Coodabeen Champion: Chad Liddell

by Johnson#26

Name: Chad Liddell
Number: 33
Born: 21/1/77
Height: 185cm
Weight: 80kg
Previous Club: Southern Under-18’s
Debut: 1995
Games: 29
Goals: 15
Awards: Nil

A strongly built half forward flanker, Chad Liddell spent four seasons at Collingwood. Liddell was selected at pick 30 in the 1994 national draft. Liddell looked a promising player in his debut season.

Chad made his debut in round one of 1995 against Carlton at the MCG, where after a nervous beginning he picked up four possessions at half forward and scored a great long goal after taking a strong mark.

Liddell was demoted to the reserves for round two against West Coast but returned in round six against Hawthorn where he picked up only tow touches and was again sentenced to the reserves. He again returned against St.Kilda where he put in his best performance at that stage, picking up 21 touches and scoring two goals. The next week against the Bulldogs, Liddell picked up another 11 possessions and could have scored two goals if it wasn’t for inaccurate kicking. The next week in the mauling of Adelaide he had another 15 touches, and was beginning to cement his spot in the senior side. He had a bad evening the next week against the Roos, in gathering only four possessions and two marks, which spelt a return to the reserves. He played one more game for 1995, in round 18 in the victory against the Cats, where he didn’t trouble the statsman.

Under new coach Tony Shaw, Season 1996 saw Liddell play another five games for three goals. His first four games were average before the final game of the season against the Bears at Victoria Park – Craig Kelly and Alan Richardson’s last games – where he was one of the best afield. He needed to pick up his pace and endurance to cement his place in the team.

Seaspn 1997 saw Liddell play eight games for six goals. He finally broke through, into the senior side in round 11 of the season against the Tigers under lights and the MCG. Selected in the centre of the ground, Liddell won eight touches and one behind – which wasn’t enough to keep him in the side and he was dropped for the West Coast clash at Victoria Park.

He returned two weeks later against the Cats where he gathered ten possessions and a goal. Liddell was ill for the next week against Fremantle, which kept him sidelined for the 100 point win. He came back in the round 17 demolition of the Demons where he got eight touches and a goal, and the next week he won ten touches and one behind. He played one of his best games against the Blues the next week with 15 touches and seven marks. He then played in the final round against the Roos in an impressive performance off the back flank.

Season 1998 was Liddell’s last at AFL level. He played his first match in round four and continued until round seven where he scored a goal and injured his hand against the Swans. He returned for round eleven but was again demoted to the reserves. He played four more games for the season, including the last one against the Swans at the SCG where he scored a goal in his final match.

Liddell now plays for Sandringham in the VFL, and is regarded as one of the better players at the club.

Johnson#26