Anthony Koutoufides

Anthony Koutoufides (born 18 January 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer with the Carlton Football Club. One of the most powerful and athletic players of all-time, he played in almost every position and was often called the prototype of the modern footballer.

Of Greek and Italian descent, Koutoufides has been an Australian celebrity making numerous television appearances both during and after his football career. He was most recently a gladiator in the Australian television series Gladiators in character as Kouta, "a Gladiator touched by the gods" and won the Australian Dancing with the Stars in 2006.

Koutoufides was recruited from Lalor by Carlton in 1990, and played fifty games in the reserves, where he won the 1991 best and fairest. Beginning his AFL career in 1992, he quickly established himself as one of the most versatile and athletic players ever to play the game. He was a strong mark, a beautiful kick and a hard runner. Koutoufides, a state under-16 high jump champion who also competed in the 110m hurdles and the discus, made a choice to switch from track and field athletics to Australian rules football.

His profile grew through the early to mid-1990s, and he was a star of the game by 1995. Koutoufides was best known for both his strong mark, and his incredible one-handed capability at stoppages. He was better than any other player in the league at picking the ball up off the ground with one hand, and then looping that arm over opponents to set up clearing handpasses. He played in Carlton's 1995 premiership, earning All-Australian selection in that year.

From 1996 to 1999, Koutoufides was a solid contributor to the team, playing more often in key positions. This was usually in defence, but played some games in the forward line, scoring his career-best 6.4 against Collingwood in 1997. He was the club leading goalkicker in 1997 with 28 goals. In 1999, he was selected in the final Victorian State of Origin team, his only ever Big V.