Brendon Lade (born 10 July 1976 on
Kangaroo Island,
Australia) is a former
Australian rules footballer who spent his entire
AFL career with the
Port Adelaide Football Club.
AFL career
Early Career (1992–1999)
Lade grew up playing football for Western Districts Football Club on
Kangaroo Island where his Dad was coaching the A grade side. At the age of 8 he moved to the Wisanger Football Club where he played the remainder of his football until he turned 16. Able to play as both a relieving
ruckman and
forward, Lade was part of Port Adelaide's inaugural
AFL side in Round 1, 1997.
Injury (2000–2001)
He missed just one game in his first 3 years before he suffered a serious
leg injury in Round 2 of 2000 which sidelined him for the rest of the season and also missed the entire 2001 season after reinjuring it. But he recovered from the injuries to become one of the best ruckmen in the league.
Career high (2004–2009)
In 2004 he had a great year, leading the hitouts in the absence of injured ruckman
Matthew Primus, finishing second in the goalkicking to
Warren Tredrea, and capping it all off with a 2004 premiership medal. In 2006 Lade won
All-Australian selection and also took out the
John Cahill Medal, Port Adelaide's Best and Fairest. In 2007 Lade has continued his career best form winning another
All-Australia selection, earning him a rare 2 year contract with the Power for a 31 year old and ensuring he would be with the Power until the end of the 2009...
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