Eccles did not play an AFL game in his first season with the Crows, playing for Norwood in the SANFL where he was selected at pick 1 in the mini draft.[1] The 17 year old Eccles played a majority of the season in Reserves for Norwood.
He made his AFL debut in the 1998 season, playing 18 games and earning a rising star nomination in round 19. Playing on the wing he was the youngest member of Adelaide's 1998 AFL Grand Final winning team.
Hamstring, knee and Achilles tendon injuries affected his performance over the next three seasons, playing only 22 AFL games.[2]
He was traded to Carlton at the end of the 2001 season as a straight swap for Kris Massie.[3] His time at Carlton was generally unsuccessful, and he was delisted at the end of 2003.
After being delisted, he played for North Ballarat in the VFL from 2004 until 2005.[4] He was selected in the VFL Team of the Year in 2004.[5]
^Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 179. ISBN1-74095-001-1.