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The Tigers have announced former Essendon defender Jarrod Atkinson will be joining the club in 2012.
This exciting new signing will boost the Tigers as they prepare to kick off their 2012 pre season.
Atkinson is moving to Canberra through employment opportunities and comes highly recommended by Tigers 1996 Coach Des Campbell who contacted the Club recently to inform the organisation of Atkinson’s pending move to the area.
He played for Rumbalara in the Murray League last season.
He also has a strong link to the Tigers new Coach Kade Klemke, both having joined Essendon at the same time through the national draft. He played 17 games for the Bombers during his stint at the AFL Club.
At 26 years of age he will be a valuable acquisition to the Tigers young list of players. He is an exciting eye catching running defender who more than likely will be moved up the ground under the direction of Klemke.
Below is a profile of Jarrod’s time at Essendon:
He began the 2008 season on the rookie list but was elevated to the senior list to replace Andrew Lovett and debuted in round 7.
Jarrod Atkinson was a mature-age draftee aged 23 when he was picked up by Essendon in the 2007 rookie draft after impressing selectors as a defender in the VFL with the Bendigo Bombers in that same year.
He started the 2008 season showing great potential playing in the pre-season cup where his size and speed suggested he could succeed at the elite level. Jarrod also showed he is out to make the most of his opportunity at Essendon by breaking the Club’s sprint record over 20m with a time of 2.73 Seconds previously jointly held by Alwyn Davey, Courtenay Dempsey and Leroy Jetta.
Atkinson’s efforts were rewarded by being promoted to the senior list in April 2008 after Scott Lucas was placed on the long-term injury list. He played his debut game for Essendon, along with fellow debutant’s, Darcy Daniher and David Myers, in Round 7 against Port Adelaide at the Dome. He finished the year playing 5 Senior Games.
He played a further 5 Games in 2009 and 7 Games in 2010.
Jarrod Atkinson
Birth 21 February 1985 (age 26) Recruited from Rumbalara / Claremont / Bendigo Bombers Height and Weight 181cm / 81 kg Playing Career: Debut: 4 May 2008, Essendon v Port Adelaide, at Docklands Essendon (2008–2010) 17 games, 5 goals.
The Tigers resume training on 9 January 2012, with a first up run being held at the end of Anzac Parade on the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin from 6.00pm and there after at Dairy Farmers Park each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at the same time.
All players are urged to attend the Clubs pre season training sessions in preparation for the NEAFL and AFL Canberra Competitions.The Eastern Conference has expanded to include a further two teams from Sydney and now comprises nine clubs.
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