Brett Kirk

"Everyone's responsible for the environment, even football clubs. To learn what they can do to become sustainable log onto the Sport 4 the Environment website. Together footy can be part of the solution." Brett Kirk - AFL


Twice passed on at the Club, 'Kirky' was finally drafted from North Albury onto Sydney's rookie list in 1999 and elevated to play his debut in round 19 against the Kangaroos where he kicked three goals and impressed everyone with his attack on the ball. He struggled in his second year, playing only seven games, but improved in 2001 where he made 19 appearances including three majors in the elimination final loss to Hawthorn. Enjoyed a strong finish to his 2002 campaign and it carried over to the following year when he was unofficially the AFL's most improved player. The superb season - when he became the competition's premier defensive midfielder making the most tackles (140) while winning plenty of ball himself - ended when he came runner-up to Brownlow Medalist, Adam Goodes, in the Club's best and fairest and representing Australian in the International Rules Series.

He had another stellar season in 2004 when statistics told the story. He led the competition with 127 tackles, led the Club with 237 handballs, 74 hard-ball gets while finishing runner-up to Barry Hall in the best and fairest, fourth in the Brownlow count (20 votes), won All-Australian selection and played in the International Rules Series. In 2005 coach Paul Roos said of his midfielder's effort in the preliminary final, "He just typifies the team, the blood, going off and wrapping the head like an Easter egg and putting the helmet on and going back on". At three-quarter time when 'Captain Blood' rallied the players together for a stirring come-from-behind win over St Kilda, he inspired every battling footballer. Finally was named Club Champion after averaging nearly 22 possessions from his 26 games.

There was no let-up last year, when the co-captain continued to show invaluable leadership and a never-say-die attitude that was on display for all to see when he inspired his teammates, along with Adam Goodes, to a near miracle comeback in the September decider. Led the club in tackles (142, second in the AFL) and was just behind Goodes in disposals (496) from playing all 25 games. Ended the season coming runner-up with Ryan O'Keefe in the Club's best and fairest and sharing the Best Finals Player gong with Michael O'Loughlin.