Paul Licuria
| Paul Licuria | |||
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Paul Licuria playing for Collingwood during the 2006 AFL Season
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Paul Licuria | ||
| Date of birth | 4 January 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Keon Park Stars/ Northern U18 | ||
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1997–1998 | Sydney | 10 (2) | |
| 1999–2007 | Collingwood | 182 (70) | |
| Total | 192 (72) | ||
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2007.
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| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Paul Licuria (born 4 January 1978) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Sydney Swans and Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). His father is Italian and his mother is Spanish.
Licuria was drafted to Sydney in the 1995 National Draft as a second round selection, after having two knee reconstructions at ages 16 and 17. He was recruited as a hard-working midfielder but also was rumoured as a recruit to keep Anthony Rocca at the club as they were good friends. Licuria struggled to get a spot in the side after his debut in 1997. He played 4 games in 1997, and then only 6 more in 1998, not having the impact he would have liked.
Licuria was traded to the club he supported as a child, Collingwood, as part of a deal which saw Sydney receive their first round selection, (no.3 overall). Licuria immediately made an impact at the club with his ability to win the ball off half-back; however, his disposal let him down, and his consistency had dropped off, causing him to be dropped halfway through his first year. However, he came back into the side and won a Rising Star nomination for a 28 possession game against the West Coast Eagles. His form at the time showed signs of what was to come and he carried this form into the 2000 season, finishing 6th in the club's best and fairest, and playing every game with an average of 21 touches.
His 2001 and 2002 seasons were brilliant. His disposal was once again questioned, but his incredible workrate and consistency were rated very highly. He played every game in both seasons, averaging 23 and 22 touches a game in respective seasons. He capped both terrific seasons by winning the Copeland Trophy. It stunned everyone with his win in 2001, but in 2002 it was expected in the year the club made it to the Grand Final. Licuria's final series was fantastic. Despite a poor performance in the big game, he would achieve a career-high 40 disposals in the Qualifying Final against Port Adelaide and in the 2002 Grand final loss to Brisbane he and Mick Malthouse showed their disappointment in tears, with Licuria visibly crying.
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