Kris Massie

Career: 1998-2001
Debut: Round 8, 1998 vs West Coast
1026th Carlton Player
Games: 43 (Carlton) (131 Overall)
Goals: 12 (Carlton) (TBD Overall)
Last Game: Round 11, 2001 vs Richmond
Guernsey No. 3
Height: 188cm
Weight: 83kg
DOB: 30 May, 1980
AFL Rising Star Nominee: Round 20, 1998


Taken with Pick #7 in the 1997 National Draft, Massie was a star Centre Half Back in school (Glen Waverley High School) and junior league football. Originally likened to Carlton legend Stephen Silvagni for his bow legs, long hair and occasional brilliant and desperate marking, Massie was expected to become a key defender for the next decade.

At 188cms, this was going to be difficult. Massie didn't grow any more, and the Blues set about using him as a half back flanker and occasional midfield tagger. Some promising games and a Rising Star nomination on the one hand, a fair few games in the reserves on the other: Massie showed a bit but not enough to command a spot in the team. Injuries didn't help either.

After debuting in Round 8 of his first year, he did not play again until round 15, but then played all remaining games that year. In 1999, he played a similar pattern, one game in round 2, before playing every game bar one from Round 14 through to being a member of the losing Grand Final side. In 2000 he played the first 5 games but then suffered a cheek injury, which would keep him out until Round 16. He returned to play another 5 games, but they were mostly from the bench and he would fail to gain double figure possessions in any of them, before losing his place in the team just prior to the finals. He appeared to have finally cemented a place in the side in 2001, playing the first 11 games, before breaking his leg against Richmond. He would not be able to play again that season.

Massie had by that stage played 43 games. At the end of 2001, it was decided to trade him for injury prone ex-Victorian, Adelaide Crows premiership player Andrew Eccles. Eccles would have little impact at Carlton, playing just 13 games before being delisted at the end of 2003. Massie played 41 games at the Crows from 2002-4, but only 3 in 2005. However, over 2006-2007 he found himself a useful player in the emerging Crows defence, before being delisted at the end of Season 2008 with a total of 131 games to his name, a good effort in anyone's language. Massie signed on for SANFL club Norwood for the 2009 season. Kris was signed up by the Glenelg Tigers to be their U18s coach for the 2010 season.

The release of Kris Massie to Adelaide was always one of the more challenging personal decisions (for coaching staff members) during my time at the Carlton Football Club and reflected (I assume) more a lack of on-field team chemistry than game based admiration. Whist not a outright star player for either the Blues or the Crows Massie has shown a willingness to fight for his team position and take on any and all tasks that have been asked against players of various sizes and shapes. Labeled as different by many Massie’s core values are reflected in his performance and career length; in short he is a spirited performer who has earnt the title of winner. The greatest difference about Kris Massie is that he choose to rise up to challenge when many would have simply backed down.

Career Highlights

1998 Best First Year Player Award
1998 6th Reserves Best & Fairest

Links

Articles: Carlton's Top Tenners | That First Pick...Players taken with Carlton's first pick in the draft

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Kris Massie (at Carlton) | Career Breakdown | Massie's Blueseum Image Gallery