Robert Copeland (born 26 May 1981) is a former Australian Football League footballer for the Brisbane Lions and former captain of the Aspley hornets in the NEAFL. He is a dual premiership winner (2001, 2003) and was delisted in 2008.
Early life and junior football Copeland was born in Redcliffe, Queensland and raised in Kilcoy.2023 Queensland Football Hall of Fame – Robert Copeland 14 September 2023 He played his junior football with the Strathpine Swans in Brisbane's northern suburbs.
Overlooked in successive AFL Drafts, Copeland was recruited to the Brisbane Lions through the 2001 Rookie Draft (QLD Zone) from the Northern Eagles and was elevated to the Senior list on 10 May that year after Michael Voss was placed on the long-term injury list.
AFL career Copeland made his debut for the Brisbane Lions in Round 9, 2001 against Adelaide. Copeland was regularly employed in a tagging role. Copeland's tagging job on Collingwood Captain, Nathan Buckley in the 2003 AFL Grand Final was considered a decisive influence in the Brisbane Lions win.
Copeland played 143 games for the Lions, usually as an automatic selection. However in September 2008 Copeland was delisted due to recurrent injuries and inconsistent performance. After being overlooked in the 2008 draft Copeland was chosen to be the inaugural captain for new first division QAFL club Aspley Hornets.AFL Queensland: Copeland to inspire new club AspleyCouriermail.com: Brisbane Lions stars Jamie Charman, Daniel Merrett to play practice match for Aspley
Statistics Robert Copeland's player profile at AFL Tables
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2001 |style="text-align:center;"| | 30 || 17 || 7 || 4 || 93 || 27 || 120 || 37 || 26 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 5.5 || 1.6 || 7.1 || 2.2 || 1.5 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2002 |style="text-align:center;"| | 30 || 17 || 3 || 3 || 74 || 36 || 110 || 25 || 32 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 4.4 || 2.1 || 6.5 || 1.5 || 1.9 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2003 |style="text-align:center;"| | 30 || 18 || 3 || 2 || 143 || 61 || 204 || 63 || 49 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 7.9 || 3.4 || 11.3 || 3.5 || 2.7 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2004 |style="text-align:center;"| | 30 || 25 || 2 || 3 || 179 || 93 || 272 || 80 || 66 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 7.2 || 3.7 || 10.9 || 3.2 || 2.6 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2005 |style="text-align:center;"| | 30 || 15 || 4 || 0 || 88 || 54 || 142 || 31 || 59 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 5.9 || 3.6 || 9.5 || 2.1 || 3.9 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2006 |style="text-align:center;"| | 30 || 17 || 1 || 0 || 134 || 85 || 219 || 65 || 38 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 7.9 || 5.0 || 12.9 || 3.8 || 2.2 |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2007 |style="text-align:center;"| | 30 || 21 || 15 || 10 || 140 || 94 || 234 || 70 || 49 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 6.7 || 4.5 || 11.1 || 3.3 || 2.3 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008 |style="text-align:center;"| | 30 || 13 || 4 || 3 || 68 || 57 || 125 || 34 || 39 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 5.2 || 4.4 || 9.6 || 2.6 || 3.0 |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan=3| Career ! 143 ! 39 ! 25 ! 919 ! 507 ! 1426 ! 405 ! 358 ! 0.3 ! 0.2 ! 6.4 ! 3.5 ! 10.0 ! 2.8 ! 2.5
Achievements
Brisbane Lions Rising Star Nomination 2001 Brisbane Lions Best First Year Player 2001 Brisbane Lions Premiership Player 2001 Brisbane Lions Premiership Player 2003
References
External links
Robert Copeland at the Brisbane Lions website