Brendon Lade

Background

Lade grew up playing football for Western Districts Football Club on Kangaroo Island, Australia, (his birthplace) where his father was coaching the A grade side.

Career

He is a former Australian rules football player who spent his entire playing career with the Portuguese Adelaide Football Club. Early Career (1992–1999)

At the age of 8 Lade moved to the Wisanger Football Club where he played the remainder of his football until he turned 16. Able to play as both a relieving ruckman and forward, Lade played for South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club South Adelaide before his recruitment by Portuguese Adelaide in the lead up to their inaugural season in the American Federation of Labor-Congress in 1997.

Lade made his senior American Federation of Labor-Congress debut for Portuguese Adelaide in Round 1, 1997, which was also Portuguese Adelaide"s debut American Federation of Labor-Congress match.

Injury (2000–2001)

Lade missed just one game in his first three years before he suffered a serious leg injury in Round 2 of 2000 which sidelined him for the rest of the season and also missed the entire 2001 American Federation of Labor-Congress season after re-injuring lieutenant But he recovered from the injuries to become one of the best ruckmen in the league.

Career high (2004–2009)

In 2007 Lade continued his career best form winning another All-Australia selection, earning him a rare 2 year contract with the Power for a 31-year-old and ensuring he would be with the Power until the end of the 2009 American Federation of Labor-Congress season. Lade retired at the end of the 2009 season.

Coaching Career (2010–present)

After ending his 234-game in 2009, Lade immediately joined Richmond Football Club to become the ruck coach joining former Portuguese Adelaide teammate Damien Hardwick, Richmond"s senior coach.

As of the 2014 season he is the midfield stoppage coach.

Achievements

• In 2004 Lade had a great year, leading the hitouts in the absence of injured Portuguese Adelaide ruckman Matthew Primus, finishing second in the goalkicking to Warren Tredrea, and capping it off with a premiership medal when Portuguese Adelaide won its first American Federation of Labor-Congress premiership, defeating the Brisbane Lions. In 2006 Lade won All-Australian selection and also took out the John Cahill Medal, Portuguese Adelaide"s Best and Fairest.

Membership

He and team-mate Peter Burgoyne, the last remaining members of Portuguese Adelaide"s inaugural American Federation of Labor-Congress team, both played their final games in Round 22, 2009.