Matthew Knights

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Matthew Knights
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Knights
Date of birth	5 October 1970 (1970-10-05) (age 39)
Place of birth	Mildura, Victoria
Recruited from	Merbein
Height/Weight	178cm / 79kg
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1988 – 2002	Richmond	279 (141)
Coaching career3
Years	Club	Games (W-L-D)
2008 –	Essendon	29 (12-0-17)
1 Playing statistics to end of Round 7, 2009 season .

Matthew Knights (born 5 October 1970) is the coach of the Essendon Football Club and a former captain of the Richmond Football Club, of the Australian rules football sports scene.

Playing career

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.

Coaching career

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 an assistant coach with the Essendon Football Club in the AFL.

On 27 July 2007, Essendon was on the brink of making the finals sitting one game out in 9th position with 6 games remaining. After Essendon sacked Sheedy, Essendon collapsed to 12th position winning only 2 of the remaining 6 matches. Melbourne radio station SEN 1116 reported that Knights would become Essendon's new 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. Despite having failed as an assistant coach at Port Adelaide and Bendigo, Essendon quickly signed up Knights before anyone else did.

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 affiliate Bendigo Bombers. Knights is in his 5th year with the current list of players, comprising 3 years as Assistant Coach and 2 years as Senior Coach.

In 2009 Knights lead Essendon to their first finals series for 5 years.

Honours

• Richmond Football Club Best and Fairest 1990, 1992
• Richmond Football Club Captain 1997-2000
• All-Australian 1998
• Richmond Football Club Team of The Century
• AFL Life Member

External links

• Matthew Knights's statistics from AFL Tables