Jared Polec

Jared Polec
Polec playing for Port Adelaide in June 2017
Personal information
Full name	Jared Polec
Date of birth	(1992-10-12) 12 October 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s)	Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL), Seaton Ramblers
Draft	No. 5, 2010 national draft
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	North Melbourne
Number	13
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2011–2013	Brisbane Lions	16 0(9)
2014–2018	Port Adelaide	90 (46)
2019–2022	North Melbourne	42 (20)
Total		148 (75)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2022.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jared Polec (born 12 October 1992) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club, Port Adelaide and Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).

He was selected with the Brisbane Lions' first selection (pick 5 overall) in the 2010 national draft from SANFL club, Woodville-West Torrens.^[1]

Of Polish descent, Polec was an outside midfielder who, prior to being drafted, played senior football with Woodville West Torrens and was a key player in their 2010 finals series. Woodville-West Torrens coach Michael Godden described Polec as being "as good a junior as I've seen come through the system" and praised him for his skill, composure and work ethic.^[2]

Polec missed games for both Port Adelaide and North Melbourne due to a recurrent injury to his foot.^[3][4][5]

AFL career

Brisbane Lions (2011–2013)

Polec was selected in the initial extended squad for the Lions in round 2 in the 2011 season, but was left out of the final team. He made his AFL debut against Melbourne in round 3.^[6] In his first three seasons at Brisbane, he played in sixteen games. In September 2013, Polec requested a trade to a South Australian team,^[7] and in October, he nominated Port Adelaide as his preferred club of destination.^[8]

Port Adelaide (2014–2018)

Polec officially joined Port Adelaide in October 2013.^[9] Polec had an immediate impact at Port Adelaide, achieving a career-high thirty disposals in round 7 against Greater Western Sydney.^[10]

2015 was not to be for Polec, suffering a stress reaction in his foot which developed into a navicular fracture, forcing him out for the season.^[11] In early 2016, scans cleared Polec of the fracture and he was declared fit to resume full training.^[12] On 13 September 2018, Polec advised Port Adelaide that he wished to be traded to North Melbourne.

North Melbourne (2019–2022)

In October 2018, Polec was traded to North Melbourne on a five-year contract for seasons 2019 to 2023,^[13] however was delisted after the 2022 season following an ongoing foot injury that kept him out of the team throughout 2022.^[14]

Post-AFL career

In September 2023, Polec was appointed as head coach of Hoppers Crossing Football Club in the Western Region Football League, on a two-year contract.^[15]

References

1. "Lions's last gasp call on Polec". AFL.com.au. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
2. "Jared Polec the complete package". Herald Sun. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
3. "AFL R5 injury update: Surgery for Polec, Thomas progressing". 12 April 2022.
4. "Power's Jared Polec reveals his last season's foot injury nearly 'ended his career'". ABC News. February 2016.
5. "Port declare Polec done for the year with foot injury". 10 August 2015.
6. "Polec named for AFL debut". lions.com.au. 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
7. "Talented South Australian Jared Polec Wants To Return Home". The Courier Mail. ^{[dead link‍]}
8. "Polec nominates Port Adelaide - portadelaidefc.com.au". Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
9. "Deal Done: Port gets its man in complex trade". portadelaidefc.com.au. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013.
10. Dampney, James (3 May 2014). "Powering on: Polec shines as Giants wilt". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
11. Thring, Harry (7 May 2015). "Port finally forced to pull the pin on Polec". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
12. Homfray, Reece (3 January 2016). "Power buoyed by Jared Polec upping the ante at pre-season training". The Advertiser. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
13. "North trade doubles Power". nmfc.com.au. 10 October 2018.
14. "Kangaroos part ways with midfielder". 2 November 2022.
15. "Polec to coach Hoppers Crossing". 10 September 2023.

External links

• Jared Polec's profile on the official website of the North Melbourne Football Club
• Jared Polec at AustralianFootball.com
• Jared Polec's playing statistics from AFL Tables