Connor Budarick (born 4 April 2001) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Connor Budarick | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Connor Budarick | ||
Date of birth | (2001-04-06) 6 April 2001 (age 21) | ||
Original team(s) | Labrador (QAFL) | ||
Draft | No. 16, 2019 rookie draft | ||
Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Weight | 75 kg (165 lb) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Gold Coast | ||
Number | 35 | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
2020– | Gold Coast | 26 (1) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 16 2022. | |||
Career highlights | |||
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Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Budarick was born in South Australia and spent the early years of his life in the small crayfishing town of Robe[1] before relocating to Queensland's Gold Coast at the age of 9.[2] His father, Craig, was a professional Australian rules footballer who initially played for Glenelg in the SANFL where he kicked 150 goals in 66 games[3] and was drafted to the Sydney Swans with pick 110 in the 1989 national draft.[4] Connor played his junior football for the Labrador Tigers and joined the Gold Coast Suns developmental academy at 12 years of age.[5] He made his NEAFL debut for Southport at 16 years of age and became a regular selection for the Gold Coast Suns reserves team in 2018.[6] Budarick attended Helensvale State High School throughout his teenage years and was given a scholarship to enter the school's AFL Sport of Excellence programme.[7]
Leading into his 2019 junior season, Budarick was named captain of the Suns academy team[8] and was awarded the Hunter Harrison Medal for the top performing academy player in the NAB League.[9] He was then selected to represent the Allies at the 2019 AFL Under 18 Championships where his performances earned him All-Australian selection.[10] Budarick was drafted to the Gold Coast Suns as an academy pre-listed player in October 2019.[11] Budarick has stated he grew up supporting the Suns in his younger years.[12]
Budarick made his AFL debut at 18 years of age against Port Adelaide in Round 1 of the 2020 AFL season.[13] He was awarded the round 3 AFL Rising Star nomination for his brilliant defensive performance against the Adelaide Crows, which included 16 disposals, six marks and his first AFL goal.[14]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
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G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
2020[lower-alpha 1] | Gold Coast | 35 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 46 | 138 | 35 | 25 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 3.1 | 9.2 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
2021 | Gold Coast | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 11 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.5 | 4.5 | 14.0 | 5.5 | 2.0 |
2022 | Gold Coast | 35 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 106 | 29 | 135 | 44 | 22 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 11.7 | 3.2 | 15.0 | 4.8 | 2.4 |
Career | 26 | 1 | 1 | 217 | 84 | 301 | 89 | 51 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 3.2 | 11.5 | 3.4 | 1.9 |
Gold Coast Suns – current squad | |
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* denotes rookie listed players |
2020 AFL rookie draft | |
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First round |
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Second round |
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Third round |
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Fourth round |
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2020 AFL Rising Star nominees | |
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Italics denote winner |