Riley Garcia (born 30 January 2001) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Western Bulldogs with the 62nd draft pick in the 2019 AFL draft.[1][2][3]

Riley Garcia
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-01-30) 30 January 2001 (age 23)
Original team(s) Swan Districts, West Australian Football League
Draft No. 62, 2019 AFL draft, Western Bulldogs
Debut 28 May 2021, Western Bulldogs vs. Melbourne, at Docklands Stadium
Height 177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 72 kg (159 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / Forward
Club information
Current club Western Bulldogs
Number 38
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020– Western Bulldogs 25 (12)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 11, 2024.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early football

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Garcia began playing football with the Caversham Suns Junior Football Club in the eastern suburbs of Perth.[4] He was named in the 2018-2019 NAB AFL Academy squad,[5] He played one game for Western Australia in the 2018 AFL Under 18 Championships,[6] and soon after began playing for the Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League in 2019,[7] where he played 3 games and averaged 12 disposals.[6] He played for Western Australia in the 2019 AFL Under 18 Championships, being named in the team's best in all of his first 3 games,[8][9][10] but unfortunately suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament injury in the team's championship victory, rendering him unable to play for a vast majority of the 2020 AFL season.[11][12]

AFL career

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As a result of the injury he had suffered in 2019, Garcia was injured for the majority of the 2020 season. He completed his rehabilitation process in August 2020, and was able to participate in a scratch match against Gold Coast on 2 August 2020.[13] Garcia did not play at senior level in 2020, and had another minor injury to his knee in December 2020 which again set him back until March 2021.[14] Garcia made his debut for the senior team in the 11th round of the 2021 AFL season.[15][16] Unfortunately for Garcia, his poor injury luck continued, suffering a concussion in the first quarter of the game, which ruled him out of the rest of the game.[17][18] Garcia returned to the senior team in round 15,[19] where he kicked his first career goal and tallied 13 disposals.[20] It was revealed that Garcia had signed a one-year contract extension with the Bulldogs on 16 July 2021, tying him to the club until the end of the 2022 season.[21][22]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of round 24, 2023[23]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2020 Western Bulldogs 38 0 0
2021 Western Bulldogs 38 9 4 3 57 46 103 14 17 0.4 0.3 6.3 5.1 11.4 1.5 1.89 0
2022 Western Bulldogs 38 7 3 1 41 35 76 10 8 0.4 0.1 5.8 5.0 10.8 1.4 1.1 0
2023 Western Bulldogs 38 1 0 1 12 19 31 2 9 0.3 0 4.0 6.3 10.3 0.6 3.0 0
Career 19 7 5 110 100 210 26 34 0.4 0.2 5.7 5.2 11.0 1.3 1.7 0

References

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  1. ^ Lerner, Ronny (28 November 2019). "As it happened: 44 more players find new homes in 2019 AFL draft". The Age. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  2. ^ "2019 AFL Draft, Pick 62: Riley Garcia". Western Bulldogs Media. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. ^ Roche, Joss (29 November 2019). "Dogs roll the dice on luckless WA speedster with ACL injury". AFL Media. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  4. ^ "WA players attending AFL Draft Combine". wafootball.com.au. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Jack Sears and Tyrone Thorne named in NAB AFL Academy Squad". peelthunder.com.au. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Riley Garcia". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Our brightest stars: Swan Districts". wafootball.com.au. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  8. ^ Black, Sarah (8 June 2019). "WA skipper dominates to lead Sandgropers past Vic Metro". AFL Media. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  9. ^ King, Travis (15 June 2019). "Defending U18 champions open account in thriller over WA". AFL Media. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  10. ^ Black, Sarah (22 June 2019). "U18: Potential No.1 pick stars as Metro post first win". AFL Media. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  11. ^ Balmer, Matt; Zita, David (27 May 2021). "1283 day wait over for Saints tall, star Tiger out for the 'medium term': Team Whispers". Fox Sports. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  12. ^ McArdle, Jordan (5 July 2019). "Promising WA draft prospect Riley Garcia suffers cruel ACL blow". The West Australian. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Garcia takes next steps". Western Bulldogs Media. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  14. ^ "INJURY UPDATE: Your club's medical room, who's struggling". AFL Media. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  15. ^ Keating, Mitch (26 March 2021). "Bulldogs announce debutant Riley Garcia for Demons clash". ZeroHanger. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  16. ^ Healey, Catherine (26 May 2021). "Western Bulldogs announce Swan Districts junior Riley Garcia will debut against Melbourne at MCG". The West Australian. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  17. ^ Woodcock, Mitchell (28 May 2021). "Western Bulldogs young gun Riley Garcia subbed off at half-time of AFL debut with concussion". The West Australian. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  18. ^ Ryan, Peter (28 May 2021). "Melbourne stamp their premiership credentials in style". The Age. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  19. ^ "AFL TEAM - Round 15". Western Bulldogs Media. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Exciting times ahead, says Garcia". Western Bulldogs Media. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  21. ^ Jewell, Kendra (16 July 2021). "Bulldogs duo ink new deals". ZeroHanger. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Garcia, Butler re-sign". Western Bulldogs Media. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Riley Garcia". afltables.com. Retrieved 18 July 2021.