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Aaron Naughton
Naughton playing for the Western Bulldogs in April 2018
Personal information
Nickname(s) Astronaught, Naughty
Date of birth (1999-11-30) 30 November 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth Frankston, Victoria
Original team(s) Peel Thunder (WAFL)
Draft No. 9, 2017 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2018, Greater Western Sydney vs. Western Bulldogs, at UNSW Canberra Oval
Height 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 93 kg (205 lb)
Position(s) Key Forward
Club information
Current club Western Bulldogs
Number 33
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018– Western Bulldogs 139 (219)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 21, 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Aaron Naughton (born 30 November 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). Standing at 195 cm, Naughton is considered a key-position player who is renowned for his strong marking skills and can play both in defence and attack.

He is known by his Western Bulldogs fans as the AstroNaught due to his surname and for his large leaps to grasp outstanding high-flying marks.[1][2]

Early years

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Naughton was born in Victoria, Australia to Gabby and Wayne Naughton and lived in Langwarrin.[3] He has an older brother, Travis, who played high-level junior football but was not drafted.[3] At a young age, Naughton and his family moved to Rockingham, Western Australia.[4][5] He was educated at Kolbe Catholic College,[6] and played his junior football for the Rockingham Rams Football Club.[7] After his time with the Rams, he played under-16s state football and then under-18s state football for Western Australia, where his potential was realised.[3] He played two under-18s matches in 2016, averaging 7.5 disposals and two marks, and then stepped it up in 2017, playing four matches with an average of 14.8 disposals and 5.3 marks.[8] He was also playing for the Peel Thunder throughout the 2016 and 2017 seasons, in both the Colts and Senior divisions. He played 13 games for the Colts division in 2016, where he averaged 4 marks and 14 disposals a game.[8] He then split his time between the Colts and Seniors in 2017, playing 7 matches in both divisions. He had his best game in the senior team in round 19 of the 2017 WAFL season, where he had 23 disposals and 11 marks.[9] Naughton narrowly missed playing in the Thunder's premiership victory against Subiaco, having former Fremantle player Zac Dawson chosen instead of him.[7]

AFL career

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He was drafted by the Western Bulldogs with their first selection and ninth overall in the 2017 national draft.[10]

He made his debut in the 82-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at UNSW Canberra Oval in the opening round of the 2018 season.[11] Naughton went on to play 18 games in his debut season, finishing fourth in the club best-and-fairest count and winning the Chris Grant Best First Year Player Award. He also earned a Rising Star nomination for his performance against Richmond in Round 23.[12] Naughton moved into the forward line at the beginning of 2019. This move proved to be a success and Naughton kicked 32 goals in his second year. Naughton led the AFL for contested marks at the conclusion of the 2019 season, with a total of 53. His contested marking was best on display in Round 7 against Richmond, claiming 9 contested marks, he was only 1 shy of the AFL record.[13] Naughton kicked a career-high six goals in the 12th round of the 2020 AFL season against the Adelaide Crows.

Naughton had a career-best start to the 2021 AFL season, kicking multiple goals in every single game up to Round 9. He was named as one of the Bulldogs' best players in their close win over West Coast, after kicking 3 goals, including the one that put them back in front in the final quarter.[14][15] He then had his best game for the season in Round 9, where he kicked 4 goals and helped secure the team a win against Port Adelaide.[16][17]

Career statistics summary

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Statistics are correct to the end of round 9, 2021[18]
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2018 Western Bulldogs 33 18 2 1 130 78 208 77 38 0.1 0.1 7.2 4.3 11.6 4.3 2.1
2019 Western Bulldogs 33 23 32 27 170 80 250 132 42 1.4 1.2 7.4 3.5 10.9 5.7 1.8
2020[a] Western Bulldogs 33 12 15 6 46 38 84 42 9 1.3 0.5 3.8 3.2 7.0 3.5 0.8
2021 Western Bulldogs 33 9 22 16 90 26 116 64 14 2.4 1.8 10.0 2.9 12.9 7.1 1.6
Career 62 71 50 436 222 658 315 103 1.2 0.8 7.0 3.6 10.6 5.1 1.7

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ "AstroNaught reaches new heights as Dogs destroy Crows – AFL". The Coal Face. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. ^ Canil, Jourdan (31 January 2020). "How the AstroNaught can launch into superstardom". AFL Media. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Robinson, Mark (12 April 2019). "Why Naughton is Bulldog through and through". Herald Sun. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  4. ^ Plerik, Jon (30 August 2019). "Young Bulldog Naughton hoping to get his bite of the finals pie". The Age. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  5. ^ Daniels, Ryan (15 November 2017). "AFL Draft: WA prospect Aaron Naughton prefers Collingwood over Fremantle". The West Australian. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Rockingham teen Aaron Naughton finishes fourth in Western Bulldogs' best and fairest awards, wins best first year player". soundtelegraph.com.au. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b Kirby, Aaron (22 September 2021). "Rockingham and Peel Thunder product Aaron Naughton to star in 2021 AFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium". Mandurah Coastal Times. perthnow.com.au. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Aaron Naughton - Player Profile". central.rookieme.com. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  9. ^ Rake, Justin (24 November 2017). "AFL Draft: Peel Thunder's Aaron Naughton becomes a Western Bulldog". mandurahmail.com.au. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  10. ^ Hope, Shayne (24 November 2017). "AFL draft 2017: Aaron Naughton targets a round-one debut at Western Bulldogs". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  11. ^ Rake, Justin (22 March 2018). "Peel football product Aaron Naughton to make AFL debut in round one". Mandurah Mail. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  12. ^ "2018 Sutton Medal: Macrae named domestique". westernbulldogs.com.au. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  13. ^ "'Jesus Christ would've struggled on him': Dog makes his mark". afl.com.au. 4 May 2019. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Determined Dogs overcome Eagles in a thriller". Western Bulldogs Media. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  15. ^ Twomey, Callum (28 March 2021). "What a game! Bont inspires Dogs in an instant classic". AFL Media. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  16. ^ "ROUND 9 REPORT: Dogs down Power on the road". Western Bulldogs Media. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  17. ^ Michael, Luke (16 May 2021). "Brilliant Bulldogs bare their teeth in powerful win over Port". AFL Media. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Aaron Naughton Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
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