Jack Macrae

Jackson Macrae (born 3 August 1994) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL).

At 191 cm (6 ft 3in) tall and 85 kg (187 lb), he plays as a ball-winning midfielder who can play on the inside or as a running outside midfielder.

He grew up in Kew, Victoria while attending Carey Baptist Grammar School, where he won the best and fairest award while playing for their top team.

He played top-level junior football with the Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League and Vic Metro in the AFL Under 18 Championships.

Macrae was drafted with the sixth selection in the 2012 AFL draft.

Macrae was selected to play for the Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League in 2012, and quickly became an integral part of their team.

While playing for the Chargers, Macrae averaged 24.5 disposals, 15.7 kicks, 8.8 handballs, 5.2 marks and 2.1 tackles out of his 12 games with the Chargers.

Becoming one of the Chargers' best junior finals players, he was named as one of the team's best on ground in multiple finals.

In Oakleigh's 46-point semi-finals win against the Dandenong Stingrays in September 2012, he was named as one of the team's best players that game.

He was then named best on ground in the Chargers' 83-point preliminary final demolition of the North Ballarat Rebels, where he kicked 3 goals.

Finally, he was named as the most valuable player in the team's thrilling 1-point victory over the Gippsland Power in the grand final, where he kicked a crucial behind to secure the team's premiership trophy.

He was named as the Oakleigh Chargers' best finals player, after averaging 28 disposals a game during the finals series, and came third in the club's best and fairest count with 68 votes, 15 votes away from obtaining first place.

He was also selected to play for Vic Metro in the AFL Under 18 Championships, where he played every game.

He cemented his reputation as a dangerous player and boosted his draft chances after a six-goal game against Tasmania, including four goals in one quarter, claiming the best on ground title for that match.

He averaged 19.4 disposals a game, at a 78.4% efficiency rate.

Despite his consistent performances, he missed out on making the Under 18 All Australian team.

Macrae was predicted to be taken anywhere in the 2012 AFL draft between pick 6 and pick 13.

He was recruited to the Bulldogs with the sixth selection in the 2012 AFL Draft, one pick behind future premiership forward Jake Stringer.

Before debut, Macrae gained muscle and improved his fitness in order to improve his chances of selection, stating "You have to earn your right to play senior footy and first of all you have got to train well and prepare well."

He made his debut the following year in 2013.

He received a nomination for the 2013 AFL Rising Star award in round 8 of the 2013 season.

Since then, he has been an AFL Premiership player, three-time All-Australian midfielder, three-time Doug Hawkins Medallist, two-time Gary Dempsey Medallist and a Gary Ayres Medallist.

He has polled a total of 95 Brownlow Medal votes in his career, and holds the all-time league record for most disposals in a season.

Macrae is the second son to father David and mother Rosie.

He was a Hawthorn supporter growing up.

He played junior football for the Kew Rovers in the Yarra Junior Football League.

Macrae attended secondary school at Carey Baptist Grammar School, with future AFL players such as Jack Viney and Nathan Hrovat.

Macrae was not selected to play for the Oakleigh Chargers in his bottom age year, meaning he had to continue playing school football.

After having flown under the radar, excitement grew around Macrae after he began to rapidly improve.

He hired former player Ian Aitken to improve his kicking technique after he completed Year 11, which he said helped him become a 'more damaging kick'.

While playing for his school, Carey Baptist Grammar School, he was coached by former North Melbourne player David King; under his guidance Macrae won the best and fairest for the team despite being around 4 future AFL draftees.

Macrae made his debut for the in Round 4 of the 2013 AFL season against Adelaide.

On his debut, Macrae kicked his first goal, and also collected 16 disposals, 4 tackles and 3 clearances.

Macrae was awarded the round 8 nomination for the 2013 AFL Rising Star after collecting 26 disposals, 5 marks and 4 tackles in the ' 32-point defeat to.

Macrae had one of his best games for the season in the ' round thirteen 60-point loss to, collecting a season best 27 disposals, as well as 3 marks, a tackle and three clearances.

Despite being one of the youngest players in the match, Macrae was named as one of the Bulldogs' best on ground.

In August of the 2013 season, Macrae signed a 3-year contract extension, keeping him at the Bulldogs until 2016.

At the conclusion of the season, Macrae was presented with the Chris Grant Best First Year Player Award, after averaging 17.92 disposals throughout his 13 games that season.

Macrae's 2014 season was one of the best seasons by a second-year player in history, in contrast to the Bulldogs' mediocre 14th place season.

Becoming a key part of the new Bulldogs' midfield, he recorded 25 or more disposals 15 times.