Matthew Bate, nicknamed “Master” (born 24 May 1987) is an

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 and former player for the

Melbourne Football Club The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is a professional Australian rules football club that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's elite competition. It is based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, ...

in the

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...

(AFL). At the conclusion of the 2012 AFL season, he was delisted by the Melbourne Football Club and subsequently drafted to the

Essendon Football Club The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed the Bombers, is a professional Australian rules football club. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the game's premier competition. The club was formed by the McCracken family in their A ...

's reserve side in the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL). He wore the number 6 guernsey. Bate played as a tall forward or midfielder. He won the

Morrish Medal The Morrish Medal is an Australian rules football award. Formerly awarded to the best and fairest player in the VFL Under-19 competition (known as the Thirds prior to 1959), since 1992 the award has been given to the best player in the Victori ...

as best player in the

TAC Cup The NAB League Boys (also referred to as simply the NAB League and formerly known as the TAC Cup) is an under-19 Australian rules football representative competition held in Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victo ...

in 2004. He was drafted 13th overall by Melbourne in the 2004 AFL draft and made his AFL debut in Round 5 of the 2006 season. Bate's achievements as a senior player included a nomination for the

NAB AFL Rising Star The AFL Rising Star is an Australian rules football award presented annually to the player adjudged the best young player in the Australian Football League (AFL) for the year. It was first presented in the 1993 season, and was won by Nathan Buc ...

award for his performance against

Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...

in Round 18 of the 2006 season. In the 2007 season for Melbourne, Bate finished third in the club's Best and Fairest Award (the

Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy is an Australian rules football award presented annually to the player(s) adjudged the best and fairest at the Melbourne Football Club throughout the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League (VFL/A ...

) with 179 votes, behind the winner James McDonald (260 votes) and fellow second season player Nathan Jones (190 Votes). In 2009, he came second in the club's goal kicking. Having completed his fifth full year of senior AFL football for the Melbourne Demons, Bate appeared to have become an important member of the team who was versatile and could be utilized across half-forward, in the midfield, or at full forward. Bate has been commended for his fine marking, booming kicks and endurance. However, in 2011, he only played nine games for Melbourne, despite showing good form for Casey in the VFL. He finished second in the 2011 J. J. Liston Trophy, awarded to the VFL's best and fairest player. During Trade Week of 2011, Matthew Bate requested a trade to the

Western Bulldogs The Western Bulldogs are a professional Australian rules football team that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition. Founded in 1877 as the Footscray Football Club, and based in West Footscray in the o ...

. However, after

Mark Neeld Mark Neeld (born 13 July 1971) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong and Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the 1990s. He was senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club from 2012 to 2013, when ...

was appointed as Melbourne's new coach he was retained and not traded.Matthew Bate to stay at Melbourne after failed trade
/ref>

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bate, Matthew Melbourne Football Club players Casey Demons players 1987 births Living people Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia) Eastern Ranges players