Andrew Osborn (born 10 October 1972) is a former

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er who played with the

South Adelaide Football Club The South Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club that competes in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Known as the ''Panthers'', their home ground is Flinders University Stadium South Australian National Football League The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL ( or ''S-A-N-F-L''), is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport. Originally formed as the ...

(SANFL). After beginning his football with local club

Reynella Reynella is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located 20 km south of the Central Business District of Adelaide in the north of the City of Onkaparinga. It is bordered to the east by Main South Road, to the south ...

, Andrew quickly established himself at South Adelaide in a very competitive U17 team by winning the trophy for the Most Consistent Player in 1988. Then, in the following year, he not only won the W.J. Mahoney Cup for the best and fairest in South Adelaide's U17’s, but also the McCallum Medal for best and fairest in the SANFL U17 competition. Progressing through the grades, Andrew was instrumental in South Adelaide’s win in the 1991 Reserves Grand Final and his football prowess naturally attracted the interest of two AFL clubs (Geelong in 1993 and

Port Adelaide Football Club Port Adelaide Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, Alberton, South Australia. The club's senior men's team plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), where they are nicknamed ...

in 1998 (Zone Selection)), but Andrew was kept from performing on that stage by long term injuries. The self-discipline, dedication and perseverance which he showed to overcome these difficulties and to reach the pinnacle of the SANFL competition were qualities that had long been recognised as an integral part of his game. Andrew was a great team-man, and his appointment as South Adelaide captain from 1998–2000 recognised his skills as a leader and the respect in which he was held by his fellow team-mates and the club as a whole. In 1998, the award of the

Magarey Medal The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), as judged by field umpires. The award was created by Will ...

, and his selection in the state side, were clear indications that this same respect was afforded him by the wider South Australian community. William Magarey wanted his medal to reward players who were not only brilliant and fair, but who demonstrated the ‘power of endeavour’ and had the drive to succeed; as a vice-president himself of the South Adelaide Football Club, Magarey would have been delighted that these qualities were to be found in Andrew, who for many supporters redefined the concept of the ‘Ossie battler.’ When he retired from league football at the end of 2000, he had played 115 games and kicked 93 goals for the Panthers. In late 2007 Andrew returned to his beloved Panthers in an off-field role, becoming the club's Marketing Manager.

References

External links

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South Adelaide Football ClubSAFC Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Osborn, Andrew 1972 births Living people South Adelaide Football Club players Magarey Medal winners Australian rules footballers from South Australia Place of birth missing (living people) Reynella Football Club players People educated at Cardijn College