Aaron Naughton

Aaron Naughton (born 30 November 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). Standing at 195 cm, Naughton is considered a key-position player who is renowned for his strong marking skills and can play both in defence and attack.

Aaron Naughton
Naughton playing for the Western Bulldogs in April 2018
Personal information
Nickname(s) Astronaught, Naughty
Date of birth (1999-11-30) 30 November 1999
Place of birth Frankston, Victoria
Original team(s) Peel Thunder (WAFL)
Draft No. 9, 2017 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2018, Greater Western Sydney vs. Western Bulldogs, at UNSW Canberra Oval
Height 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 93 kg (205 lb)
Position(s) Key Forward
Club information
Current club Western Bulldogs
Number 33
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018– Western Bulldogs 123 (191)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 24, 2023.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

He is known by his Western Bulldogs fans as the AstroNaught due to his surname and for his large leaps to grasp outstanding high-flying marks.[1][2]

Early years

Naughton was born in the outer Melbourne suburb of Frankston and played junior football with the Frankston YCW Junior Football Club from Auskick through to under-9s.[3] He later grew up in Rockingham, Western Australia,[4] and attended Kolbe Catholic College.[5]

AFL career

He was drafted by the Western Bulldogs with their first selection and ninth overall in the 2017 national draft.[6]

He made his debut in the 82-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at UNSW Canberra Oval in the opening round of the 2018 season.[7] Naughton went on to play 18 games in his debut season, finishing fourth in the club best-and-fairest count and winning the Chris Grant Best First Year Player Award. He also earned a Rising Star nomination for his performance against Richmond in Round 23.[8] Naughton moved into the forward line at the beginning of 2019. This move proved to be a success and Naughton kicked 32 goals in his second year. Naughton led the AFL for contested marks at the conclusion of the 2019 season, with a total of 53. His contested marking was best on display in Round 7 against Richmond, claiming 9 contested marks, he was only 1 shy of the AFL record.[9] Naughton kicked a career-high six goals in the 12th round of the 2020 AFL season against the Adelaide Crows.

Naughton had a career-best start to the 2021 AFL season, kicking multiple goals in every single game up to Round 9. He was named as one of the Bulldogs' best players in their close win over West Coast, after kicking 3 goals, including the one that put them back in front in the final quarter.[10][11] He then had his best game for the season in Round 9, where he kicked 4 goals and helped secure the team a win against Port Adelaide.[12][13]

Career statistics summary
Statistics are correct to the end of round 9, 2021[14]
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2018 Western Bulldogs 3318211307820877380.10.17.24.311.64.32.1
2019 Western Bulldogs 3323322717080250132421.41.27.43.510.95.71.8
2020[lower-alpha 1] Western Bulldogs 33121564638844291.30.53.83.27.03.50.8
2021 Western Bulldogs 3392216902611664142.41.810.02.912.97.11.6
Career 62 71 50 436 222 658 315 103 1.2 0.8 7.0 3.6 10.6 5.1 1.7

Notes

  1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References
  1. "AstroNaught reaches new heights as Dogs destroy Crows – AFL". The Coal Face. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. Canil, Jourdan (31 January 2020). "How the AstroNaught can launch into superstardom". AFL Media. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  3. On & Off Podcast w Aaron Naughton
  4. Daniels, Ryan (15 November 2017). "AFL Draft: WA prospect Aaron Naughton prefers Collingwood over Fremantle". The West Australian. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  5. "Rockingham teen Aaron Naughton finishes fourth in Western Bulldogs' best and fairest awards, wins best first year player". Sound Telegraph. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  6. Hope, Shayne (24 November 2017). "AFL draft 2017: Aaron Naughton targets a round-one debut at Western Bulldogs". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  7. Rake, Justin (22 March 2018). "Peel football product Aaron Naughton to make AFL debut in round one". Mandurah Mail. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  8. "2018 Sutton Medal: Macrae named domestique". westernbulldogs.com.au. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  9. "'Jesus Christ would've struggled on him': Dog makes his mark". afl.com.au. 4 May 2019. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  10. "Determined Dogs overcome Eagles in a thriller". Western Bulldogs Media. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  11. Twomey, Callum (28 March 2021). "What a game! Bont inspires Dogs in an instant classic". AFL Media. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  12. "ROUND 9 REPORT: Dogs down Power on the road". Western Bulldogs Media. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  13. Michael, Luke (16 May 2021). "Brilliant Bulldogs bare their teeth in powerful win over Port". AFL Media. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  14. "Aaron Naughton Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
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