DOB: 5 October 1980
Died: 26 December 2004
Debut: Round 8, 2001 against Essendon at MCG
Last Game: Elimination Final 2004 against Essendon at MCG
From: Mount Lofty/Port Adelaide Magpies, selection #12 1998 Rookie Draft
Number: 50 (1999 list), 20 (2000 list, 2001-2004)
Honours:
VFL premiership player - 2000
Games: 40
Goals: 2
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
20 | 0 | 20 | 50.00 |
Despite being the son of a former Port Adelaide SANFL player, Broadbridge was initially involved in athletics and basketball. He won bronze in the junior 400m national championship, but after finishing four seconds out of Olympic qualification at the senior trials he moved into football instead.
Broadbridge followed his father Wayne to Port Adelaide, developing quickly and winning a rookie list with the Demons at the end of 1998. After just six Reserves games in a first season ruined by a shoulder injury, Broadbridge fought his way through the VFL ranks to be elevated to the senior list before Round 22, 2000 as a replacement for the injured Luke Ottens. While he wasn't required in the finals, Broadbridge played in the Sandringham VFL premiership side.
His senior debut finally came in Round 8, 2001, and after 11 games he was voted the club's most improved player. A further 14 games followed in 2002, before a serious knee injury during Round 18, 2002 forced him out of football for the rest of the year. Broadbridge avoided a reconstruction, but another shoulder injury delayed his start to 2003. When he returned through the VFL he injured his shoulder again and didn't play a senior match for the season.
The defender broke back into the side in 2004, completing the best stretch of his career, including a finals appearance. It would be his last game. In December 2004, Broadbridge married his wife Trisha on Phi Phi Island, Thailand but died eight days later when swept out to sea by the Indian Ocean tsunami.
The Round 1, 2005 clash was dedicated as a tribute to Troy's memory. His widow put together the concept for the Broadbridge Education Centre on Phi Phi Island, and it was built by his ex-teammates in his memory. Broadbridge's Number 20 was retired for two years after his passing.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
2001 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
2002 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
2004 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
Lists
Goal with their first kick
Video
Media
melbfc.com.au/demons.com.au - 23/05/2001, 2003
ABC - 03/01/2005
Links
Australian Rules Football Wiki profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Draftguru profile
Wikipedia profile