Introduction Brent Staker is an athletic key position player who has the endurance to pinch-hit in the midfield. After playing 110 games and booting 84 goals for the West Coast Eagles, he headed East to resume his AFL career with the Brisbane Lions in 2009. His height and athleticism has since made him one of the Lions' most valuable players. Background • Staker was recruited from the NSW-ACT U18s by the West Coast Eagles with their third round selection (pick number 37 overall) at the 2002 AFL National Draft. • His second season at the Eagles produced 17 senior matches and he earned an AFL Rising Star nomination for his three goal performance against Melbourne in Round 7. • He was a member of West Coast's losing Grand Final side in 2005 but missed the Eagles' 2006 premiership triumph after he was dropped from the side after their Qualifying Final win. • After managing just six matches in 2009, he was traded to the Lions together with Swans midfielder Amon Buchanan in a complex three-way deal that saw Bradd Dalziell head to West Coast and a number of swapped draft picks. • Staker arrived at the Lions with valuable AFL experience having previously played 110 games and kicked 84 goals throughout his seven-year career with West Coast.
2010 • Staker was the standout of the Lions’ mature recruits in 2010, providing a solid and consistent contribution across both the forward and back lines in all 22 games of the season. • He debuted for Brisbane in round 1 against former team West Coast, and contributed 1 goal, 3 behinds and 12 disposals to help lead the Lions to victory. • Staker was a standout in the Lions’ round 10 win over Collingwood with a season-high 29 disposals, which earned him his first Brownlow Medal vote of his career. • Staker also shone in the final game of the season against Sydney, where he did a superb job matched against Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes. The Lions went down 106-68. • He finished the season with 10 goals, 55 tackles and an average of 17 disposals per game, and placed seventh in the Club Champion award with 25 votes.
2011 • Staker, who had fast become of the Club's most versatile players, suffered a disastrous start to 2011 when he ruptured his ACL early in the second half of the team's season-opener against Fremantle at the Gabba. • Scans confirmed that the injury required a full knee reconstruction, but LARS surgery meant that he would miss just three months of football - rather than a full year. • After a strict rehabilitation schedule, Staker finally returned to the senior team in Round 17 and immediately proved his worth in a variety of roles both in attack and down back. • But during his 6th match back (against the Eagles at the Gabba), Staker once again ruptured his ACL and was forced from the field. Another full knee reconstruction was required - but this time he opted for traditional surgery which required a full 12-month recovery period. • It was a devastating blow for the former Eagle, whose 2012 campaign was effectively over at the same time his 2011 season prematurely ended.
Brent Staker addressed the first year players at the AFLPA Induction Camp on dealing with long-term injuries.Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 11:57AM
Brent Staker is eyeing a return to senior football as early as Round 14 if his rehabilitation from a knee injury continues to progress well.Friday, May 27, 2011 - 12:41PM
The Brisbane Lions will include three young midfielders in an attempt to improve their speed in the lead-up to their clash with EssendonFriday, May 13, 2011 - 2:18PM
Despite an early bout of homesickness, Brent Staker says his move to the Lions has been a real positive for his football careerSunday, August 29, 2010 - 11:19AM
Versatile forward Brent Staker is likely to line up down back when the Lions meet Fremantle this Saturday night.Thursday, May 06, 2010 - 5:09PM
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