SPOTLIGHT ON:

Matthew Whelan

Guernsey Number: 45	Recruited from:
Height: 180cm	Debut:
Weight: 84kg	Date of birth: 1979-11-13

Whelan is a running defender whose 2007 season was ruined by injuries. As Melbourne struggled to get their best team on the park, Whelan was another casualty as he played only five games for the year, failing to appear after Round 8. His ball use, run and rebound from the back-line was sorely missed, as was his ability to shut down the opposition's best small forward, something he has been doing successfully since debuting in 2000.