16 Facts About Alex Witherden

Alex Witherden was born on 10 September 1998 and is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League.

Alex Witherden loved football so much that his mother forged his age in order to go to Auskick a year early.

Alex Witherden regularly played football above his age group as a junior for Barwon Heads in the Bellarine Football League, mainly playing as a midfielder.

Alex Witherden moved up to under-16s for 2013 and in 2014 he was named in the Vic Country team for the Under-16 National Championships.

Alex Witherden had arthroscopes on both hips at the end of the 2014 season.

Alex Witherden played in the AFL Academy game on AFL Grand Final day, drawing strong praise from coach Brenton Sanderson.

Alex Witherden played two Academy games and two Falcons games where he averaged 23 disposals and five marks per game in the TAC Cup, playing mostly as a skilful defender.

Geelong College was losing by about 90 points when Alex Witherden decided to put himself into the midfield for a centre bounce.

Alex Witherden broke his leg in a tackle from fellow AFL prospect Tim Taranto who was playing for St Kevin's.

Alex Witherden broke one of the bones in his right leg in four places, cracked another one and tore the syndesmotic ligaments which connect them.

Alex Witherden missed the Under-18 National Championships, the Under-18 All Stars match and was in doubt for the National Draft Combine, to which he was invited.

Alex Witherden took advice during the setback from fellow draftee and friend Jy Simpkin, who broke his right leg a month earlier and Carlton player Darcy Lang who suffered a similar injury.

Alex Witherden was drafted by Brisbane with pick 23 in the 2016 national draft.

Alex Witherden made his debut in the loss to Greater Western Sydney at the Gabba in round 14 of the 2017 season.

In 2018 Alex Witherden became the 11th player to receive a second AFL Rising Star nomination after a match against Hawthorn.

Alex Witherden played 62 games for West Coast across four seasons, before being delisted at the end of the 2024 season.