Graham Polak

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Graham Polak
Personal information
Full name	Graham Polak
Date of Birth	June 16, 1984 (1984-06-16) (age 23)
Place of Birth	Western Australia
Recruited from	East Fremantle (WAFL)
Draft	4th overall, 2001 Fremantle
Height/Weight	194cm / 92kg
Position	Center Half Back/Center Half Forward
Club information
Current club	Richmond
Number	6
Playing Career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2002-2006 2007- Total	Fremantle Richmond	73 (9) 29 (12) 102 (21)
¹ Club statistics to end of 2007 season
² Representative statistics to end of {{{repstatsend}}} Career highlights AFL Rising Star Nominee 2003

Graham Polak (born 16 June 1984) is an Australian rules footballer for the Richmond Football Club in the AFL.

Polak began his AFL career with the Fremantle Football Club after being drafted from the East Fremantle with the fourth selection in the 2001 AFL Draft (behind future stars of the game Luke Hodge, Luke Ball and Chris Judd.) He made his debut in round 1, 2002 in a Western Derby against the West Coast Eagles which Fremantle lost. In 2003 he had his best season to date, only missing one game (round 3) and playing in Fremantle's first ever finals match. He was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award in Round 9 and finished second in the end of year voting behind Sam Mitchell and ahead of Luke Ball and Daniel Wells.

Polak only played 12 games in 2005 and failed to improve due to a pre-season injury. He was recalled in round 3 of 2006, and due to injuries to Aaron Sandilands and Justin Longmuir, was often played in the new role of a ruckman, but still only managed 11 games for the season, and was overlooked for the finals.

On October 13 2006, Polak was traded to the Richmond Football Club following speculation all week that he would be the key to the mega deal involving Collingwood's Chris Tarrant being traded to the Dockers.

At 92kg and 194cm, it is hoped Polak will hold down the centre-half back position for the Tigers.

[edit] External links

• Graham Polak profile on the Official AFL Website of the Richmond Football Club
• Graham Polak's statistics from AFL Tables

v • d • e Richmond Football Club – current squad 1 Newman • 2 Thursfield • 3 Deledio • 4 Raines • 5 Simmonds • 6 Polak • 7 Brown • 8 Riewoldt • 9 Cotchin • 10 Edwards • 11 J. Bowden • 12 Richardson • 13 McMahon • 14 Polo • 15 Pettifer • 17 Johnson • 18 Rance • 19 Putt • 20 Morton • 21 Tuck • 22 Meyer • 23 Jackson • 24 Coughlan • 25 Schulz • 26 Pattison • 27 Collard* • 29 Oakley-Nicholls • 30 Tambling • 31 Hyde • 32 Tivendale • 33 Gourdis • 34 Hughes • 35 White • 36 Silvester* • 37 Casserly • 38 Cartledge* • 39 Connors • 40 Moore • 41 Foley • 42 Collins • 43 Howat* • 44 Graham • 46 King • Coach: Wallace * denotes Rookie Listed players