Daniel Cross | |||
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Cross at training in July 2015
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Daniel Cross | ||
Nickname(s) | Crossy | ||
Date of birth | 30 March 1983 | ||
Original team(s) | Murray Bushrangers (TAC Cup) | ||
Draft | No. 56, 2000 National Draft | ||
Debut |
Round 10, 2002, Western Bulldogs vs. Richmond, at MCG |
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Height / weight | 187cm / 87kg | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
2002–2013 | Western Bulldogs | 210 (33) | |
2014–2015 | Melbourne | 39 (1) | |
Total | 249 (34) | ||
International team honours | |||
Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
2010 | Australia | 2 | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2015.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2010.
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Career highlights | |||
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Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Daniel Cross (born 30 March 1983) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A Charles Sutton Medallist with the Western Bulldogs, he finished his 249-game career with 210 games at the Western Bulldogs and 39 with Melbourne. He has served as the development and rehabilitation coach of the Melbourne Football Club since October 2015.
Cross was recruited by the Western Bulldogs with the 56th overall selection in the 2000 national draft. He made his AFL debut in a 19-point victory against Richmond in round 10, 2002. Despite the Bulldogs winning the match, he managed only two disposals. He played a further three games for 2002. He played his first match for 2003 in round 4 against Essendon, but struggled to make a big impact. He was dropped after round 6 to the VFL to play with Weribee. After impressive performances with Werribee, Cross was recalled to the Bulldogs side. His return to the Bulldogs side was good enough for him to keep his place in the side the following week, but after a disappointing performance against Richmond in round 17, he was again dropped. He was promoted to the AFL side in round 22, and managed 18 disposals, in what was an otherwise disappointing game for the Bulldogs due to losing by 84 points to the Brisbane Lions. He made the decision to stay with the Western Bulldogs for the 2004 season, despite only managing to play a total of ten games in his first three seasons.
After playing just two games in the first ten weeks of the 2004 season, Cross was able to play the remaining twelve matches of the season and was named the round 19 nominee for the Rising Star after recording 28 disposals against Hawthorn at the Telstra Dome.