Brett Backwell
| Brett Backwell | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Brett William Backwell | ||
| Date of birth | 18 May 1980 | ||
| Original team(s) |
QAFL ) | ||
| Debut |
MCG | ||
| Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Weight | 74 kg (163 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1999–2001 | Carlton (AFL) | 18 (12) | |
| 2002 | West Adelaide (SANFL) | ||
| 2003–2009 | Glenelg (SANFL) | 112 (97) | |
| 2009/10 | Waratah (NTFL) | ||
| 2011–2012 | North Adelaide (SANFL) | 20 (10) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2012. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Brett William Backwell (born 18 May 1980) is a former Australian rules football player who achieved some international notoriety in 2005 when he had a finger amputated to enable him to continue his chosen sport. Backwell played for Carlton in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1999 to 2001, and won the J. J. Liston Trophy in 2001 and the Magarey Medal in 2006.
AFL career
Backwell played his junior football in
Backwell debuted in the opening Round of the 1999 season. Played primarily as a small forward, he showed some opportunist play and in his 18 games managed a creditable 12 goals. He was nominated for the
He spent much of 2001 playing in Carlton's
SANFL career
Lured to South Australia by
In 2003 Backwell moved to
In 2006 Backwell won the highest individual award in the league, the Magarey Medal, a feat heightened after he elected to have a finger amputated twelve months earlier. In post-award interviews he said he has not given up hope of again playing in the AFL, and hoped his Magarey win would spark interest from other clubs,[3] but this did not eventuate and he continued to play with Glenelg until 2009.
Backwell spent the 2009/10 summer playing in the
Backwell served as a midfield assistant coach for South Adelaide from 2013 until 2014,[6] before resigning.[7]
He later became coach of Prince Alfred Old Collegians, taking them to the Division One minor premiership in the Adelaide Football League.
Finger amputation
In 2005 Backwell enjoyed a brief period of international celebrity status when he elected to have his left-ring finger amputated.[8] The finger had caused him constant pain and restricted movement since injuring it in 2002. Surgeons offered him the option of fusing the bones in his finger, but he declined this as it would not have allowed him to continue playing. After having the finger chopped off, he was flown to the United States to appear on the 22 September episode of the Late Show with David Letterman.[9][10] He continued to play football without any complications from only having nine fingers.
References
- ^ "Main Page - FootySA". www.footysa.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "News Item". www.sanfl.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 August 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "ABC Sport - AFL - Glenelg's Backwell wins Magarey Medal". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2006.
- ^ Morgan, K., The Advertiser, "Backwell looks North bound", 5 November 2010, Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ Armstrong, Gordon (25 June 2012). "Backwell signs for roos". The Messenger. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ Schultz, Duane; Morgan, Kym (20 March 2013). "South Adelaide season preview". The Messenger. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ "South Adelaide Coaching Changes". South Australian National Football League. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- ^ "ABC Sport - AFL - Footballer to have finger cut off to aid game". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 March 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2006.
- ^ "USAFL | United States Australian Rules Football League". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2006.
- ^ David Letterman episode guide, TV.com.
External sources
- Brett Backwell's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Brett Backwell's Blueseum profile
- ABC Sport Australian Broadcasting Commission article about the finger amputation
- SANFL News article on transfer to Glenelg
- FootySA summary of V/AFL career