AFL Career
Inevitably, the Jarman brothers attracted the interest of clubs in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Jarman's patience was rewarded when Adelaide entered the League, now known as the AFL, and he became one of the first players signed by coach Graham Cornes. Ironically, the Round 1 debut for both himself and the fledgling club pitted him against his brother Darren Jarman who was making his AFL debut with Hawthorn. The Crows went on to win the game by 86 points 24.11 (155) to 9.15 (69). Jarman was listed among the best afield; he gathered 29 disposals (15 kicks and 14 handpasses), took four marks and kicked a goal. For his efforts, he earned three Brownlow Medal votes.
The 1996 AFL season, the centenary year of the League, would turn out to be Jarman's last. The season started out spectacularly enough, especially as younger brother Darren had moved back to Adelaide from Hawthorn. In Round 2 against Fitzroy at Whitten Oval, the Jarman brothers put on a memorable performance; they kicked 14 of the team's 21 goals - Darren kicked eight, Andrew six. Strangely, neither of them earned a single Brownlow vote. But Adelaide's form dropped sharply in the middle of the season, and after losing to Melbourne in Adelaide in Round 13, Jarman was dropped. When the late withdrawal of Matt Collins opened up a place in the side, he declined to join the team in Melbourne and instead played for Norwood.
Jarman was fined and suspended. The club's decision not to sack him outright took into account his five-and-a-half years of service, 100-plus games and the recent awarding of life membership. After six successful seasons with the Crows, Jarman was one of the high-profile senior players delisted at the end of the 1996 season following the arrival of coach Malcolm Blight. Jarman was awarded Life Membership of the club shortly afterward. Despite speculation that Jarman would be named on Port Adelaide's inaugural AFL list for season 1997 this did not eventuate.
Jarman was named in the centre position of the Adelaide Crows Team of the Decade in 2000.
Read more about this topic: Andrew Jarman
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