Connor Budarick (born 4 April 2001) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
| Connor Budarick | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Connor Budarick | ||
| Date of birth | 6 April 2001 | ||
| Original team(s) | Labrador (QAFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 16, 2019 rookie draft | ||
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Weight | 75 kg (165 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Gold Coast | ||
| Number | 35 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2020– | Gold Coast | 26 (1) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 16 2022. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Early life edit
Budarick was born in South Australia and spent the early years of his life in the small crayfishing town of Robe[1] before relocating to Queensland's Gold Coast at the age of 9.[2] His father, Craig, was a professional Australian rules footballer who initially played for Glenelg in the SANFL where he kicked 150 goals in 66 games[3] and was drafted to the Sydney Swans with pick 110 in the 1989 national draft.[4] Connor played his junior football for the Labrador Tigers and joined the Gold Coast Suns Academy at 12 years of age.[5] He made his NEAFL debut for Southport at 16 years of age and became a regular selection for the Gold Coast Suns reserves team in 2018.[6] Budarick attended Helensvale State High School throughout his teenage years and was given a scholarship to enter the school's AFL Sport of Excellence programme.[7]
Leading into his 2019 junior season, Budarick was named captain of the Suns academy team[8] and was awarded the Hunter Harrison Medal for the top performing academy player in the NAB League.[9] He was then selected to represent the Allies at the 2019 AFL Under 18 Championships where his performances earned him All-Australian selection.[10] Budarick was drafted to the Gold Coast Suns as an academy pre-listed player in October 2019.[11] Budarick has stated he grew up supporting the Suns in his younger years.[12]
AFL career edit
Budarick made his AFL debut at 18 years of age against Port Adelaide in Round 1 of the 2020 AFL season.[13] He was awarded the round 3 AFL Rising Star nomination for his brilliant defensive performance against the Adelaide Crows, which included 16 disposals, six marks and his first AFL goal.[14]
Statistics edit
- Statistics are correct to the end of round 16 2022[15]
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 | ||||
| 2020[a] | Gold Coast | 35 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 46 | 138 | 35 | 25 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 3.1 | 9.2 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| 2021 | Gold Coast | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 11 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.5 | 4.5 | 14.0 | 5.5 | 2.0 |
| 2022 | Gold Coast | 35 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 106 | 29 | 135 | 44 | 22 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 11.7 | 3.2 | 15.0 | 4.8 | 2.4 |
| Career | 26 | 1 | 1 | 217 | 84 | 301 | 89 | 51 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 3.2 | 11.5 | 3.4 | 1.9 | ||
- ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
References edit
- ^ "Dyson Budarick's advice to younger brother and draft hopeful Connor Budarick". Gold Coast Bulletin. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Budarick speaks after joining the SUNS". goldcoastfc.com.au. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Australian Football - Craig Budarick Statistics". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "Dyson Budarick's advice to younger brother and draft hopeful Connor Budarick". Gold Coast Bulletin. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Connor Budarick on AFL 360". goldcoastfc.com.au. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "SUNS Academy member Connor Budarick RD17 NEAFL Rising Star". goldcoastfc.com.au. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Dyson and Connor Budarick playing together for the first time but in Darwin". Gold Coast Bulletin. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Di Pietro, Kavisha (25 June 2020). "'Buda' goes boom". AFL Players. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Gold Coast Suns academy player Connor Budarick named to attend AFL draft combine". Gold Coast Bulletin. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ Twomey, Callum (4 July 2019). "REVEALED: The 2019 U18 All Australian team". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- ^ "Gold Coast pre-lists SUNS Academy duo Budarick and Conroy". NEAFL.com.au. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Connor Budarick extends". Gold Coast Suns. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Trio of talented teens who could be key to getting Suns to shine". The Australian. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Another Sun claims Rising Star nomination". 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Connor Budarick". AFLTables. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
External links edit
- Connor Budarick's profile on the official website of the Gold Coast Football Club
- Connor Budarick at AustralianFootball.com
- Connor Budarick's playing statistics from AFL Tables
