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| Matthew Knights | ||
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Knights | |
| Date of Birth | 5 October 1970 | |
| Place of Birth | Mildura, Victoria | |
| Recruited from | Merbein | |
| Height/Weight | 178cm / 79kg | |
| Playing career1 | ||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) |
| 1988 – 2002 | Richmond | 279 (141) |
| ¹ Playing statistics to end of 2002 season. | ||
| Coaching career | ||
| Years | Club | Games (Wins) |
| 2008 – | Essendon | 22 (8-0-14) |
| Career highlights | ||
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Matthew Knights (born 5 October 1970) is the coach of the Essendon Football Club and a former captain of the Richmond Football Club
Contents |
Knights wore the number 33 guernsey in 279 games between 1988-2002 for the Tigers whom he captained between 1997-2000. Playing in Richmond's midfield for the majority of his career, Knights was known for his ball winning ability if not his athleticism. Gifted with excellent "vision" or spacial awareness, and consistently reliable delivery from his left boot, given time and space Knights was one of the most damaging midfielders in the AFL throughout the 90s.
Though rewarded with numerous individual honors playing in a mediocre team, Knights made only two appearances with the Tigers in the AFL Finals Series in 1995 and 2001. He was placed top four in the team's annual best and fairest vote seven times between 1990 and 2000 and equal second in the Brownlow Medal count for 1995.
Knights' career was interrupted by a serious ankle injury in Round 2 of 1996 and a knee injury in the pre-season Ansett Cup competition in 1997. Late in 1998 he became one of the first high-profile AFL players to be diagnosed with the debilitating groin condition Osteitis pubis, which dogged him through much of the remainder of his career. His courage in leading his team despite these set-backs made him much admired by his team's supporters and his removal as captain just before the beginning of the 2001 season caused much controversy. In Round 2 he was the centre of a further public controversy when struck behind play by Western Bulldogs player Tony Liberatore, who was suspended for five matches as a result. Inability to maintain high expectations saw Knights' retirement as a player towards the end of the 2002 season.
Knights was quickly recruited as assistant coach for the SANFL Port Adelaide Magpies and replaced Stephen Williams as head coach the following year. Having played a major role in restructuring the club's playing list, but without having reached the finals, he resigned at the end of 2004 by mutual consent to coach the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL, while also acting as a development coach with the Essendon Football Club in the AFL.
On 27 September 2007, Melbourne radio station SEN 1116 reported that Knights would become Essendon's head coach for the 2008 season on a 3 year contract, replacing Kevin Sheedy. This was confirmed in a media release by the Essendon Football club the same afternoon.
Knights has brought in fresh ideas to Essendon, and was not fazed by replacing the legendary Kevin Sheedy. Knights, has brought a new brand of football to Essendon, a fast running game and players have noted that he has a positive approach to the club, full of encouragement and energy.
His initial games in the 2008 NAB Pre-Season Cup showed the players had adapted well to the new broom. The re-building process will take time, as this playing group are young and need to develop their skills. Knights is well placed to develop this group, as stated above, he coached many during his 3 years with VFL affliate Bendigo Bombers.
| Preceded by Tony Free |
Richmond Best and Fairest winner 1990 |
Succeeded by Craig Lambert |
| Preceded by Craig Lambert |
Richmond Best and Fairest winner 1992 |
Succeeded by Tony Free |
| Preceded by Tony Free |
Richmond Captain 1997 – 2000 |
Succeeded by Wayne Campbell |
| Preceded by Kevin Sheedy |
Essendon Football Club coach 2008 – |
Succeeded by Incumbent |