Thunder solid in Royals win
Peel Thunder have convincing win over finals contenders
5:20pm Aug 7, 2016
Peel Thunder have convincing win over finals contenders
5:20pm Aug 7, 2016
8:09am Aug 11, 2016
8:00am Jun 23, 2016
12:39pm Jun 9, 2016
Junior club: Swanbourne (WA)
Recruited from: Claremont (WA)
Draft information: Rookie Draft 2008 - pick 19, National Draft 2010 - pick 100 rookie promotion
Debut: Round 6, 2009 v West Coast
AFL clubs: Fremantle
Career Brownlow votes: -
OUTLOOK
De Boer was back to his consistent self in 2015, playing 19 games and averaging the most tackles per game in the team. Will look to get more of the ball whilst playing his usual defensive pressure role.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS (Simon Eastaugh)
Matt trained with Tendai Mzungu over the off- season and is always a really competitive player to have around the club. He’s worked himself into some really good fitness, even better than previous years.
De Boer continued to be a physical presence in the midfield. His ferocious attack on the ball had him leading Freo for most average tackles per game in 2015.
The tough midfielder had his season compromised by a mid-year knee injury that kept him out of the team from rounds 11 to 17. He will look to return to his uncompromising best in 2015.
A typically tough and uncompromising season from one of the best pressure players in the team. De boer will look to continue improving his ball skills in 2014.
Matt de Boer enjoyed a breakout season in 2012, making a considerable impact on the side after switching to a midfield role mid-year. One of his best efforts was a 29-disposal, 13-tackle game in a win against Richmond at the MCG in round 11.
De Boer ranked thiRnd at the club per game in handballs (9.7), fifth in contested possessions (8.6) and haRnd-ball gets (4.1), and he had the most tackles with a total of 138.
The feature of de Boer’s game was his pressure acts. He led Fremantle with an average of 20.2 per game, a figure that was in the top 20 in the AFL in 2012.
Now entering his thiRnd year as a member of the leadership group, Fremantle’s two-time Best Clubman winner is a highly valued squad member, both on and off the field.
Charity partner ambassador: Starlight Children’s Foundation and RSPCA
A new addition to the Leadership group, De Boer had a solid season in 2011, playing 16 games as a defensive forward and a run-with midfielder. The Best Clubman winner always gives his all and inspires his teammates with his relentless attack on the ball and his selflessness. His ability to do the one-percenters was highlighted by his top five placing overall in tackles (84) and smothers (9) at Fremantle in 2011. While De Boer also finished fourth in score assists (17), one area of his game that he could improve is his goalkicking. When playing as a defensive forward in 2012, he must take the opportunities when they present to take himself to the next level as a player.
One of the most courageous players in the competition, De Boer inspired his teammates with his relentless chasing and tackling in 2010. He spent most of his time in the attacking half, where his pressure skills made him an invaluable asset to the team. He needs to improve his kicking for goal to really hurt the opposition but a great season from the 20-year-old nonetheless.
50 games: Round 15, 2011 v Gold Coast
100 games: Preliminary Final, 2013 v Sydney
Best Clubman
2010, 2011
Nickname: Everyone just calls me Matty, but I suppose that isn’t really a nickname. Probably ‘DB’, a simple abbreviation of my name and Daniel Bandy was called ‘DB’ so I guess there’s a rule that there has to be one at the Fremantle Dockers
Best holiday: I went to America a couple years ago with my good mates and also went to Europe with a few of the Freo boys last off-season, so both very enjoyable trips
Best piece of advice your mother gave you: Mum was quoting Vince Lombardi, I don’t think she knew who he was, but she said the quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion with their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chose field of endeavour
If you weren’t a footballer, what would you like to be: I’d like to be an NFL quarterback
Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by: We are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit
If you could ask someone to be your mentor, who would it be: Tom Brady or Richard Branson
Morning or evening person, why: I’m definitely a night owl, probably started in high school where you’d go to footy training then come home and get the books out to start studying. I probably developed the bad habit from there. Morning’s can be tough, so I usually get to the beach then get going
Favourite time slot to play in, why: Friday night football. Everyone’s tuning in and it’s the big stage, that’s when you want to step up and play well
Favourite footy journalist: Titus O’Reilly
Favourite TV caller/commentator: The Den (Dennis Cometti)
Worst injury: Stress fractures in my feet
How many text messages do you send a day: Just a few. A couple to the girlfriend, one to mum and maybe a couple to Tendai (Mzungu)
Three phone apps you can’t live without: LinkedIn, Snapchat and DuoLingo
Favourite twitter account you follow: The Finn Review
Most embarrassing song in your iTunes: ‘My heart will go on’ by Celine Dion from ‘Titanic’. Great movie
Best concert you’ve been to: U2
Where did you holiday after last season: I went through Europe with a few of the Freo boys. They were all about six foot six, so I was constantly getting called short so I wasn’t too happy about that. We went through Barcelona, Paris, London, Amsterdam
Favourite sport other than football: NFL football
What sport would you like to compete in at the 2016 Olympics: Wrestling
Can you change a spare tyre: Yes
Do you iron your own shirts: I do
Favourite restaurant: Juicy Beetroot
Do you believe in UFO’s: I do of course
What three items would you take on a desert island: Just give me a canoe, a litre of water and I’d get out of there in a day
Any special hobbies or interests: Board games
Three famous people you would like to meet: Tom Brady, Richard Branson and Barack Obama
What do you have that is of great value to you but no one else: My water bottle here that doubles as a back roller as well. The boys don’t rate it but it gets the job done
