Jack Billings

Jack Billings
Billings playing for St Kilda in August 2018
Personal information
Full name Jack Billings
Date of birth (1995-08-18) 18 August 1995 (age 29)
Original team(s) Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)/Scotch College (APS)/Kew Comets (YJFL)
Draft No. 3, 2013 national draft
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 82 kg (181 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Melbourne
Number 14
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2014–2023 St Kilda 155 (108)
2024– Melbourne 16 (4)
Total 171 (112)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jack Billings (born 18 August 1995) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having initially been drafted to the St Kilda Football Club. Billings played TAC Cup with Oakleigh Chargers and played for Vic Metro in Under 18 Championships. Billings is a two-time Under 18 All-Australian after making the team as an underage player.[1] He was taken by St Kilda with pick #3 in the 2013 National Draft.[2]

AFL career

Billings made his debut in Round 1 of the 2014 AFL season against Melbourne. He started as the substitute and had limited game time.[3] After Round 1, Billings was dropped to the VFL for two weeks, kicking five goals for the Sandringham Zebras and was selected in the senior side the next week.[4][5][6] In Round 14, 2014, against the West Coast Eagles, Billings kicked three goals and gathered 25 touches, earning that round's AFL Rising Star nomination.[7]

Billings missed large parts of the 2015 and 2016 seasons with a shin injury and ankle injury respectively, but came back strong in the latter part of 2016 to poll votes in the club's best and fairest award in four of the last five games.[8] Billings injured his hamstring in the 2022 pre season competition.

Billings played his 50th AFL game against Carlton in Round 8, 2017, managing 30 disposals, 12 marks and 5 goals.[9] In August 2017, Billings signed a two-year contract extension, to remain at the club until the end of 2019.[10]

After a slump in form in the first half of the 2018 season, Billings was dropped from St Kilda's senior team to their VFL affiliate Sandringham. In his first and only VFL game for 2018, Billings collected 53 disposals and was immediately recalled to the senior team.[11][12]

Prior to the 2019 season, Billings was elevated to St Kilda's leadership group after teammate Dylan Roberton was sidelined with a heart condition.[13] Billings played his 100th AFL game in Round 16, 2019 against North Melbourne and starred with 35 disposals.[14] Billings finished 2019 in fourth place in St Kilda's best and fairest.[15] Billings signed a contract extension with St Kilda in 2019, keeping him at the club until at least the end of 2021.[16] He was a restricted free agent in 2021 but, despite speculation he would switch clubs, he signed a new deal.[17]

Following a downturn in form and injury which led to him only playing 11 games in 2022 and 2023, he was traded to Melbourne after the 2023 AFL season.[18]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2024.[19]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2014 St Kilda 15 16 14 15 149 84 233 76 28 0.8 0.9 9.3 5.2 14.5 4.7 1.7 –
2015 St Kilda 15 9 7 6 100 83 183 40 28 0.7 0.6 11.1 9.2 20.3 4.4 3.1 –
2016 St Kilda 15 17 6 12 181 162 343 72 56 0.3 0.7 10.6 9.5 20.1 4.2 3.2 –
2017 St Kilda 15 22 23 36 254 254 508 122 69 1.0 1.6 11.5 11.5 23.0 5.5 3.1 –
2018 St Kilda 15 21 14 19 229 230 459 101 59 0.6 0.9 10.9 10.9 21.8 4.8 2.8 –
2019 St Kilda 15 22 13 10 316 250 566 132 65 0.5 0.4 14.3 11.3 25.7 6.0 2.9 1
2020[a] St Kilda 15 19 11 6 205 147 352 78 47 0.5 0.3 10.7 7.7 18.5 4.1 2.4 2
2021 St Kilda 15 18 14 14 218 143 361 113 35 0.7 0.7 12.1 7.9 20.0 6.2 1.9 2
2022 St Kilda 15 8 5 2 92 44 136 46 19 0.6 0.3 11.5 5.5 17.0 5.8 2.4 0
2023 St Kilda 15 3 1 3 22 23 45 13 6 0.3 1.0 7.3 7.7 15.0 4.3 2.0 0
2024 Melbourne 14 16 4 8 152 98 250 74 29 0.3 0.5 9.5 6.1 15.6 4.6 1.8
Career 171 112 131 1918 1518 3436 866 441 0.7 0.8 11.2 8.9 20.1 5.1 2.6 32

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal life

Billings married Sarah Joyce on 22 December 2023.[20]

Billings grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Kew and attended Scotch College. He played junior football for Kew Comets in the Yarra Junior Football League.

References

  1. ^ Twomey, Callum (4 November 2013). "Draft in focus: Jack Billings". sydneyswans.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Pick 3: Jack Billings". saints.com.au. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  3. ^ Gleeson, Michael (10 March 2014). "St. Kilda names Dunstan and Billings". The Age. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Match Centre: St Kilda v GWS". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Lee and Billings into contention". The Advocate. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  6. ^ Phelan, Jennifer (19 April 2014). "Riewoldt bags five as Saints stun Bombers". Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  7. ^ King, Travis (23 June 2014). "Rising Star Jack Billings gives Saints a ray of hope". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  8. ^ Gabelich, Josh (27 September 2016). "Season Review: Jack Billings". saints.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  9. ^ Gabelich, Josh (28 September 2017). "Season Review: Jack Billings". saints.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Billings re-signs until the end of 2019". saints.com.au. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  11. ^ Masenhelder, Trent (10 June 2018). "Demoted Saint puts in standout performance in VFL". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  12. ^ Whiting, Michael (16 June 2018). "Match Report: Gold Coast v St Kilda". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  13. ^ Ryan, Michael (20 March 2019). "Billings steps up". saints.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  14. ^ Warren, Stu (7 July 2019). "Roos continue finals push after dispatching Saints in Hobart". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  15. ^ "Ross takes home second Trevor Barker Award". saints.com.au. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  16. ^ "Billings stays a saint". saints.com.au. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  17. ^ "Experienced duo sign on for 2022". saints.com.au. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  18. ^ @AFL_House (18 October 2023). "Trade paperwork lodged" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "Jack Billings". AFL Tables. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  20. ^ Epstein, Jackie (7 January 2024). "AFL stars wed in lavish off-season celebrations". Herald Sun. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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