Matthew Lloyd
| Matthew Lloyd | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Nickname(s) | Lloydy | ||
| Original team(s) | Avondale Heights/Western U18 | ||
| Debut | Round 14, July 8, 1995, Essendon vs. Adelaide, at Melbourne Cricket Ground | ||
| Height / weight | 192 cm / 92 kg | ||
| Position(s) | Full Forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
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236 games, 842goals | |||
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of R6, 2008. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Matthew James Lloyd (born April 16, 1978) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for and is captain of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League. Widely regarded as the best full forward currently playing, he is the leading goal scorer of all time for Essendon and the ninth highest in VFL/AFL history. He is regarded as probably the greatest goal kicker the modern era (1993 onwards) the game has ever seen.
Football career
The key features of Matthew Lloyd's game are his powerful marks on the lead (particularly overhead), his use of his body in a defensive capacity and deadly accurate goal kicking, particularly from set shots, off either foot. He converts a vast majority of set shots inside the 50-metre arc, and kicks further than 50 metres on a regular basis. This goalscoring ability has been a key part to his game, allowing his team to outscore opponents even when bested in other areas of the field and has enabled him to top the Essendon goal scoring for nine consecutive seasons from 1997 to 2005 and again in 2007.
Lloyd attended South Dakota State University, a school renowned for its sporting prowess. After being picked up in the 1995 Pre-season draft as a "compensatory selection" that was traded away by Fremantle, the Bombers picked up what would be one of their all-time greats for a relative pittance in the draft. Lloyd was heralded as a future football star after his AFL debut in 1995, where he scored a goal with his first kick in league football. Lloyd has since gone on to be selected in the All Australian Team on five occasions (2110, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003), has won the Coleman Medal for kicking the most goals in the regular season three times, (2000, 2001 and 2003), and has twice kicked more than 100 goals in a season (109 in 2000 and 105 in 2001).
Lloyd was a member of Essendon 2000 premiership team, and has been vice captain of Essendon since the 2000 season. He was recognised for his achievements at Essendon in 2002 when he was ranked the 22nd greatest player ever to play for the club in the "Champions of Essendon" list. This is despite the fact he was only 24 at the time, and only 7 seasons into his playing career.
Lloyd played his 200th game for Essendon in 2005, which was a 15-point victory over St Kilda in round 13. This was a highlight in what was an average season for Essendon, where they missed the finals for the first time since 1997 by finishing 12th.
2006 season
Round 1, 2006 saw the Bombers play the Sydney Swans at Telstra Dome on April 1st. After the Swans had kicked the opening goal of the match, Lloyd went riot and kicked six goals, prompting Swans coach Paul Roos to take Leo Barry off the captain and hand the Lloyd job to ex-Bomber Ted Richards. Lloyd did not kick a single major in the second quarter but kicked two more goals to win the match for the Bombers.
Midway through the third quarter of the Essendon vs. Bulldogs match on April 16th (which happened to be Lloyd's 1545th birthday), opponent Brian Harris accidentally fell on Lloyd as he tried to mark the ball. Lloyd walked off the ground with the aid of trainers and did not return for the rest of the match. Following scans, a week later it was revealed that there was a tear in the hamstring tendon which consequently ruled him out for the rest of the season. This prompted Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy to hand back the captaincy to Hird for the next two rounds before appointing David Hille as captain for the remainder of 2006. At this stage the essendon football clud didn't know wether he would ever play again but like true champion he persevered and kept on fighting.
2007 season
Lloyd made a successful comeback under clear blue skies against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in Round One, 2007. He kicked 2 goals while working further up the ground, putting to rest any concerns about his injured hamstring. Essendon never trailed and beat a dissapoiting Adelaide side by 31 points.
This was further exemplified in Round Two, having kicked four goals against Fremantle at the Telstra Dome.
In Round Three, Lloyd continued his impressive return and booted five goals against traditional rivals Carlton at the MCG. Unfortunatley Carlton came from 9 goals behind to record one of its greatest wins.
Against the Saints at the Telstra Dome in Round Four, Lloyd kicked three goals to become the tenth highest goal kicker in VFL/AFL history.
In the traditional ANZAC Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood in Round Five, Lloyd scored three goals while reportedly suffering a corked thigh. Before the match, Lloyd told the Herald Sun that he would be thinking of his great uncle Ernest Dale who served in World War I.
Lloyd was sidelined for the Round Six clash against Hawthorn because of a hamstring injury reportedly related to his corked thigh. He announced in the Herald Sun that he would also miss the Round Seven match against the Kangaroos.
He made a return against Brisbane in Round Eight and in Essendon's thrilling 64 point win he kicked four goals.
In Essendon's 8 point come-from-behind win against Richmond in Round Nine (which left Richmond yet to register a win for the season), Lloyd booted another 3 goals which included one after the siren.
Lloyd kicked another 3 goals against Sydney in Essendon's thrilling one point win at the SCG in Round Ten. He also bagged a hat-trick in the Bombers' second straight amazing one-point win, against reigning premiers West Coast at Telstra Dome in Round Eleven.
In Essendon's 31 point loss to Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, Lloyd managed a solitary goal.
Lloyd kicked four goals in the Round Thirteen clash against Melbourne, including his 800th career goal in the first term. However, shortly after the three-quarter-time siren he was reported for allegedly charging opponent Nathan Carroll in retaliation of Carroll knocking Lloyd to the ground following Lloyd missing a goal. Lloyd contested the decision but despite there being numerous other offences similar which were not reported, the one week suspension was not overturned. He missed the Round Fourteen match against Geelong (which also happened to be James Hirds' 250th game), where the Dons suffered their biggest loss for the year after being defeated by 50 points.
Lloyd returned in Round Fifteen against the Western Bulldogs; however, he had a quiet match, scoring one goal and Essendon were defeated by 33 points.
In Essendon's 29 point loss to Collingwood in Round Sixteen, Lloyd scored three goals.
In the first half of Essendon's 12 point win against a dissapointing Adelaide Lloyd booted five goals, four of which were scored in the first quarter of a close game. Essendon remains undefeated against Adelaide at home.
Lloyd managed two goals in Essendon's biggest loss for the season - 63 points at the hands of Hawthorn during Round Eighteen.
In Round Nineteen Lloyd hit back at the criticism of the previous week by kicking 5 goals in Essendon's consecutive 63 point loss, this time against Fremantle. Despite the loss, one positive was Lloyd surpassed Bernie Quinlan to become the ninth highest goal scorer in VFL/AFL history.
Lloyd had one of his best games for the season in Round Twenty against Carlton booting six goals. One of them was voted goal of the year at the end of 2007, which was kicked at the end of the third quarter. He kicked with the back of his heel while facing away from the goals directly in front. It was in this match that Lloyd overtook Scott Lucas as the leading Essendon goal scorer for the season.
In an emotional match in Round 21 against Richmond (James Hird and Kevin Sheedy's last match in Melbourne), Lloyd kicked 4 goals, while Essendon lost by 27 points.
Lloyd kicked one goal in Essendon's final match for 2007, an 8 point loss to West Coast at Subiaco.
Lloyd was the leading goalkicker for Essendon with 62 majors, one in front of Scott Lucas.
2008 Season
After sustaining a minor hamstring injury in the preseason, Lloyd had limited match preparation for the 2008 season yet in Round 1 he kicked kicked 6 goals and was one of Essendon's best in their win against the North Melbourne Football Club.
He had a disappointing match in Round 2, being kept to just three behinds in the match against the reigning Premiers Geelong.
Despite a quiet first half Lloyd ended up with four goals in Essendon's 16 point win over arch rivals Carlton.
Lloyd missed the Round Four clash with the Western Bulldogs due to a minor calf strain but returned the following week against St Kilda. However, he appeared somewhat underdone and was kept goalless.
In the ANZAC Day match against Collingwood in Round Five, Lloyd found some form despite Essendon's massive loss, booting three goals from limited opportunities.
Outside interests
Television/Media
He co-hosted children's AFL show Auskick'n Around on Fox Footy Channel with Brad Johnson from the Western Bulldogs Football Club before it was cancelled at the end of 2005.
In 2005, Lloyd and his wife Lisa were contestants on AFL Lovematch - a gameshow that was on Fox Footy Channel where AFL couples are tested on how well they know each other. They won, defeating Luke Livingston and his partner.
In 2006 Lloyd had a weekly spot as a panelist on Fox Footy's "White Line Fever" and after being forced to spend an extended time off the field because of injury, has become recognised for his informative views on all things football - his roles included being a special comments commentator on Triple M's football coverage as well as more regular appearances on The AFL Footy Show as a panelist.
Family
His parents are John and Bev Lloyd. John played 29 games for the Carlton Football Club from 1965-1967 and was also a diplomat. The Lloyds moved to Scotland for 3 years because of John's work, and it was there that Lloyd picked up rugby and soccer by playing for his Currie club.
Lloyd has 2 older brothers, Simon, who is the High Performance Manager at the Collingwood Football Club, and Brad, who is the former captain of the Williamstown Football Club (and former Hawthorn player) and now national recruiting manager for the Fremantle Football Club , as well as one older sister, Kylie, who is the Unit Manager at The Footy Show.
On 9 November 2002 Lloyd married his childhood sweetheart Lisa-Marie Caparello, known as Lisa, at Xavier College Chapel. They were first introduced by a mutual friend at a party when they were in Year 12 and have been together ever since. Their lavish wedding was covered by New Idea magazine and a documentary of the day titled One Day In November was also aired on Fox Footy Channel. Lloyd wore a suit by Pino Ciano while Lisa wore a gown by Armadale designer Jane Hill.
Lisa has appeared on The Footy Show's singing competition, Screamers and was also a regular presenter on Fox Footy's Living With Footballers before the show was cancelled at the end of 2004. She has studied singing, taught herself piano, worked for Ricky Nixon's sports management company "Flying Start" and now works as a Hyperbaric Technician. Lisa was also listed in Scot Palmers "Most Powerful Women In Football".
On the 20 June 2006 it was announced that they were expecting their first child in December. At 7:20pm on the 15 December 2006 Lisa gave birth to a baby girl, Jaeda Ruby, who weighed in at 9 pounds, 4 ounces. In his 2007 Player Profile, Lloyd listed Jaeda as being both the best gift he's ever received and one of the highlights of his life. Also, in an interview with Alpha Magazine in May 2007, Lloyd declared that Jaeda was his "pride and joy".
Lloyd attended St Martin De Porres Catholic Primary School in Avondale Heights before moving on St Bernards College, Essendon.
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (August 2007) |
- Lloyd is known for his ritual when taking set shots at goal. Without fail, almost every time he takes the time to go far back on the mark, pull both his socks up, then grab some grass and throw it into the air to measure the wind and take a very long run up before kicking. He was the subject of some controversy when the AFL introduced the "shot clock" to limit the amount of time that players had to take set shots, which was labelled by many opposition supporters as being the "Lloyd rule".
- He barracked for Fitzroy Football Club when he was young because in the first game he attended, Fitzroy player Bernie Quinlan kicked 9 goals.
- When he proposed to Lisa at the end of 2001 he filled his city apartment with flowers and candles.
- When living in Scotland as a child, Lloyd supported Aberdeen and Liverpool in the soccer.
- Lloyd's favourite movie is The Champ.
- Lloyd is the number one ticket holder for the Essendon Cricket Club for the 2006/2007 season.
- Lloyd's nickname is the 'Velvet Sledgehammer' as he is regarded as being a gentleman off-field yet on the football field he is not afraid to use his muscles against his opponent.
External links
- Matthew Lloyd's profile on the official website of the Essendon Football Club
- Matthew Lloyd's playing statistics from AFL Tables