Luke Tapscott (born 28 June 1991) is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Luke Tapscott
Personal information
Full name Luke Tapscott
Nickname(s) Tappers
Date of birth (1991-06-28) 28 June 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Orroroo, South Australia
Original team(s) North Adelaide (SANFL)
Draft 18th overall, 2009
Melbourne
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Position(s) Utility
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2010–2014 Melbourne 48 (12)
2017-2021 Sorrento 78 (133)
2006-09 Nth Adelaide 33 (50)
2010-14 Casey Demons 29 (23)
2021 Orroroo 2 (2)
2016 MPNFL 1 (2)
2022-present Chelsea Heights Demons
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2014.
Career highlights
  • SFC playing coach 2017-2021
  • SFC Best & Fairest 2016, 2017
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Tapscott started his football for Northern Areas Football Association club Orroroo before moving to Adelaide to attend Prince Alfred College and play football for North Adelaide Football Club. One of Tapscott's Prince Alfred friends was Jack Trengove, who later became his teammate at Melbourne.[1]

He excelled through the ranks as a tough, built, young forward/midfielder with an exceptional penetrating kick, on both the left and right foot. After twice representing South Australia at the AFL Under 18 Championships and being named in the All Australian team, he was picked as the 18th overall pick in the 2009 AFL Draft, by the Melbourne Football Club. At the time he was compared to 2009 AFL Rising Star winner Daniel Rich.[2]

After injuring his hip in the 2010 pre-season, Tapscott missed most of the season and was unable to break into Melbourne's senior side when he did return, instead playing for Melbourne's VFL-affiliate Casey,[3] before injuring his shoulder at the end of 2010.[1] After an impressive 2011 pre-season, Tapscott made his AFL debut in Round One that year.[4] Playing in a draw against Sydney, Tapscott played a "tremendous" match, gathering 19 disposals and narrowly missing out on being the AFL Rising Star nominee for round one to Essendon's Dyson Heppell, who would eventually claim the award at the end of the season.[5][6]

Tapscott was delisted at the conclusion of the 2014 AFL season.[7]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of the 2014 season[8]
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
2010 Melbourne 35 0
2011 Melbourne 35 15 2 1 131 57 188 50 34 0.1 0.1 8.7 3.8 12.5 3.3 2.3
2012 Melbourne 35 14 2 4 100 56 156 54 48 0.1 0.3 7.1 4 12.1 3.9 3.4
2013 Melbourne 35 16 7 8 107 49 156 56 35 0.4 0.5 6.7 3.1 9.8 3.5 2.2
2014 Melbourne 35 3 1 3 19 12 31 4 6 0.3 1 6.3 4 10.3 1.3 2
Career 48 12 16 357 174 531 164 123 0.3 0.3 7.5 3.6 11.1 3.4 2.7

References

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  1. ^ a b Quayle, Emma (27 March 2011). "From classroom to football field, mates stick". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  2. ^ Milbank, Zac (10 November 2009). "Luke Tapscott is rich talent and sheer strength". The Advertiser. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  3. ^ Holmesby, Luke (24 March 2011). "Young Demon set for debut". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  4. ^ Paton, Al (24 March 2011). "Melbourne teenager Luke Tapscott to debut against Sydney". Herald Sun. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  5. ^ Blake, Martin (28 March 2011). "Demons, Swans hurting". The Age. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  6. ^ Paton, Al (29 March 2011). "Essendon youngster Dyson Heppell wins Rising Star nod". Herald Sun. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Demons leave rookie door open for delisted first-round draft pick Luke Tapscott". Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Luke Tapscottstatistics". AFL Tables.
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