Jeff White (Australian footballer)
Jeffrey Newman "Jeff" White (born 19 February 1977) is an Australian rules footballer who had a distinguished career in the Australian Football League (AFL) spanning 14 years. He played most recently and notably for the Melbourne Football Club, following a move from the Fremantle Dockers at the end of 1997. He was Melbourne's first-choice ruckman for a decade, relying on his key attributes of athleticism and durability. He was an All-Australian in 2004, and was selected for Victoria several times. He was an important member of the Melbourne sides which made the 2000 AFL Grand Final and qualified for six finals series from 1998 to 2006.
| Jeff White | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
White in Melbourne's away strip at the MCG in 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Jeffrey Newman White | ||
| Date of birth | 19 February 1977 | ||
| Original team(s) |
Dandenong Stingrays Frankston Rovers | ||
| Draft | 1st overall, 1994 – Fremantle | ||
| Height | 195 cm (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Ruck | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1995–1997 | Fremantle | 32 (18) | |
| 1998–2008 | Melbourne | 236 (95) | |
| Total | 268 (113) | ||
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 1998–1999, 2008 | Victoria | 1 (?) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Rnd 22, 2008. 2 State and international statistics correct as of 2008. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
White's career was punctuated by serious injuries to his shin and face, in 2003 and 2005 respectively. He cemented his reputation as one of the premier ruckmen in the AFL with consistent displays for Melbourne during his eleven years at the club. Former team-mate, fellow long-serving Melbourne ruckman, and Melbourne chairman Jim Stynes called White an "ornament to the game and particularly to the Melbourne Football Club." His contract with Melbourne was not renewed in 2008 and White signed to play in 2009 with the Redland Australian Football Club in the AFL Queensland State League.