Darren Gaspar

Darren Gaspar
Personal information
Date of birth	(1976-05-20) 20 May 1976
Original team(s)	South Fremantle (WAFL)
Debut	10 April 1994, Sydney vs. Adelaide, at the SCG
Height	193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	90 kg (198 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1994–1995	Sydney	021 0(1)
1996–2007	Richmond	207 (22)
Total		228 (23)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2007.
Career highlights
Richmond Best & Fairest 2001 All Australian 2000, 2001
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Darren Gaspar (/ɡəˈspɑːr/ gə-SPAR; born 20 May 1976) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League (AFL).

AFL career

Sydney Swans career (1994–1995)

Gaspar was drafted with the first pick in the 1993 National Draft by the Sydney Swans. He debuted against the Adelaide Crows in round three of the 1994 AFL season and injured his medial ligament in the third quarter, which resulted in him playing only five games for the year.

After only two seasons with the Swans, he turned down a one-year deal and moved to the Richmond Football Club via the 1996 Pre-season Draft.

Richmond career (1996–2007)

Robert Walls was influential in getting Gaspar to Richmond and he provided the emerging full-back with vital experience, playing him on Jason Dunstall and Tony Lockett in his first few games with the club.

His consistency saw him hold down the full-back position for over a decade with the Tigers. He finished runner-up in the Jack Dyer Medal behind Andrew Kellaway and earned All-Australian selection in 2000. Gaspar continued his good form in 2001, winning the Jack Dyer Medal and helping Richmond reach the finals for the first time since the 1995 AFL season. For the second consecutive year, he was named in the All-Australian team. He turned down a lucrative offer from the Fremantle Dockers at the end of the 2001 AFL season and remained at the Tigers.

In 2003, Gaspar was selected as the Australia international rules football team's goalkeeper for the 2001 International Rules Series in Australia. Australia lost the series 2–0, with a 130–105 aggregate score.

Injuries took a toll on him towards the end of his playing career, but he continued to give Richmond valuable service in the back half. At the age of 31 years, Gaspar announced his retirement after the fifth round of the 2007 AFL season, finishing on 228 games, after a disagreement with his coach, Terry Wallace, over his position in the team.

He currently commentates alongside Tim Gossage for SEN, covering West Coast Eagles games at Patersons Stadium.

Statistics

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)							Votes
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
1994	Sydney	20	5	0	0	31	23	54	17	10	0.0	0.0	6.2	4.6	10.8	3.4	2.0	0
1995	Sydney	20	16	1	1	91	66	157	31	21	0.1	0.1	5.7	4.1	9.8	1.9	1.3	0
1996	Richmond	2	20	1	0	143	97	240	48	32	0.1	0.0	7.2	4.9	12.0	2.4	1.6	0
1997	Richmond	2	21	0	1	164	135	299	73	34	0.0	0.0	7.8	6.4	14.2	3.5	1.6	12
1998	Richmond	2	21	5	3	128	164	292	73	32	0.2	0.1	6.1	7.8	13.9	3.5	1.5	7
1999	Richmond	2	21	2	0	100	98	198	43	20	0.1	0.0	4.8	4.7	9.4	2.0	1.0	2
2000	Richmond	2	17	3	2	114	78	192	53	18	0.2	0.1	6.7	4.6	11.3	3.1	1.1	5
2001	Richmond	2	25	1	1	178	132	310	104	30	0.0	0.0	7.1	5.3	12.4	4.2	1.2	6
2002	Richmond	2	19	2	1	139	102	241	72	17	0.1	0.1	7.3	5.4	12.7	3.8	0.9	0
2003	Richmond	2	11	2	0	60	50	110	38	14	0.2	0.0	5.5	4.5	10.0	3.5	1.3	0
2004	Richmond	2	19	5	1	99	64	163	56	24	0.3	0.1	5.2	3.4	8.6	2.9	1.3	0
2005	Richmond	2	20	1	0	138	92	230	79	11	0.1	0.0	6.9	4.6	11.5	4.0	0.6	1
2006	Richmond	2	8	0	0	29	34	63	19	19	0.0	0.0	3.6	4.3	7.9	2.4	2.4	0
2007	Richmond	2	5	0	0	31	27	58	21	13	0.0	0.0	6.2	5.4	11.6	4.2	2.6	0
Career			228	23	10	1445	1162	2607	727	295	0.1	0.0	6.3	5.1	11.4	3.2	1.3	33

Personal life

He is the brother of former AFL players, Damien Gaspar and Travis Gaspar.

Gaspar is also the part-owner of racehorse Roman Arch.

External links

• Darren Gaspar's profile on the official website of the Richmond Football Club
• Darren Gaspar's playing statistics from AFL Tables