View source for Matthew Whelan

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{for|the Irish hurler|Matthew Whelan (hurler)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Matthew Whelan
| image = Matthew_whelan.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|11|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Darwin
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = [[Darwin Buffaloes]] (NT), [[Woodville-West Torrens Football Club|Woodville-West Torrens]] (SA)
| debutdate = Round 4, 2 April 2000
| debutteam = [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne Demons]]
| debutopponent = [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda Saints]]
| debutstadium = [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| height = 180 cm
| weight = 80 kg
| position = 
| statsend = 2009
| years1 = 2000–2009
| club1 = [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]]
| games_goals1 = 150 (15)
| careerhighlights = *[[Melbourne Football Club#Honour board|Harold Ball Memorial Trophy]]: 2000
}}

'''Matthew Whelan''' (born 13 November 1979) is a former professional [[Australian rules football]] player.

Wearing the number 45 jersey, Whelan, recruited from the Northern Territory was a reliable defender/[[back pocket]] known by Demons fans as "Wheels".  He also earned the nickname "Wrecker" (after [[Whelan the Wrecker]]) for his big hits (often on big name players) and tough and uncompromisingly defensive style of play. His tackling style, to drop the shoulder, resulted in spectacular, almost [[spear tackle]] like throws of opponents, and he ended up at the Tribunal many years over unsightly plays.

==Early life==
Matthew has [[Indigenous Australian]] heritage, and his ancestry can be traced to the [[Ngalakan language]] speaking peoples of the [[Arnhem Land]].<ref>AFL Record.  Round 9,2009.  Slattery Publishing.  pg 75.</ref>
He grew up in [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], the capital of the [[Northern Territory]], where he played [[rugby league]] at junior levels<ref>[http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/06/03/152731_ntsport.html Folau will deliver] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319155436/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/06/03/152731_ntsport.html |date=19 March 2012 }} by GREY MORRIS for Northern Territory News 3 June 2010</ref> before concentrating on Australian football at the age of 15.
Before heading to Victoria in 2000, Whelan played in both the Northern Territory and South Australian leagues. From October to March he would play for Darwin before heading to [[Woodville-West Torrens]] for the winter.

==AFL career==

===2000 debut season===
Whelan made his debut in round four of season 2000, and played every game until round 20 when an injured neck cost him his place and he missed the finals, including Melbourne's grand final appearance. This was a major blow to the Demons, who missed his toughness against a more physical Essendon.

===History repeats===

History repeated itself in 2002 when Whelan played every game but was forced out in round 22 with a calf injury, and another finals series went begging.

===2003 & Shane Crawford incident===
In a rare report for rough play in 2003 for what appeared to be a dangerous throw on [[Shane Crawford]] he was later cleared by the tribunal of any infringement.<ref>[http://melbournefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=108228]{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

===2004 & James Hird incident===
During the 2004 [[2004 AFL season#Finals series|Elimination Final]], Melbourne were drawn to play rivals [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]]. With about five minutes to go in the first half, Whelan knocked [[James Hird]] unconscious with a strong [[Bump (Australian rules football)|shirtfront]], re-gathered the ball and fed it off to [[Travis Johnstone]] who finished the play with a goal to bring up double figures for the Demons.  Whelan, playing his first final, was one of Melbourne's best, picking up 22 possessions and a match high five tackles.

===2005 & Nathan Brown incident===
During the final quarter of the Melbourne v Richmond game on 27 May 2005, Richmond attacked in their 50 when Whelan came from nowhere to smother [[Nathan Brown (Australian footballer, born 1978)|Nathan Brown]]'s kick. Because Brown was kicking with his left boot, Whelan landed on his right foot, and, in front of horrified ''[[Friday Night Football (AFL)|Friday Night Football]]'' viewers, broke his leg. Replays were constantly played on the news, including ''[[Sports Tonight (Australian TV program)|Sports Tonight]]'' and [[Fox Sports News (Australia)|Fox Sports News]]. Whelan said that he had felt guilty, given the seriousness of Brown's injury. Brown sat out the rest of the season, and has had re-occurring leg-related injuries ever since.

===2006 AFL Season===
Whelan had a stellar season in 2006, marred only by minor injuries to his [[calf muscle|calf]] and [[hamstring]].he kicked a career high four goals in round-five

===2007 & Luke Ball incident===
During the [[AFL season 2007|2007 season opener]] against [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]], while shepherding a teammate, Whelan turned his back, colliding solidly with [[Luke Ball]].  The severe collision injured both players, resulting in both coming off the ground, with the back of Whelan's head lacerating Ball's forehead.  Ball was carried off the ground with a laceration to his head, although both players later returned to play out the game. Whelan was charged for rough play based on the video.  The charge, however, was later dropped as the high contact was ruled as an accidental clash of heads, while Ball continued a slow recovery from the injury.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21548781-11088,00.html Ball plans for Round 4 | Herald Sun<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

His 2007 season saw him play just a handful of games due to injury.

===2008 & Brendan Fevola incident===
In round-five of the [[2008 AFL season|2008 season]], Whelan was reported for striking [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]]'s full-forward [[Brendan Fevola]]. He was offered a two-week suspension by the AFL. But an early guilty plea reduced this to just one week.

==Retirement==
In August 2009, Whelan announced his retirement from the AFL alongside teammate Paul Wheatley, effective after Round 22, as part of the Melbourne Football Club's youth policy. His career has been plagued by injury, but is leaving on a good note and was happy to play an important role mentoring the MFC's young Aboriginal players.<ref name="test">[http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/82754/default.aspx afl.com.au] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817222610/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/82754/default.aspx |date=17 August 2009 }} Whelan, Wheatley to call it a day.</ref>
In February 2010, Whelan was awarded life membership of the Melbourne Football club at the club's annual general meeting.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Melbplayer|ref=13398}}
* {{AFL Tables|M/Matthew_Whelan}}

{{2003 Indigenous All-Stars squad}}
{{2005 Indigenous All-Stars squad}}
{{2000 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{1999 AFL national draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whelan, Matthew}}
[[Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Melbourne Football Club players]]
[[Category:Woodville-West Torrens Football Club players]]
[[Category:Darwin Football Club players]]
[[Category:Casey Demons players]]
[[Category:Australian rules football players from Darwin, Northern Territory]]