Josh Bootsma

Josh Bootsma
Personal information
Full name Joshua Bootsma
Date of birth (1993-02-22) 22 February 1993 (age 31)
Original team(s) South Fremantle (WAFL)
Draft No. 22, 2011 AFL draft, Carlton
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 74 kg (163 lb)
Position(s) Defender, Wing
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2012–2014 Carlton 14 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2014.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Josh Bootsma (born 22 February 1993) is an Australian rules footballer currently listed with Peel Thunder in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He previously played for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), but had his contract terminated midway through the 2014 season, for breaching the club's and the AFL's codes of conduct.[1]

Background and junior career

Bootsma was born in 1993 into a football-oriented family, with his father Brad having played 163 WAFL matches for South Fremantle and 23 AFL matches for Fremantle in the 1990s and 2000s.[2]

In 2011, Bootsma started the year playing for his local club North Albany, before joining WAFL side South Fremantle mid season. He went on to play 13 colts games for South Fremantle, including the premiership. Bootsma's 13 games for the Bulldogs saw his 2011 AFL draft prospects rise greatly, with him being touted by Kevin Sheehan as a potential top 30 pick. After attracting the attention of several AFL clubs, Bootsma was drafted by the Carlton Football Club with its first round selection in the 2011 AFL National draft (No. 22 overall). At the time he was drafted, Bootsma was in the process of completing an apprenticeship as an electrician.[3] He was given guernsey number 21.[4]

AFL career

After starting the 2012 season playing for the Northern Blues in the Victorian Football League, Bootsma made his AFL debut in Round 6 against Greater Western Sydney, as a late replacement.[5] On 3 June 2014, Bootsma's contract with Carlton was terminated for breaching the club's and the AFL's Codes of Conduct, related to inappropriate behaviour on social media.[1] He returned to play for Peel Thunder in the WAFL for the remainder of the 2014 season,[6] and played there until 2016.

References

  1. ^ a b Pierik, Jon; Wilson, Caroline (3 June 2014). "Josh Bootsma sacked by Carlton". The Age. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  2. ^ Foreman, Glen (19 November 2011) Fremantle may draft Josh Bootsma, son of former Docker Brad Bootsma. Perthnow.com.au. Retrieved on 15 October 2013.
  3. ^ de Bolfo, Tony (24 November 2011) Blues stocks get a Bootsma Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Carlton Football Club.
  4. ^ de Bolfo, Tony (29 November 2011). "New Blues have the numbers". Carlton Football Club. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  5. ^ Carlton Blues recover to overpower GWS Giants by 67 points. Theaustralian.com.au (29 August 2013). Retrieved on 15 October 2013.
  6. ^ Alex Malcolm (26 June 2014). "Bootsma set to resume career with Peel Thunder" – AFL. Retrieved 26 June 2014.