Rhys Palmer

Infobox afl player NEW


playername = Rhys Palmer
fullname = Rhys Palmer


birthdate = Birth date and age|1989|2|13|df=yes
birthplace =
originalteam = East Fremantle (WAFL)
draftpick =
heightweight = 180cm / 76kg
position =
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
currentclub = Fremantle
guernsey = 10
years = 2008 –
clubs = Fremantle
games(goals) = 20 (10)
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2008
careerhighlights =
* AFL Rising Star winner: 2008
* AFLPA Best First Year Player 2008
* Fremantle Recruit of the Year 2008

Rhys Palmer (born 13 Feb, 1989) is an Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club. He was selected with the seventh pick overall in the 2007 AFL National Draft.

Career

Palmer was a key member of Western Australia's victorious National Under 18s Championships side, averaging 32 possessions and 3 goals per game. He finished second by one vote behind Cale Morton in the Larke Medal and was named in the All-Australian side. [cite web|first=Scott|last=Heinrich|title=West boys end title agony|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22062158-5012734,00.html|publisher=foxsports.com.au|date=2007-07-12|accessdate=2008-09-17]

Palmer gained attention again at the draft camp finishing second in the 3km time trial with a time of 10min 25sec and fifth in the beep test with a score of 14.8. [cite web|first=|last=|title=2007 AFL draft camp results|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22548836-11088,00.html|publisher=Herald Sun|date=2007-10-08|accessdate=2008-09-17]

Palmer played junior football for the powerful Bullcreek-Leeming Junior Football Club, who have produced two Brownlow Medalists in Simon Black and Ben Cousins and many AFL and WAFL footballers, including Palmer's Fremantle teammates Matt and Josh Carr. [cite web|first=|last=|title=Bullcreek Leeming Junior Football Club Hall of Fame|url=http://www.bljfc.com.au/hall_of_fame.htm|publisher=www.bljfc.com.au|date=|accessdate=2008-09-17] He made his WAFL debut for East Fremantle in 2007, playing 14 games, obtaining over 20 possessions in his final 6 games, include 5 goals in one game. [cite web|first=|last=|title=Rhys Palmer|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/nf/team_info.cgi?player=Rhys%20Palmer&action=PSTATS&pID=185270748&client=1-2393-21525-49803-4320172|publisher=SportingPulse|date=|accessdate=2008-09-17]

After being named as an emergency for the opening round of the 2008 season, Palmer made his debut in Round 2 at Subiaco Oval against Hawthorn. Whilst his debut match was good personally, with 22 possessions and a goal, Fremantle lost the match by 15 points. [cite web|first=Justin|last=Chadwick|title=Hawks get the job done|url=http://sportal.com.au/afl-news-display/hawks-get-the-job-done-45708|publisher=sportal.com.au|date=2008-03-29|accessdate=2008-09-17] In his second match he was awarded the AFL Rising Star nomination for his outstanding performance in the Western Derby, [cite web|first=|last=|title=Palmer handed Rising Star nomination|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23504841-19742,00.html|publisher=Herald Sun|date=2008-04-08|accessdate=2008-09-17] despite receiving a gash to his head in the opening quarter. [cite web|first=Courtney|last=Walsh|title=Bloodied Docker's 'dream' derby debut|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,,23495555-23211,00.html|publisher=foxsports.com.au|date=2008-04-07|accessdate=2008-09-17]

After being nominated in Round 3, Rhys won the 2008 AFL Rising Star Award ahead of Cyril Rioli from Hawthorn with 8 of the 9 judges voting him as the best first year player.

References

External links

*AflRleague|ref=R/Rhys_Palmer.html