Glenn Freeborn (born 6 February 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer for both North Melbourne (1995–1998) and Collingwood (1999–2003) in the Australian Football League (AFL).[1] Originally drafted by Melbourne, Freeborn was delisted without playing a game. A durable utility, Freeborn is best known for his three goals in the Kangaroos' 1996 premiership triumph over Sydney. Many onlookers believe that Freeborn's three second term goals swung the game North Melbourne's way.[1]

Glenn Freeborn
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-02-06) 6 February 1973 (age 51)
Original team(s) Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL)
Debut Round 5, 30 April 1995, North Melbourne vs. Carlton, at the MCG
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1995–1998 North Melbourne 055 (27)
1999–2003 Collingwood 083 (42)
Total 138 (69)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2003.
Career highlights
  • North Melbourne premiership player 1996
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Upon reaching the Magpies at the end of 1998, Freeborn slotted in perfectly, playing the role of the sweeper across halfback, and was quite successful despite the team's lack of success. After a patchy 2000, Freeborn hit back over the following two seasons, missing only two matches as his side rose up the ladder and into the finals in 2002, whereupon the club then found their way into their first Grand Final since their famed victory in 1990.

In the match in the wet against Brisbane, Freeborn was outstanding off halfback and through the midfield, and again reaffirmed himself as one of the players the club would rely on for a cool head under pressure.

Surprisingly, Freeborn found it difficult to crack it for a regular place in the Magpies' 2003 line up, tipped out despite some reasonable early season form by the youth of Richard Cole, Rhyce Shaw and Matthew Lokan. Many believed that despite playing only three matches for the season, the club would have been well served had they opted to select the experience of Freeborn during the finals series, which ended with a crushing defeat by the Lions in the grand final.

Following his role in Williamstown's Victorian Football League premiership over Box Hill in 2003, Freeborn retired from football.

Statistics

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[2]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1995 North Melbourne 17 9 4 5 51 47 98 15 14 0.4 0.6 5.7 5.2 10.9 1.7 1.6
1996 North Melbourne 17 19 13 14 129 92 221 35 31 0.7 0.7 6.8 4.8 11.6 1.8 1.6
1997 North Melbourne 17 18 5 8 92 64 156 15 28 0.3 0.4 5.1 3.6 8.7 0.8 1.6
1998 North Melbourne 17 9 5 1 38 37 75 13 13 0.6 0.1 4.2 4.1 8.3 1.4 1.4
1999 Collingwood 9 22 16 13 192 116 308 60 33 0.7 0.6 8.7 5.3 14.0 2.7 1.5
2000 Collingwood 9 13 11 6 115 81 196 53 15 0.8 0.5 8.8 6.2 15.1 4.1 1.2
2001 Collingwood 9 22 6 3 188 152 340 99 34 0.3 0.1 8.5 6.9 15.5 4.5 1.5
2002 Collingwood 9 23 8 7 163 157 320 69 54 0.3 0.3 7.1 6.8 13.9 3.0 2.3
2003 Collingwood 9 3 1 1 16 18 34 9 7 0.3 0.3 5.3 6.0 11.3 3.0 2.3
Career 138 69 58 984 764 1748 368 229 0.5 0.4 7.1 5.5 12.7 2.7 1.7

References

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  1. ^ a b Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2003). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (5th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 240–241. ISBN 1-74095-032-1.
  2. ^ "Glenn Freeborn's player profile at AFL Tables". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
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