Football Career
Wilson's football career was notable not merely for his on-field achievements but his late start. He attempted to get into professional football at an earlier age but shin splints prevented him coping with the physical demands. Instead he played amateur football with Nollamara until West Perth were prepared to give him a chance. Wilson made his debut for West Perth at the late age of 24. His preferred position was as a defender but he also showed prowess as a full-forward. Wilson was famous for his uncompromising manner of play. His attacks on the ball from full-forward led to medical treatment for many of his opponents, most notably North Melbourne full-back Mick Martyn. After winning a premiership with West Perth, he crossed to arch-rivals East Perth in 2000 where he played the season as a full-forward and helped the side end a 22-year premiership drought.
His efforts saw him picked up by the West Coast Eagles in the pre-season draft at the age of 28 – very unheard of in modern times. He would turn 29 before the start of the season. While the West Coast Eagles finished 14th on the AFL ladder in 2001, Wilson had a solid debut season in which he played 18 games and kicked 40 goals to be the club's leading goalkicker. Wilson began 2002 in strong form before a collarbone injury followed by calf and hamstring problems curtailed his season. Nevertheless he was able to kick five goals in Round 22 to help the Eagles scrape a place in the finals. However in 2003 he managed only five AFL games and was subsequently delisted.
Upon his return to the WAFL in 2004, Wilson won the F.D. Book Medal as East Perth's fairest and best player, and was also the club's leading goalkicker. Three games into the 2005 season, Wilson announced his retirement from all forms of football after playing 141 WAFL league games and 37 AFL games over ten years, citing chronic injuries and an inability to recover after matches. Wilson resumed training with East Perth in January 2006. He began the season playing in reserves, before being recalled to the league team in Round 2. In round 9 against Peel Thunder, Wilson came to form kicking 9 goals, backing up his 6 goals from the week before.
Wilson played his 150th WAFL league match in Round 12, celebrating the milestone with a 7 goal haul in a victory over East Fremantle. The following week, Wilson kicked 11 goals in East Perth's upset win over Claremont, becoming the first Royal to kick a bag of 10 or more goals in a game since 1996. With three rounds remaining, Wilson revealed that 2006 would be his last for East Perth. He finished the season with 74 goals, including 6 in the final round to be awarded the Bernie Naylor Medal as the leading goalkicker in the WAFL. He also won his second F.D. Book Medal.
Read more about this topic: Troy Wilson (Australian Rules Footballer)
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