Matthew Pavlich

Matthew Pavlich
Pavlich at a book signing of his autobiography in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Pavlich
Nickname(s)	Pav
Date of birth	(1981-12-31) 31 December 1981 (age 35)
Place of birth	Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s)	Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL)
Draft	No. 4, 1999 National Draft, Fremantle
Height / weight	192cm / 99kg
Position(s)	Utility
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2000–2016	Fremantle	353 (700)
Representative team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
2008	Dream Team	1 (0)
International team honours
2002–2003	Australia	4 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2016. 2 State and international statistics correct as of 2003.
Career highlights
AFL Rising Star nominee: 2000 6× All-Australian team: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 6× Doig Medallist: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 8× Fremantle leading goalkicker: 2001, 2005–2010, 2012 Fremantle captain: 2007–2015 3× Geoff Christian Medal: 2002, 2005, 2008 3× Ross Glendinning Medal: 2008, 2008, 2012 Fremantle Life Member: 2006 AFL Life Member: 2013
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Matthew Pavlich (born 31 December 1981) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

A versatile player, Pavlich is widely regarded as one of the premier AFL centre half-forwards of the modern era, achieving All-Australian selection six times between 2002 and 2008, twice representing Australia in the International Rules Series and representing the Dream Team in the 2008 Hall of Fame Tribute Match.

Pavlich played his entire AFL career at Fremantle after making his debut for the club in 2000. Over his 17-year career, he was a six-time best and fairest winner, eight-time leading goalkicker and was the club captain between 2007 and 2015. In 2014, he became the first and only player from a Western Australian-based club to reach 300 AFL games.

Pavlich was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He is a fifth-generation Australian of Croatian-Scottish descent. His mother, Jan, is of Scottish and German descent, while his father, Steve, is of Irish and Croatian descent. His father and two uncles played for West Torrens Football Club in the SANFL.

Pavlich played school football at Sacred Heart College in Adelaide and followed the footsteps of his father, playing senior football for the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles before he was drafted into the AFL. In 1999, he was the club's leading goalkicker.

Pavlich was recruited by Fremantle with the fourth selection in the 1999 AFL national draft. Pavlich had nominated for the 1998 draft, but was overlooked by all clubs. Most notably Adelaide instead drafted 17-year-old Ken McGregor who went on to play 158 games between 1999 and 2008, and cross town rival Port Adelaide who instead chose 17-year-old Adam Morgan who played only 3 games between 2002 and 2003 for Port.