Andrew McQualter

Andrew McQualter
Personal information
Full name	Andrew McQualter
Date of birth	9 June 1986
Original team(s)	Gippsland Power (TAC Cup)
Draft	#17, 2004 National Draft, St Kilda
Height / weight	179cm / 74kg
Position(s)	Forward
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2005–2011 2012 Total	St Kilda Gold Coast	89 (37) 5 (2) 94 (39)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2012.

Andrew McQualter (born 9 June 1986) is an Australian rules footballer who played 89 games for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was also on the Gold Coast Football Club rookie list. He is currently a development coach at the Richmond Football Club.^[1]

Overview

McQualter was raised in Traralgon, Victoria, and attended Gippsland Grammar School and later Caulfield Grammar School as a boarder along with future St Kilda teammate Brendon Goddard. McQualter and Goddard both captained the school's First XVIII football team and played in the First XI cricket side.^[2]

McQualter captained the Victorian Country Under-16 and Under-18 teams at the National Football Championships. He was selected by St Kilda with the 17th overall selection in the first round of the 2004 AFL Draft.^[3]

AFL career

St Kilda Football Club

2004: Drafted

McQualter was drafted by the St Kilda Football Club in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft - 1st round selection pick 17 overall.

McQualter at training prior to the 2009 AFL Grand Final

2005: Debut

McQualter debuted for St Kilda in Round 8 of the 2005 season against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco in Perth, with 16 possessions.

He averaged 13 possessions per game over seven senior games in the 2005 season.

He appeared in 10n games in the 2006 season.

2007: Delisted and redrafted

At the end of the 2007 season, McQualter had played 23 games, earning 137 kicks and 121 handballs, for a total of 258 disposals (an average of 11.2 possessions per game).

McQualter was officially delisted by the Saints at the end of the 2007 season, despite having another year to run on a two-year contract. He was reported as saying that he felt he had "stagnated" in his third year of football.^[4] He was then redrafted by the St Kilda Football Club club onto the clubs rookie list in the 2007 Draft and returned to the team.

2008: From rookie to primary list

McQualter began the 2008 season quietly on St Kildas rookie list, but began to turn in several solid performances with St Kilda's affiliate in the Victoria Football League (VFL). With his continued good form McQualter was temporarily elevated off the rookie list and selected to play against Sydney in Round 12. He cemented his place in the senior team after several tagging jobs and played nine consecutive games, a personal best for McQualter at the time.

He played his first AFL final in the 2008 1st Qualifying Final against Geelong.

McQualter was promoted back onto St Kilda's primary list at the end of the 2008 season.

2009: Minor premiership and grand finalist

McQualter played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 season in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the 2009 finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership.^[5]

St Kilda won through to the 2009 grand final after qualifying and preliminary final wins. McQualter played in the 2009 AFL Grand Final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.

McQualter averaged 14.4 possessions per game and kicked 22 goals in 24 matches during the 2009 season.

As of the end of the 2009 season, McQualter had played in six finals matches, including one grand final.

2010: Grand finalist

McQualter played 25 games in 2010, including four finals matches.

As of the end of the 2010 season, McQualter had played in 10 AFL finals matches, including three grand finals. He was delisted at the end of the 2011 season following the Saints' elimination final loss to the Sydney Swans.

2012: Gold Coast Suns

McQualter joined the Gold Coast Suns' rookie list in 2012 and began playing in the Suns' North East Australian Football League reserves team.^[1] He is part of the Suns' leadership group and played in Round 8 of the AFL season.^[6]

2013: Richmond Football Club

McQualter joined Richmond as a development coach and will play in their VFL team in 2014.

References

1. Gold Coast SUNS (2012). Andrew McQualter Archived 30 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine.. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
2. Woods, Melissa (23 September 2010). "BJ and I: the story of a long and fruitful friendship". The Age. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
3. "National Draft selections by year: 1986-present".
4. Ralph, J. (18 November 2007). "McQualter goes for next draw". Herald Sun. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
5. "2009 Season Scores and Results – Ladder". AFL Tables. 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
6. The Age (2012). Cats, Magpies recall big guns for grand final replay. Retrieved 25 May 2012.

External links

• Andrew McQualter's statistics from AFL Tables
• Gold Coast Football Club profile