Jake Spencer | Demonwiki (original) (raw)

DOB: 9 October <1989>

Debut: Round 1, 2009 against North Melbourne at
Last game: Round 5, 2017 against at

From: Hermit Park/Redland Bombers, selection #35, 2007 Rookie Draft

Number: 42 (2009-2015), 33 (2017)

Games: 38
Goals: 8
Career Statistics

The 203cm ruckman was an elite junior basketballer and had never played football before when he took up the sport to play with friends in 2003. Finding a talent for the game Spencer moved to Brisbane, where his uncle was chairman of the Brisbane Lions, and joined the Redland Bombers.

Drafted by the Demons as a late rookie selection at the end of the <2007> season, Spencer spent his first year playing in the VFL with Sandringham before debuting in the first round of <2009> after impressing in the NAB Cup pre-season loss to , becoming the first player from Townsville to play AFL football.

After playing six matches in his debut season Spencer managed just two as a nominated rookie in his second. He failed to play in a winning side throughout his two years at the club, but was rewarded with a two year contract and an upgrade to the senior list at the end of <2010>.

Spencer suffered a serious knee injury in a VFL match in May <2011> and missed the rest of the season without playing a senior match. He returned for his first senior match in two years when named as a late emergency for Mark Jamar in the Round 14, 2012 loss to the Brisbane Lions at the .

In Round 19, 2012 Spencer finally played in his first senior win in his 13th game - 1225 days after his debut. He doubled his career games tally by playing almost every game from there until the end of the season.

He added a career high nine games in <2013>, and was rewarded for his performances in the second half of the year by being presented the <2013> Coaches' Award by stand-in Neil Craig.

After playing the first five games of <2014> he was forced back to the VFL by the return from injury of Mark Jamar. He suffered an ankle injury which ended his season, but the club gave him a two year contract extension. With the Demons generally preferring to play with a single ruckman in <2015> he only managed seven games.

Didn't play a senior game in <2016>, before briefly returning for two games in <2017>. He then suffered a shoulder injury which put him out of the side again. He did not play again before being delisted at the end of the season. After turning down rookie list offers from other club, Spencer then joined Aspley in the NEAFL. Signed for Doncaster in <2020> but did not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead joined Casey Demons for a shortened VFL season before returning to Doncaster as captain in <2021>.

Spencer's uncle Tony Kelly served as Chairman of the Brisbane Lions and was on the board of the club for 12 years before resigning at the end of <2010>.

Media
melbournefc.com.au - 08/10/10
Herald Sun - 06/06/2014
Dandenong Leader - 30/06/2020

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