Luke Russell

Luke Russell is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was selected as an underage player from Burnie Dockers. He made his debut against Melbourne in round 4 of the 2011 season.

Early life

Luke Russell was born in Burnie, Tasmania and grew up playing Basketball. He represented Tasmania at the state level in Basketball and would be chosen in the Australian u19 development squad in 2007. Due to many injuries he would give up playing Basketball in 2008 and focus on Australian rules football solely.

Junior football

Russell began his junior football with the Burnie Dockers who compete in the Tasmanian Football League and made his debut in the seniors team in 2008 as a 16-year-old. His form for Burnie in 2008 would earn him a spot in the Tasmanian team that competed in the Australian U16 Championships and was given an AIS scholarship later that year. At 17 years old he would be selected as the captain of the U18 Tasmanian team that competed in the 2009 AFL National Under 18 Championships. Following his performance in the National Championships he was signed as an underage recruit by the Gold Coast Football Club to compete in the Victorian Football League in 2010. In November 2009 he relocated to the Gold Coast with Burnie teammate Maverick Weller to play for the Gold Coast in the VFL.

AFL career

He made his AFL debut against Melbourne at the Gabba in round 4 of the 2011 season. In his second game for the Gold Coast he would come on as a substitute and kick the winning goal in the club's first ever AFL victory. He was delisted at the conclusion of the 2016 season.

Russell joined VFL side, Northern Blues, in November 2016.

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