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Aaron Edwards

Aaron Edwards (born 2 March 1984) is a -born Australian former professional Australian rules footballer. He was born in and migrated to at the age of four, settling in . Edwards played 94 () games and kicked 139 goals from 2005 to 2014, representing the (2005–2006), (2007–2012), and (2013–2014). After his AFL career, he continued playing in the (VFL) and regional competitions until 2024. As of 2025, Edwards is a key forward for the Reservoir Sporting Club in the (NFNL), where he kicked nine goals in a June 2025 match and has re-signed for 2026.

Early life

Birth and migration

Aaron Edwards was born on 2 March 1984 in to a Samoan mother and a father. At the age of four, Edwards migrated with his family to , where they settled in . This early relocation shaped his dual , blending Samoan roots with Australian influences from a young age. His Samoan heritage, inherited primarily from his mother, played a key role in his early cultural experiences, fostering a strong connection to traditions through ties and extended relatives. He has three sisters.

Youth and introduction to

Following his 's migration to at the age of four, Aaron Edwards settled in Hampton Park, in Melbourne's outer south-eastern suburbs. He attended local schools in the area during his formative years, growing up in a large Samoan that maintained strong cultural ties to his heritage. Influenced by his Samoan roots, Edwards initially participated in as a junior, playing for the club for several years and teaming up with future Wallabies winger . He also briefly tried soccer before switching to in his early teens, initially playing for fun without professional aspirations. This transition marked the beginning of his development as a forward, leveraging his emerging physical attributes—including a height of 184 and weight around 92 kg—to excel in the sport. As a teenager, Edwards progressed through junior clubs, representing Hampton Park and Seaford before earning selection for the Stingrays in the TAC Cup under-18 competition. His time with the Stingrays honed his skills as a key-position forward, setting the stage for his entry into organized senior football pathways.

Professional AFL career

West Coast Eagles tenure

Aaron Edwards entered the Australian Football League () through the rookie draft, initially selected by the with pick 9 in the 2003 AFL Rookie Draft from the Stingrays in the TAC Cup competition. During his first two years on the (2003–2004), Edwards trained with the Eagles but did not secure senior selection, instead gaining experience in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) with affiliated clubs such as Swan Districts. His development was interrupted by injuries toward the end of the 2004 WAFL season, leading to his delisting at the conclusion of that year. Edwards earned a second opportunity when redrafted him with pick 52 in the 2005 AFL Rookie Draft. Positioned as an emerging forward, he made his AFL debut in Round 11 of the 2005 season against at the , where he contributed 11 kicks, 8 marks, and 2 goals in the Eagles' 17-point victory. This promising start showcased his potential as a goal-kicking option, with Edwards leveraging his athleticism and marking ability in the forward line. However, Edwards struggled to maintain consistency in his subsequent appearances, managing just two more games for the season and failing to add to his goal tally. A combination of subdued performances and the need for knee surgery hampered his progress, ultimately resulting in his delisting by at the end of the 2005 season after a total of 4 games and 2 goals. Despite the brevity of his tenure, this period provided Edwards with initial exposure to the elite level, highlighting both his raw talent as a forward and the challenges of transitioning from junior and state league football.

North Melbourne years

After being delisted by the West Coast Eagles at the end of the 2005 season, Edwards was selected by North Melbourne with the 82nd pick in the 2006 AFL National Draft as a mature-age recruit following a strong VFL season with Frankston, where he kicked 100 goals including the Frosty Miller Medal. He made his AFL debut for the Kangaroos in Round 2 of 2007 against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, recording one goal in a 27-point loss. Edwards played 78 games for across six seasons from 2007 to 2012, booting 122 goals and establishing himself as a consistent tall forward option. His most productive years came in 2011, when he played 19 games and kicked a career-high 36 goals, including a six-goal haul against in Round 8 and five goals against . Earlier, in 2010, he contributed 25 goals in 14 games, while 2007 saw him notch 23 goals in 18 appearances despite the team's challenges. Edwards' role evolved into that of an undersized key forward, leveraging his aerial strength and marking ability to complement Drew Petrie in the forward line, particularly after transitioning from a more peripheral position early in his tenure. One of Edwards' standout performances occurred in the 2007 semi-final against , where he kicked four goals and took a spectacular mark over Drew Petrie and in the second quarter, often regarded as one of the best grabs in finals history despite not qualifying for consideration due to its postseason timing. This effort helped secure a 33-point upset victory, advancing them to a preliminary final. His consistency and goal-scoring prowess peaked during North's competitive 2011 and 2012 campaigns, though injuries and form dips limited his games in other years like 2008 (7 goals in 8 games) and 2009 (14 goals in 10 games). At the conclusion of the 2012 season, Edwards was traded to in exchange for the Tigers' fourth-round selection (pick 74), which North Melbourne used to select Michael Evans. The move came after a solid but abbreviated year for Edwards, who kicked 17 goals in 9 games before falling out of favor late in the season.

Richmond stint

Edwards was traded to the from on 26 October 2012 in exchange for pick 74 in the 2012 National Draft. During the 2013 season, Edwards established himself as an effective third tall forward alongside and , contributing strong marking ability and defensive pressure in the forward line. He played nine games for , kicking 14 goals, including a career-best five-goal haul against West Coast in round 22. His accuracy was notable, booting 14.0 for the season, which provided valuable support to the Tigers' key forwards during their push toward September. Edwards' opportunities diminished in , where he managed only three games and one amid increased in the forward line. He was delisted by at the end of the 2014 season as part of a list cull preparing for the trade and draft period. Over his two seasons at the club, Edwards played 12 games and kicked 15 , bringing his total AFL career statistics to 94 games and 139 . Throughout his Richmond stint, Edwards reflected on the central role played in his career motivations, emphasizing his Polynesian heritage's focus on close-knit support and how proximity to relatives had previously boosted his performance and happiness on the field.

Post-AFL playing career

VFL and regional leagues (2006–2024)

Following his delisting from the at the end of the 2005 season, Edwards joined the Frankston Dolphins in the (VFL) for 2006, where he enjoyed a breakout year as a key forward. Playing 20 games, he kicked 100 goals, earning the as the league's leading goalkicker during the home-and-away season. Additionally, his consistent performances across the year saw him poll 18 votes to win the as the VFL's , marking a rare double achievement and highlighting his adaptation to semi-professional after limited exposure. After his career concluded with a delisting from in 2014, Edwards transitioned to regional leagues, signing with the Pines Football Netball Club in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football Netball League (MPFNFL) that September. Over five seasons from 2015 to 2020, he became a cornerstone of the Pythons' forward line, booting nearly 300 goals and contributing to a premiership success during his tenure. His scoring prowess was evident in multiple goal-kicking awards, including topping the Division 1 tally in 2018, while his leadership and experience helped elevate the club's competitiveness in the league. Edwards re-signed with Pines in early 2018 for two more years, expressing his intent to conclude his playing career there amid a period of sustained productivity at the local level. In 2022, Edwards moved to the (SFNL), joining St Kilda City in Division 1, where he continued to demonstrate his goal-scoring instincts in a lower-tier environment. He registered several high-impact hauls, including 12 goals against East Malvern in round 17 and seven goals in an elimination final victory over Dingley, helping propel the Saints deep into the finals series. These performances underscored his enduring physicality and marking ability, allowing him to thrive despite the step down from and VFL standards. Edwards returned to Pines in the MPNFL for the 2023 season via a mid-year transfer from St Kilda City, reuniting with the club where he had previously starred and adding further goals to his regional tally. The following year, he shifted to the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football Netball League (YVMDFNL), signing with Healesville Football Netball Club in February 2024 through connections in the local football community. At Healesville, he played a supporting role in their Division 1 premiership win, contributing three goals in the grand final and aiding the team's dominant campaign with his veteran presence. Throughout this extended phase in VFL and regional competitions, Edwards amassed over 500 goals across various leagues, exemplifying his longevity and successful reinvention as a prolific local forward well into his 40s.

Reservoir Sporting Club era (2025–present)

In November 2024, Aaron Edwards signed with Reservoir Sporting Club in the (NFNL) Division 3 ahead of the 2025 season, marking a new chapter in his post-AFL career at the local level. His arrival, alongside other high-profile recruits, bolstered the club's forward line and contributed to heightened expectations for competitiveness. Edwards enjoyed a standout debut season in 2025, booting 72 goals across 16 games to finish second in the competition's goalkicking behind Laurimar's (79). His prolific scoring, including hauls of nine against in round eight and six versus Old Eltham Collegians in round thirteen, proved pivotal in Reservoir's improved form, propelling the team from the lower rungs of the ladder to a finals push in the latter stages of the campaign. Despite ultimately falling short of September's playoffs, Edwards' presence elevated the Mustangs' attacking output and helped snap extended losing streaks, such as a five-game skid earlier in the year. Beyond statistics, Edwards emerged as a cultural cornerstone for , mentoring younger players and enhancing the club's appeal to prospective recruits through his experience and leadership. In August 2025, he re-signed for the 2026 season, signaling his commitment amid the club's transitional period, including the appointment of a new senior coach. As of November 2025, with the 2025 season concluded, Edwards remains a focal point for 's ambitions in Division 3, poised to build on the momentum generated during his inaugural year.

Honors and personal life

Career achievements and awards

Throughout his () career with the , , and , Aaron Edwards appeared in 94 games and kicked 139 goals, though he did not earn any individual awards at the elite level. Edwards' most notable professional accolades came during his 2006 season in the (VFL) with Frankston, where he won the Frosty Miller Medal as the leading goalkicker in the home-and-away matches with 88 goals and the as the league's player. His performance that year also included a total of 100 goals across all matches, earning him recognition as one of the competition's standout forwards. In regional football, Edwards claimed the leading goalkicker award in the Division 1 in 2018 while playing for Pines, where he played a key role in their premiership success after contributing in the grand final victory over by one point. More recently, in his 2025 debut season with in the (NFNL) Division 3, Edwards finished as the competition's second-leading goalkicker with 72 goals, helping to elevate the team's forward line.

Off-field controversies and heritage

In May 2009, Edwards faced legal consequences for refusing a breath test following a drink--related offence, resulting in a four-year driving licence disqualification and a $1,500 court fine. Earlier that year, in January, he had been caught speeding at 98 km/h in a 60 km/h zone with alcohol detected in his system, leading North Melbourne to suspend him for the entire pre-season and the first four premiership matches, alongside a $5,000 club fine. These events limited his on-field availability during the 2009 season at . Following the incidents, Edwards demonstrated personal growth by focusing on maturity and family priorities, crediting improved discipline for his career resurgence after earlier setbacks like his 2005 delisting from . He emphasized rebuilding his life around family support, which motivated decisions such as returning to post-delisting to stay close to relatives, including choosing local VFL opportunities near his grandmother over interstate options. Edwards takes pride in his Samoan heritage, having been born in Samoa to a Samoan mother and a New Zealand father before migrating to at age four. His cultural ties are evident in tattoos featuring a beach scene from his birthplace and traditional tribal designs, as well as his representation of the senior Samoan team at age 16 during the International Cup. He has engaged in community efforts promoting multicultural harmony, drawing from his background as one of Richmond's 12 multicultural players in 2014. Central to Edwards' life is his close-knit , with whom he shares large gatherings centered on Polynesian traditions like shared meals and singing; this includes his grandmother, aunties, three sisters, nieces, and nephew, all living nearby in . His father's passing in 2010 and his mother's residence in have further strengthened these bonds, influencing his emphasis on family unity as a core value beyond football.

References

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