31 Facts About Matt Priddis

1.

Matthew Harley Priddis was born on 21 March 1985 and is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League.

2.

Matt Priddis won the John Worsfold Medal as West Coast's best and fairest player in the 2013 season, and has been runner-up in the award on another four occasions.

3.

Matt Priddis finished runner-up to Nat Fyfe in the 2015 Brownlow Medal count.

4.

In 2017, Matt Priddis broke Lenny Hayes' record for the most career tackles in the AFL, becoming the first player to surpass the 1,500 mark.

5.

Matt Priddis represented Western Australia at both under-16 and under-18 level respectively, in addition to making his senior debut for Subiaco in the West Australian Football League as well, playing two games early in the 2003 season.

6.

Matt Priddis became a regular in Subiaco's senior side during the 2004 season.

7.

Matt Priddis played 21 games, including Subiaco's win over Claremont in the Grand Final, en route to ultimately being named the WAFL's Rising Star at the end of the season.

8.

Matt Priddis was selected by West Coast with the 31st pick in the 2006 Rookie Draft, but only after he had already been overlooked in three previous national drafts.

9.

Matt Priddis made his AFL debut for West Coast midway through the 2006 season, aged 21, recording 19 disposals and five tackles against Geelong.

10.

Matt Priddis played one further AFL game during the season, against Port Adelaide, spending the remainder of the season in the WAFL.

11.

Matt Priddis averaged over 31 disposals per game at WAFL level, playing in a second premiership for Subiaco and winning the Sandover Medal with 58 votes at the end of the season, a competition record.

12.

Matt Priddis had finished second in the award in 2010,2011,2014, and 2015.

13.

Matt Priddis had been a member of the club's leadership group since the 2009 season.

14.

Matt Priddis finished the home-and-away-season ranked first in disposals second in contested possessions and third in tackles.

15.

Matt Priddis was awarded the Brownlow Medal as the AFL's best and fairest player at the end of the season.

16.

Polling 26 votes, Matt Priddis became the third West Coast player to win the award and the second person, after Haydn Bunton, Sr.

17.

Matt Priddis became the first player to win the award having begun his career on the rookie list.

18.

Matt Priddis carried his exceptional form into the 2015 AFL season, playing 24 games and kicking 7 goals.

19.

Matt Priddis averaged 29.6 disposals per game and had a total of 711 for the season, which was 84 more disposals than the previous year.

20.

Matt Priddis laid a total of 176 tackles, going at 7.3 tackles per game.

21.

Matt Priddis was named in the Centre of the 2015 All-Australian team, after missing out on selection in the final team the previous season.

22.

Matt Priddis polled a total of 28 votes in the 2015 Brownlow Medal coming a close second behind fellow West Australian, Nat Fyfe.

23.

Matt Priddis ultimately finished second behind Andrew Gaff in the John Worsfold Medal.

24.

The Eagles made it to the 2015 AFL Grand Final, but were ultimately defeated by Hawthorn, with Matt Priddis being named in the best players, tallying 25 disposals and 7 tackles.

25.

Matt Priddis polled 17 votes in the 2016 Brownlow Medal to finish equal 9th.

26.

Matt Priddis averaged 7.8 tackles per game and played 21 games.

27.

Matt Priddis played the final game of his career in the semi-final, where he collected 30 disposals and 7 tackles in a 67-point loss to the GWS Giants.

28.

Matt Priddis generally plays as an inside midfielder and led the AFL in average handballs in 2010,2011 and 2012, as well as in total handballs in 2011, with additionally high rankings in the categories of both clearances and contested possessions.

29.

Matt Priddis is known for his tackling ability, having averaged more than five tackles per game in all but his first season.

30.

Matthew Priddis and his wife, Ashleigh Priddis, a schoolteacher, married in 2009.

31.

Matt Priddis is distinguishable on the football field by his "distinctive shock of curly hair".