Graham Wright (born 6 June 1968) is a former Australian rules footballer, who played for in the Australian Football League.

Playing career

Wright was selected by Collingwood in the 1987 National draft with their first round pick (no.3 overall) as a quick wingman, having shown great courage for

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side East Devonport. Making his debut in 1988, Wright took his time to prove his value as a first-round draftee but in 1990 he had a fantastic year which saw him rise in ranking amongst the top wingmen in the league. Wright finished 2nd in the

Brownlow Medal The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal (and informally as "Charlie"), is awarded to the "best and fairest" player in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the home-and-away season, as determined by votes cast by t ...

Tony Liberatore Anthony Liberatore (born 11 February 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented the in the Australian Football League (AFL). Liberatore is the only player to have won league best-and-fairest medals in all three grades of V ...

by one vote in 1990, and would then finish equal 3rd in the

Copeland Trophy The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged best and fairest for Collingwood during the year. The Copeland Shield, as it was formerly known, was donated by Ern Cope ...

. Perhaps more importantly, Wright was a valuable member of the 1990 premiership side. Wright would also represent

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

in State football. A shock came to coach

Leigh Matthews Leigh Raymond Matthews (born 1 March 1952) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and coached and the . Squat, short-legged and barrel-chested, Matthews earned the ic ...

and players at the end of 1991 when Wright announced he wanted to return to Tasmania to play football, but was talked out of it by Matthews. In 1993 he was a victim of a disease which threatened his playing career, but he recovered in the pre-season to continue playing his damaging football on the wing. Consistent football followed in the mid-1990s before suffering a knee injury in 1996 against

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

where he would require a knee reconstruction. Following the season-ending injury, his main asset of pace was severely affected, and would play out his career in defence where his courage gave him an edge. Wright played his 200th game against Carlton in 1998, before retiring a week later at the end of the 1998 season.

Recruitment management

Wright was appointed as recruiting and list manager at in June 2011. He replaced Hawthorns' long-time list manager Chris Pelchen, who quit the club for a position at . Wright had experience in recruitment at both Brisbane (2004-2007) and Hawthorn (since 2007). He also has an MBA in Sports Management. When Hawthorn needed to reconstruct its team in recent years of the diluted drafts and then free agency. Wright was the man to find the players – teenagers and veterans who arrived to build the side. Wright was the person responsible for bringing

Shaun Burgoyne Shaun Playford Burgoyne (born 21 October 1982) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Port Adelaide Football Club in the SANFL, and Port Adelaide and Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Burgoyne ...

, David Hale,

Josh Gibson Joshua Gibson (December 21, 1911 – January 20, 1947) was an American baseball catcher primarily in the Negro leagues. Baseball historians consider Gibson among the best power hitters and catchers in baseball history. In 1972, he became the se ...

Jack Gunston Jack Gunston (born 16 October 1991) is a professional Australian footballer who plays for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). Early life Gunston was raised in Melbourne in Beaumaris and attended Haileybury College, play ...

Jonathan Simpkin Jonathan Simpkin (born 28 October 1987) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club, Hawthorn Football Club and Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Nicknamed "Joffa", ...

and Brian Lake to the club and ultimately the 2013 to 2015 premierships.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Graham 1968 births Living people Australian rules footballers from Tasmania Collingwood Football Club players Collingwood Football Club Premiership players East Devonport Football Club players Tasmanian State of Origin players Casey Demons coaches Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame inductees People from Devonport, Tasmania Allies State of Origin players Victorian State of Origin players Burnie Dockers Football Club players One-time VFL/AFL Premiership players