Andrew Douglas Purser (born 31 October 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and for the East Fremantle Football Club and West Perth Football Club in the Western Australian Football League (WAFL).
Andrew Purser | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Andrew Douglas Purser | ||
Date of birth | (1958-10-31) 31 October 1958 (age 63) | ||
Original team(s) | East Fremantle (WAFL) | ||
Draft | No. 1, 1982 interstate draft | ||
Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||
Weight | 83 kg (183 lb) | ||
Position(s) | Ruckman | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
1978–1982 | East Fremantle | 085 (29) | |
1983–1987 | Footscray | 112 (16) | |
1988 | West Perth | 002 0(1) | |
Total | 199 (46) | ||
Representative team honours | |||
Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
1983–1985 | Western Australia | 3 (0) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1988. | |||
Career highlights | |||
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Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
A ruckman, Purser was a premiership player with East Fremantle in 1979.[1] Purser was one of several West Australian footballers brought over to Footscray in the 1980s by general manager and former Carlton administrator Shane O'Sullivan; others included Simon Beasley, Murray Rance, Sharks teammate Jim Sewell and Brad Hardie. Purser was among 15 new players to debut for Footscray in 1983 and although undersized he quickly gained a reputation as one of the finest ruckmen in the VFL. In just his second season, he won the Charles Sutton Medal for Footscray's best and fairest player.
However, by the end of 1987, the physical burden of shouldering the main ruck responsibilities had taken its toll on Purser, saying years later that he felt he was "running out of steam".[2] His main career as a stockbroker was also seriously affected by the Black Monday crash in October, which eventually prompted him and his wife Jenny to return to Western Australia, despite the best efforts of Footscray to keep him at the club.
In a remarkable testament to his durability, Purser had missed only one out of a possible 113 senior VFL games during his time at Footscray.
After a brief stint at West Perth, Purser decided to retire at just 28 years of age to pursue a career in the finance industry.
He has been running his own finance business in Subiaco, Western Australia.[2]
Purser's son, Ben, is a former Perth Wildcats development player.[3]
Charles Sutton Medal · Western Bulldogs best and fairest winners | |
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Western Australian team – 1983 Interstate Championships | |
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Western Australia 24.14 (134) defeated South Australia 16.14 (110), at Subiaco Oval, 4 June 1983 Western Australia 16.22 (118) defeated Victoria 16.19 (115), at Subiaco Oval, 12 July 1983 | |
Both games | |
State game vs. South Australia | |
State of Origin vs. Victoria | |
Coach: Todd |
Western Australian team – 1984 Interstate Championships | |
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Western Australia 14.14 (98) defeated South Australia 14.13 (97), at Football Park, 9 June 1984 Western Australia 21.16 (142) defeated Victoria 21.12 (138), at Subiaco Oval, 17 July 1984 | |
Both games | |
State game vs. South Australia | |
State of Origin vs. Victoria | |
Coach: Todd |
Western Australian team – 1985 Interstate Championships | |
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South Australia 30.18 (198) defeated Western Australia 16.15 (111), at Subiaco Oval, 15 June 1985 Victoria 19.16 (130) defeated Western Australia 9.11 (65), at Subiaco Oval, 16 July 1985 | |
Both games | |
State Game vs. South Australia | |
State of Origin vs. Victoria | |
Coach: Todd |
1982 VFL interstate draft | |
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First round |
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Second round |
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Australian Football League number one overall draft picks | |
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