DOB: 9 August 1983
Debut: Round 1, 2003 against Hawthorn at MCG
Last game: Round 5, 2015 against Fremantle at MCG
From: Port Pirrie/North Adelaide, Selection #6, 2001 Rookie Draft
Number: 40 (2003-2015)
Honours
All Australian interchange 2010
Mark of the Year nomination - Round 3, 2011
Life Member - 2013
Games: 155 (160 total)
Goals: 56 (59 total)
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
50 | 3 | 102 | 32.25 |
Statistical categories led:
Most games in jumper 40
Most goals in jumper 40
Despite being named in the All-Australian side of the 2001 National Under 18 championships, Jamar was overlooked in that year's draft and had been training with Adelaide before the Demons picked him in the rookie draft. He played in the 2002 pre-season, and was considered for elevation to the senior list before spending the season developing with VFL affiliate Sandringham. Jamar was promoted to the senior list in late July, replacing the injury Guy Rigoni. It gave them an extra tall after losing a number of key position players but he was not picked for the senior side that year, eventually debuting in Round 1, 2003. Jamar played nine games in his first season, also running second in the Sandringham best and fairest.
Struggling to make an impact as a second string ruck, Jamar played just three matches in his second season and eight in 2005 while he battled calf and hamstring injuries. He played in Sandringham VFL premiership sides in both years.
2006 was a breakout season, and Jamar played all but one home and away match and the first final, before an injury kept him out of the Semi Final 2006 Demons' loss to Fremantle in the second week of September.
Injuries, and competition in the ruck from Paul Johnson, kept him to 31 games over three seasons from 2007-2009 but the seven games he played in 2009 where amongst the best of his career and after entering the season as a potential delisting he suddenly shot to prominence as the Demons number one ruck option. Having never had more than five kicks in a game he booted a career high five goals in the Round 21, 2009 loss to Carlton.
Despite speculation during the 2009 trade week that he would move clubs, potentially back to South Australia to join Port Adelaide, Jamar ended speculation by signing a new one year contract and both he and the club were rewarded with a career best season that saw him play every game for the season and finished third in the Best and Fairest award. Recognising his great year Jamar recieved an increased contract to keep him at the club until the end of the 2012 season. He was then picked as the second ruckman for the All Australian team, selected on the interchange bench.
Starting the 2011 season as he left off 2010, Jamar was amongst his side's best early in the year before suffering a PCL knee injury in the Round 7 win over Adelaide which caused him to miss six matches.
He returned in Round 14 and while he was often dominant as a tap ruckman he found it hard to connect with his midfielders and more often than not his good work was wasted. He played out the season, missing just two more matches, but missed out on repeat All-Australian selection.
Out of contract at the end of 2012 Jamar was linked to a number of clubs before signing a three year contract extension with the Demons during June. Despite the good news he suffered an injury hit season, returning from a two layoff in Round 16 only to re-injure himself and not appear again until the last match of the year.
Jamar again had an injury hit season in 2013, playing just nine matches in total - and none in the second half of the year under caretaker coach Neil Craig. He rebounded to regain the number one ruck role in 2014, playing 17 matches and returning his best goal tally since his All Australian year.
He fell out of favour in 2015, dropped after Round 5 and never returning to the senior side despite a string of excellent performances for Casey in the VFL.
He retired from AFL football at the end of the season and joined NTFL side Southern Districts but after being signed as a ruck coach for Essendon in 2016 he was listed by them after they had 12 players suspended. He played five more games that year.
Joined St Kevins Old Boys in 2017, then played at Ouyen United from 2018 to 2020 before transferring to Doncaster in 2021.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
2003 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
2004 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
2005 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
2006 | 22 | 10 | 0 |
2007 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
2008 | 14 | 4 | 0 |
2009 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
2010 | 22 | 12 | 5 |
2011 | 15 | 4 | 3 |
2012 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
2013 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
2014 | 17 | 7 | 0 |
2015 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
Tribunal Record
Match | Charge | Sanction | |
Round 9, 2005 | Rough Conduct | Reprimand | |
Round 21, 2009 | Umpire Contact | $1950 fine | |
Round 13, 2012 | Melee | $1200 fine |
Lists
Essendon
Interstate recruits
SANFL
Media
Herald Sun - 21/12/2001
Age - 30/07/2002, 07/05/2010
melbournefc.com.au - 08/06/2012, 22/03/2013
NT News - 15/11/2015
Links
Demonwiki image gallery
Draftguru profile
North Adelaide profile
Wikipedia profile