Three Premiership Stars Call Time

Three key contributors of the Subiaco Football Club for the past decade, have called time on their illustrious WAFL careers with Subiaco.

 

Adam Cockie and Brad Stevenson have both confirmed due to lingering injuries they would not be able to compete to the rigors of WAFL football, while Chris Phelan has confirmed that he will be moving to Melbourne in 2019 to take up an external work opportunity.

 

This trio are all Premiership Players of the Subiaco Football Club and finish their respective Subiaco careers as part of the history making three premierships won at the end of 2018.

 

Phelan, a Subiaco Life Member, finishes an illustrious career on 169 league games played, a two time Outridge Medal winner and three time premiership player.

 

His standing as one of the modern day greats of the Subiaco Football Club is cemented.

 

While it was a tough decision to make, Phelan is comfortable he has made the right choice for this stage of his life.

 

“It was a tough decision, but for a few years I have had the desire to work, live and play footy in Melbourne,” Phelan said.

 

“Former teammate and great mate Simon White has always been keen to get me across and with a work opportunity that came up, it was a great chance to embrace a new challenge,”

 

Over the course of a decade long career, Phelan developed into one of the WAFL’s best midfielders, making the most of a key opportunity that was provided by former coach Jarrad Schofield.

 

After debuting in 2008, it would take Phelan until 2011 to truly break into a powerful Subiaco side and another two years until he became the WAFL powerhouse midfielder that would define the second half of his career.

 

Phelan became Subiaco’s best and most consistent midfielder across 2015 and 2016, highlighted by his back to back Outridge Medal wins.

 

This historic achievement, made Phelan the first back to back Outridge Medal winner since the mid 1980’s when Dwayne Lamb also achieved the feat. 

 

Overall Phelan played in three Subiaco premierships, the wins in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

 

“The 2014 Premiership is still the career highlight for me,” Phelan said.

 

“We were underdogs in that game, and it was so special to be a part of that win and that premiership.”

 

A product of the Subiaco District having come through the Kingsley Junior Football Club, Phelan is testament to the quality characters and quality players that have been produced by the Subiaco Football Club during a golden era of success.

 

Phelan became a Life Member of the football club during the 2017 season, when he played his 150^th game, a win over East Fremantle.

 

“The club has been a big part of my life since I was 13 years old,” Phelan said.

 

“It’s disappointing to be finishing up, but I will have nothing but great memories and great friendships from my time with the club.”

 

Stevenson, finishes a great Subiaco career with 97 league games played, over a nine year period, including the 2014 League Premiership.

 

Over his career Stevenson proved to be a great club man, doing whatever was best suited to the team, having versatility to play both up forward and down back.

 

Despite still having the desire and passion to want to compete at WAFL level, injuries have slowed the popular Stevenson.

 

“Having gone through the two knee reconstructions and six other surgeries, I have always found a way to get through,” Stevenson said.

 

“I still want to play so bad, but the consideration of my long term health is significant.”

 

Stevenson finished with 108 goals at league level, winning the Austin Robertson Medal as the clubs league leading goal kicker in 2013, kicking 25 goals in 2017 and a career best 29 goals in 2018. 

 

Stevenson arguably produced some of his best league football in 2018, rewarded with a state game against South Australia as he led the Bernie Naylor Medal until midway through the season after starting 2018 with a career best seven goals.

 

Stevenson battled injury across most of his career, however always showed great resilience to fight back, as was seen again in 2018 as he came back from a mid season injury to play a key role in the 2018 Reserves Grand Final win.

 

“It was really special to play a part in the 2018 success of the whole club,” Stevenson said.

 

“2018 Grand Final day and the 2014 Premiership are two memories that will stay with me and are the two moments that I will look back on with great pride.”

 

One of the best indigenous players to represent the Subiaco Football Club, Cockie finished his Subiaco career with 102 league games played including the 2008 League Grand Final win.

 

Bursting into WAFL football, Cockie won the Jack Clarke Medal as the best player in the WAFL Colts in 2007, before playing 22 league games in 2008, becoming one of the hottest young midfield prospects in the league finishing the season with a premiership medal.

 

This strong form saw Cockie rewarded by being selected as a Rookie Selection by the West Coast Eagles, where he would go on to play seven games across 2009 and 2010.

 

Cockie moved to Victoria in 2012, joining Sandingham in the VFL before returning to Subiaco for his second stint with the club in 2016.

 

He enjoyed an incredible run of form in 2017, which culminated with Cockie playing his 100^th game in what would be a Grand Final loss to Peel.

 

“Coming back to the club, I really wanted to reach 100 games,” Cockie said in the lead up to that Grand Final victory.

 

“Getting to 100 games was something I always wanted to achieve from when I first started playing and I probably didn’t expect myself to go over to Melbourne and spend so long there.”

 

Injury interrupted the majority of his 2018 season, however Cockie still managed another two league games, taking his career league game tally to 102, finishing his Subiaco career in the Reserves premiership win.

 

Cockie’s impact in that Grand Final cannot be understated, with the tough midfielder winning the Merv McIntosh Medal as the Reserves Grand Final best player.

 

While his on-field impact has been well chronicled over the past decade, the work that Cockie did off-field in inspiring indigenous youth is a significant part of his contribution and legacy to the club.

 

Cockie finishes a wonderful Subiaco career as one of the best indigenous representatives the club has ever produced.

 

The Subiaco Football Club congratulates Chris, Brad and Adam on their stellar performance with the club over the past decade and wishes all three men the best in their future football and life endeavours.