Full Name: GRAHAM POLAK
Date of Birth: 16/06/1984
Height: 194 cm
Weight: 94 kg
Guernsey: 6
Debut: 01/04/2007, Round 1, Carlton
Last Game: 29/05/2010, Round 10, Port Adelaide
RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 2007-10
Total Games: 38
Total Goals: 16
BIOGRAPHY
Graham Polak originally played for East Fremantle and was drafted by Fremantle with pick 4 overall in the 2001 AFL National Draft.
Graham played 73 senior games with Fremantle from2002 to 2006 showing strong form in 2003 and 2004. After the 2006 season
Graham was traded to Richmond in exchange for Richmond’s picks 8 and 42 in the 2006 AFL National Draft. Graham a 194 cm centre half back or centre half forward played his first senior game with Richmond in Round 1, 2007 against Carlton . Graham played every senior game in 2007 and finished 7 th in the club Best and Fairest. Graham played 11 of the first 14 Rounds in 2008 and was showing good form and then ……….after playing in Round 14 against Carlton on the 28/06/2008 Graham went out later that night and was struck by a Melbourne Tram . and was placed in an induced coma with bruising on the brain , putting not only his footy career in jeopardy but his general health and wellbeing. Two days after being struck by the Tram Graham was able to respond to commands and squeeze a family member’s hand. The Hospital also stated that the signs from Graham were encouraging. Nearly a week after Graham had been hit by the Tram , Graham was moved to Epworth Rehabilitation Centre. He was then able to remember parts of the game he played against Carlton on the day of the Tram accident and was able to recognize loved ones and speak.
In late 2008 Richmond applied to the AFL to transfer Graham to the Rookie list primarily to free up a position on their senior list that would enable them to recruit Ben Cousins as well re-draft David Gourdis . The AFL rejected this request but Richmond still managed to select both players , Cousins in the Pre-season Draft and as well as re-draft David Gourdis . Graham’s level of recovery allowed him to play in Round 21, 2009 against Hawthorn , 422 days after the Tram accident. Graham was delisted by Richmond at the end of 2009 but was re-drafted by Richmond in the 2010 AFL Rookie Draft as a mature Rookie. On the 26/07/2010 and 31/07/2010 Graham suffered concussion playing for Richmond’s VFL Affiliate Coburg again putting his football career in jeopardy. After playing 2 senior games at the end of 2009 and 3 games in 2010 , Graham announced his retirement from AFL football on 27/08/2010 and he returned to Western Australia.
PRE RICHMOND
East Fremantle ; Fremantle. Joined Richmond as traded player from Fremantle together with pick 42 overall ( Bachar Houli ) in 2006 National Draft in exchange for draft pick 8 overall ( Ben Reid ) in 2006 National Draft.
POST RICHMOND
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