances. A hip injury sustained in the latter season forced his retirement from the AFL, although he continued to play for Port Magpies for another year. The Crows phase of his career saw him add 58 games and 51 goals to his respective career tallies. He also registered 59 SANFL games and 54 goals with Port Adelaide between 1991 and 1993 and from 1997 to 2000. 

Troy Bond's brother Shane also played League football as did a cousin, Gavin Wanganeen.

Author - John Devaney