Andrew McQualter

Infobox afl player
firstname = Andrew
lastname = McQualter


| birthdate = Birth date and age|1986|6|9|df=y
birthplace =
heightweight = 179cm / 74kg
originalteam = Traralgon / Gippsland U18 (TAC Cup)
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 8, 14 May 2005
debutteam = St Kilda
debutopponent = West Coast Eagles
debutstadium = Subiaco Oval
playingteams = St Kilda (2005-)

32 games, 6 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = Round 20, 2008
careerhighlights =

Andrew McQualter (born 9 June 1986) is a Australian rules football midfielder for St Kilda in the Australian Football League. He wears number 32 guernsey throughout his career with the Saints.

McQualter was raised in Traralgon, Victoria, and later attended Gippsland Grammar School and Caulfield Grammar School as a boarder along with later-teammate Brendon Goddard. McQualter and Goddard captained the school's First XVIII football team and played in the First XI cricket side. McQualter captained the Victorian Country Under-16 and Under-18 teams at the National Football Championships. He was injured for the 2004 National Carnival, meaning many AFL scouts didn't see him play during his final year of amateur football.fact|date=September 2008 Nevertheless, he was selected by St Kilda 17th overall in the first round of the 2004 AFL Draft.

McQualter debuted for St Kilda in the 2005 season and averaged 13 possessions per game over seven senior games. He appeared in ten games in the 2006 season. During which, McQualter sported an unconventional look, namely a shaved bald head and a well grown moustache. Channel Nine commentator and footy great Dermott Brereton comically described this as the pornstar look, and took a liking to him, "He only averages 13 or so possessions a game, but hell I'd still pick him. Haha reminds me of the glory days, eh boys!".fact|date=September 2008

At the end of the 2007 season, McQualter had played 23 games, earning 137 kicks and 121 handballs, for a total of 258 disposals (an average of 11.2 possessions per game).

McQualter was officially delisted by the Saints at the end of the 2007 season, despite having another year to run on a two year contract. He was reported as saying that he felt he had "stagnated" in his third year of football. [cite web |url=http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22774689%255E19767,00.html |title=McQualter goes for next draw |author=Ralph, J. |work=Herald Sun |date= 2007-11-18 |accessdate= 2008-09-09] He was then redrafted by the club as a rookie in the 2007 Draft and has returned to the team.

McQualter began the 2008 season quietly, but began to turn in several solid performances with St Kilda's VFL affiliate, the Casey Scorpions. With his continued form, and St Kilda's form slump, McQualter was elevated off the rookie list, and selected to play against Sydney in round 12. He has since cemented his place in the senior team, after several stellar tagging jobs. He has played 10 straight games this season, a personal best for McQualter. He played his first AFL final in the 1st qualifying final against Geelong.

References

External links

*AflRleague|ref=A/Andrew_McQualter.html
*Stkplayer|ref=18393