Phoenix Gothard
| Phoenix Gothard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Born | 7 September 2005 | ||
| Original teams |
Murray Bushrangers (Talent League) St. Patricks JFC | ||
| Draft | No. 12, 2023 national draft | ||
| Debut | Opening Round, 2026, Greater Western Sydney vs. Hawthorn, at Sydney Showground Stadium | ||
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Small forward / midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Greater Western Sydney | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2024– | Greater Western Sydney | 13 (17) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 14, 2026. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Phoenix Gothard (born 7 September 2005) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL).[1]
Early life and junior football
Hailing from Albury, Gothard grew up with cricket as his number one sport, but eventually switched to Australian football.[2]
He played his junior football for St Patricks Junior Football Club in the Albury Wodonga Junior Football League, and went on to represent the Murray Bushrangers in the Talent League (where he met future AFL opponent Connor O'Sullivan) and the Allies.[3][4]
AFL career
Gothard was drafted by the Greater Western Sydney with the twelfth pick overrall in the 2023 national draft. He attended the national draft at Docklands Stadium not as a draft hopeful, but as a friend of eleventh-pick Connor O'Sullivan, and was therefore surprised to hear his name called.[5]
He played the entirety of his first two seasons at Victorian Football League (VFL) level, representing Greater Western Sydney's reserves team. Gothard finally earned his chance following his third pre-season, making his senior debut in the opening round match against Hawthorn in 2026, 838 days after being drafted. In round six, he recorded 20 disposals and two goals in the Sydney Derby to earn a Rising Star nomination.[6] Often playing in the midfield, Gothard set a new personal-best record in round eleven with 29 disposals, two goals and ten tackles in the win against the reigning premiers, Brisbane Lions,[7] also becoming the highest-rated player of the round.[8]
Statistics
Updated to the end of round 14, 2026.[9]
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 | |||||
| 2024 | Greater Western Sydney | 29[10] | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 2025 | Greater Western Sydney | 11[10] | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 2026 | Greater Western Sydney | 11 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 93 | 101 | 194 | 29 | 44 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 14.9 | 2.2 | 3.4 | |
| Career | 13 | 17 | 9 | 93 | 101 | 194 | 29 | 44 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 14.9 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 0 | ||
References
- ^ "Phoenix Gothard | AFL". gwsgiants.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Tervet, Steve (5 September 2023). "Phoenix Gothard thriving with Murray Bushrangers after choosing football over cricket". The Border Mail.
- ^ Chellappah, Jasper (22 November 2023). "Every AFL club's draft haul rated: Who passed? Who failed?". ESPN.
- ^ "The Rise of the Phoenix - Gothard to debut". gwsgiants.com.au. 5 March 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Sandra Moon (23 November 2023). "Phoenix Gothard was watching his best mate shake Geelong Cats legend Joel Selwood's hand - and he wasn't expecting what would happen next". ABC Goulburn-Murray (Podcast). Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ Patterson, Emily (20 April 2026). "Rise of the Phoenix: Electric Giant earns Rising Star nod". AFL Media.
- ^ Waterworth, Ben; Cotton, Ben; Healey, Catherine (25 May 2026). "AFL Report Card: New flag favourite; other fail we didn't see coming as tricky grades round revealed". Fox Footy.
- ^ "Phoenix Rising: Gothard repaying the faith for the Giants". Code Sports. 25 May 2026.
- ^ "Phoenix Gothard". AFL Tables. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ^ a b "2025 Jumper Numbers Revealed". GIANTS Media. 1 December 2024.
External links
- Phoenix Gothard's profile on the official website of the Greater Western Sydney Giants
- Phoenix Gothard's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Phoenix Gothard at AustralianFootball.com