Adrian Whitehead

Adrian Whitehead
Personal information
Full name Adrian Whitehead
Date of birth (1975-08-25) 25 August 1975 (age 49)
Original team(s) Federal, Wodonga
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 81 kg (179 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1994–1999 Carlton 63 (22)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1999.
Career highlights

1995 AFL Premiership Player

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Adrian Whitehead (born 25 August 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton. A defender, he was the youngest member of the club's premiership winning side of 1995, playing in every game.[1]

Whitehead, originally from Federal in the Upper Murray Football League, he won the 1992 Ovens & Murray Football League Rookie of the Year award, while playing for Wodonga.

Whitehead started to suffer from a foot injury during the 1996 pre-season. It flared up against Geelong late in 1997 and he was forced off the ground injured. He had damaged the nerves and tendons in his foot and did not play in the 1998 AFL season.[2] Whitehead's last game came in round 13 the following season and he was delisted afterwards,[3] going on to coach the Wodonga Raiders.[4]

In 2001, Whitehead sued Carlton Football Club for damages from a pain-killing injection their doctor gave him in a game in the 1997 season. It was alleged that the injection made him unable to protect his foot during the game which resulted in ruptured tendons, nerve damage and bone fractures. The case went to the Supreme Court and in 2005 a verdict was handed down. It was decided that although Whitehead was entitled to compensation he was not owed any from Carlton. Whitehead was advised to seek a settlement through the Workers Compensation Act.[5]

  1. ^ Adrian Whitehead's playing statistics from AFL Tables
  2. ^ Reilly, Stephen (7 March 2003). "Beleaguered Blues hit by more claims". The Age. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  3. ^ Urban, Rebecca (7 November 2003). "Blues, Whitehead ordered to mediate over injury claim". The Age. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  4. ^ McClure, Geoff (22 March 2006). "Japan's Michito wows the bush". The Age. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Former Carlton player loses court battle over injury". ABC News. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2011.[permanent dead link]