Martin Pike (Australian rules footballer)
| Martin Pike | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Martin Pike | ||
| Nickname(s) | Pikey | ||
| Date of birth | 14 November 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Glenelg, South Australia | ||
| Original team(s) | Norwood (SANFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 9, 1992 national draft No. 42, 1996 national draft No. 33, 2000 national draft |
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| Height / weight | 189cm / 92 kg | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1993–1994 | Melbourne | 24 (25) | |
| 1995–1996 | Fitzroy | 36 (15) | |
| 1997–2000 | North Melbourne/Kangaroos | 81 (19) | |
| 2001–2005 | Brisbane Lions | 106 (67) | |
| Total | 247 (126) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2005.
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| Career highlights | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Martin Pike (born 14 November 1972) is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who played in four Australian Football League (AFL) premiership sides. Highlights of his career included a premiership with the North Melbourne Football Club, three more with Brisbane, the final AFL best-and-fairest winner with Fitzroy in 1996, and selection in the 1998 South Australian State-Of-Origin side.
Pike was born in Glenelg, South Australia, and made his senior debut with South Australian National Football League (SANFL) side Norwood in 1990. He was drafted by Melbourne Football Club with their first choice (ninth overall) in the 1992 AFL Draft. Pike made his AFL debut in 1993, playing eight games at centre half-back and a further 16 matches in 1994, including three finals.
Despite his strong on-field performance, Melbourne traded Pike to Fitzroy Football Club at the end of 1994 due to his off-field problems with alcohol.
After playing 14 games for Fitzroy in 1995, Pike played all 22 games in 1996, winning Fitzroy's best-and-fairest award, beating later Port Adelaide captain Matthew Primus for the honour. However, ongoing financial difficulties led to the then Brisbane Bears merging with Fitzroy and changing their name to become the Brisbane Lions. Pike was not selected as one of the eight Fitzroy players to move north to Brisbane at the end of 1996, largely due to his poor off-field reputation. In July 1996 he was found guilty of drink driving for the third time and was fined $1000, lost his licence for five years and sentenced to six months jail, but avoided having to go to jail, being able to serve the sentence at home under an intensive correction order.
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