SANFL Career
Recruited from the Renmark Rovers in West Adelaide's country zone (Riverland Football League), the talented 196 cm (6'5") tall ruckman started his SANFL league career in 1981 and quickly established himself alongside Dexter Kennedy as the club's leading ruckman. After a stellar 1983 season Mickan was cruelly robbed of the chance to play in West Adelaide's Grand Final win (the club's first in 22 years) over Sturt due to a torn posterior ligament in Round 21 of the 22 round regular season against Glenelg at West's home ground Richmond Oval.
Strong seasons in 1983, 1985 and 1986 resulted in his winning club Best & Fairest awards while in 1986 West coach John Cahill named him the team captain for the season. Following the 1986 SANFL season in which West Adelaide finished in seventh place Mickan left to join the new Brisbane Bears playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1987. Mickan's qualities as a leader and player were instantly recognised with his new club where he was appointed the inaugural captain. This is especially noteworthy given the team included immediate past captain of Collingwood, Mark "Chocco" Williams, who was appointed as Mickan's vice-captain.
While the newly formed side suffered many crises during its early years Mickan's skills were recognsied and he was named in the All-Australian Team following the 1988 Bicentennial Carnival played in Adelaide.
Mickan returned to South Australia to play for the newly formed Australian Football League (AFL) team the Adelaide Crows in 1991, winning Adelaide's inaugural Club Champion award. However, Mickan still played the required three SANFL games with West Adelaide through the season to qualify for SANFL finals football. Mickan became West Adelaide's number one ruckman, and played a prominent role in helping the Kevin Morris coached Bloods to the SANFL Grand Final where they lost to North Adelaide.
With younger ruckmen such as Shaun Rehn (West Adelaide) and David Pittman (Norwood) quickly hitting their straps for the Crows and his form dropping Mickan gradually fell out of favour with The Crows and coach Graeme Cornes to the point that he played the majority of the 1993 season with West Adelaide, winning his fourth Best & Fairest award under the coaching of his original coach from back in 1981, Neil Kerley.
Following the 1994 SANFL season Mark Mickan retired from league football having played 139 SANFL games with West Adelaide, 48 VFL/AFL games with Brisbane and 37 AFL games with Adelaide between 1981 and 1994. Mickan also represented South Australia on five occasions through his career
Mark Mickan and Neil Kerley jointly hold the record for Best & Fairest wins at West Adelaide with four wins each.
Read more about this topic: Mark Mickan
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