James Clement
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2008-07-14T08:51:46Z
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{{otherpeople|James Clement}}
{{Infobox afl player NEW
|image name= James clement.jpg
| playername = James Clement
| fullname = James Clement
| image =
| birthdate = {{Birth date and age|1976|9|4|mf=y}}
| birthplace =
| originalteam = [[South Fremantle Football Club|South Fremantle]] ([[West Australian Football League|WAFL]])
| draftpick =
| heightweight = 190cm / 95kg
| position =
| dead = alive
| deathdate =
| deathplace =
| currentclub = retired
| years = 1996 – 2000 <br> 2001 – 2007 <br> '''Total'''
| clubs = [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] <br> [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] <br>
| games(goals) = 84 (38) <br> 144 (13) <br> 228 (51)
| coach = notcoach
| coachingteams =
| statsend =
| careerhighlights =
* [[Collingwood Magpies|Collingwood]] [[Copeland Trophy|best and fairest]] 2004, 2005
* 2nd [[Collingwood Magpies|Collingwood]] [[Copeland Trophy|best and fairest]] 2006
* 3rd [[Collingwood Magpies|Collingwood]] [[Copeland Trophy|best and fairest]] 2002
* [[All-Australian]] 2004, 2005
* [[International Rules Series]] [[2002 International Rules Series|2002]]
}}
'''James Clement''' (born [[September 4]], [[1976]]) is a former professional [[Australian rules football]]er.
From [[South Fremantle Football Club|South Fremantle]], The [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle Dockers]] picked Clement up as a zone selection in the [[1995 AFL Draft|1995 National Draft]]. His major role as a junior was as a half-back/winger, but he was used as a taller type defender throughout his [[Australian Football League|AFL]] career. A regular starter since making his debut in [[1996]], his form slipped at senior level at the start of [[1998]], being omitted after the first match, but came back into the side, as a tall forward option and surprised many, kicking 5 goals in consecutive games. He ended up kicking 27 goals for the season. He moved back to defence in [[1999]], he showed he was capable of playing as a utility. Only playing 8 games in [[2000]] and what seemed an unhappy relationship with coach [[Damian Drum]], Clement was then traded to [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]].
Clement thrived at Collingwood playing 20 handy games during [[2001]], but it was in [[2002]] that the Pies saw a champion player. During this time, he bulked up substantially. Unlucky not to gain his first [[All-Australian]] selection, but played in the [[International Rules|International Rules Series]] in [[Ireland]] at the end of the season. His strength as a defender, football brain and leadership qualities were shown. He helped the Pies through to a Grand Final and played all 25 games, including the last day in September. [[2003]] saw Clement miss several games mid-season with a hamstring injury, but he regained form at finals time and the vice-captain saw another Grand Final.
He had much more decorated seasons in [[2004]] and [[2005]], including [[All-Australian]] honours and the [[Copeland Trophy]] in each of the seasons, as the Pies finished in the bottom 4 in both seasons. He led the side for several matches in 2005 when [[Nathan Buckley]] and [[Anthony Rocca]] were missing from the team due to injury. In [[2006]], Clement was the most notable player not named in the [[All-Australian]] team, and finished equal second in the [[Copeland Trophy]]. In 2007, it was expected that Clement would take over the captaincy of the Collingwood side from Nathan Buckley, however he announced his retirement at the end of the 2007 season.
==Retirement==
On Sunday, 23rd September, 2007, Clement rocked both the [[Australian Football League|AFL]] and [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] by announcing his retirement from Football. He will be remembered as a champion defender, and one of the most consumate professionals in the game in the early stages of the 21st Century. <ref>{{cite news | title = Clement stuns Pies by retiring | url = http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22467593-23211,00.html }}</ref>
==Notes==
<references/>
== External links ==
*{{Collplayer|ref=13175}}
*{{AflRleague|ref=J/James_Clement.html}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box|title=[[Copeland Trophy]] winner|before=[[Nathan Buckley]]|after=[[Alan Didak]]|years=2004-2005}}
{{end box}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clement, James}}
[[Category:Collingwood Football Club players]]
[[Category:South Fremantle Football Club players]]
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Fremantle Football Club players]]
[[Category:Copeland Trophy winners]]
[[Category:All-Australians]]