Andrew Bews (1994 - 1998)

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Pick 2 in the 1994 Pre-Season Draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_AFL_Draft)

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/6731/andrewbews.jpg

Merrett-Murray medal results:

1997: =21st (13 votes)
1998: 30th (0 votes)

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Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Bews)

Andrew Bews (born 19 July 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who played 282 VFL/AFL games during the 1980s and 90s. Debuting in 1981 after being recruited from North Geelong, Bews played over 200 games for Geelong. A tagger, he earned All Australian selection in 1987.

Bews moved to Brisbane in 1994 to play for the Brisbane Bears where he was used in defence. Bews' height was 175 cm and his weight 83 kg.

In addition to his football career Bews was a talented junior athlete, along with his brother Stephen, both competing for the Geelong Guild Athletic Club.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6731/andrewbews.jpg

Career statistics:

rleague (http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/A/Andrew_Bews.html)

footywire (http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-brisbane-lions--andrew-bews)

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Geelong website (http://www.geelongcats.com.au/players/playerprofile/andrewbews/tabid/8137/playerid/15327/category/hall+of+fame/season/2011/selected/bio/default.aspx)

Number: 27
Height: 175cm
Weight: 81kg
DOB: 19-07-1964
Debut: 1982
Games: 207
Goals: 132

All time great of the club and the game. Played 207 games with the Cats and served as captain 1990-91. Played 12 state games and one international series against Ireland. Finished his career with Brisbane.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9525/andrewbews2.jpg

Geelong bio (http://www.liquidrock.bizhosting.com/abews.htm)

Andrew Bews
Born: July 19, 1964
Debut: 1982
Club captain in 1990-'91
All-Australian
Height: 175cm
Weight: 77kg

Recruited from North Geelong Bews, a long serving small-man was a gallant performer for both Geelong and Victoria. He gave tough service on the ball and in the back-line. Courageous and tough, Robert Dipierdomenico once said the man they called "Rat" was the leagues toughest player, pound for pound.

A most determined footballer, Rat was considered too small for the under 19's at the start of 1981 but finished as a member of the teams reserves premiership team in that year. Andrew went to play in Brisbane and then to coach in the VFL and local Geelong league.

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/9525/andrewbews2.jpg

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1985 goal of the year:

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Coodabeens (http://www.coodabeens.com.au/comp01rd14.html)

The game was tight, a goal in it, with a minute or so to go. The ruck duel in Geelong's half fell into the waiting paws of Mr Bews. He was clear, though it was tight. He had time to roost the pill Ablettwards, a smart move in any one's language. Bewsy played dumb. In a moment of haste, he saw his chance to barge through a pack of Hawthorn players desperate to hold onto their narrowing lead, take 3 bounces and thread the ball between the big sticks and lead the Cats to victory. Horatio Hornblower would have struggled with such an ambitious plan. Bewsy had little hope.

The ball went under the arm, two and a half steps were taken, then - Bang. He was gang tacked and a ball up ensured. The game was over. A chance missed. A Grand final lost. I, and all Geelong fans still wonder what may have happened if The Rat had thrown the aggot onto the Puma's and hoisted it towards Gary. A contest? A mark? A goal? We will never know, but what we know is this. The greatest player was in the greatest form and could do no wrong. All he needed was a chance, and Anderw Bews denied him that chance.

So here's to you Mr Bews, the man who whose headstone will read: Andrew Bews - Single handedly lost the 1989 Grand final for Geelong.

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9525/andrewbews2.jpg

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Keeping The Faith - Brisbane (http://www.tasfootball.com.au/tas-football-articles/1995/9/7/keeping-the-faith-brisbane/)
The Age
Thursday September 7, 1995
Ashley Browne

Of all those who have joined the club in the past two years, it is perhaps Bews who is held in the highest esteem. The former Geelong captain, state-of-origin regular and grand final player was virtually hand-picked by Walls, despite having reached the twilight of his career.

``He's an extrovert and a leader, and the sort of person we lacked around here," Walls said. ``He was senior not just in age, but in finals experience, and that's why we went after him."

Bews said: ``Wallsy did his homework on me. He asked me to provide some spark and to not just ease myself in, but be part of the furniture from the start. And it was never a problem, I was just being myself."

It took Bews only a few hours on his first day at the club a training camp at Noosa to fit in. Since then, he has been not just the crafty veteran ready with a seemingly bottomless bag of pranks and tricks, he is also the helping hand, the friendly face and a sounding board for the club's draftees and younger players. ``Yeah, it's been a good role for me, " says Bews, who was dropped earlier this year but bounced back to be a key part of the finals assault.

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9525/andrewbews2.jpg