Daniel Wells (footballer)

Daniel Wells
Personal information
Full name	Daniel Wells
Date of birth	(1985-02-03) 3 February 1985
Original team(s)	Peel (WAFL)
Draft	2nd overall, 2002 North Melbourne
Height/Weight	181cm / 82 kg
Position(s)	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	North Melbourne
Number	8
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2003–	North Melbourne	224 (145)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2015 season.
Career highlights
AFL Rising Star nominee 2003 AFLPA Best First Year Player 2003 International Rules 2003, 2008, 2013 AFL Goal of the Year 2004 Runner up Syd Barker Medal 2006 Syd Barker Medal 2011, 2013 Archer–Hird Medal 2013

Daniel Wells (born 3 February 1985) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

AFL career

Wells was selected with the number two overall pick in the 2002 AFL Draft and made his debut in 2003 playing 18 games and averaging 12 disposals per game. He rose to prominence in 2004 when, against Fremantle, he kicked the AFL Goal of the Year, jumping and taking the ball from ruck contest in the goal square and kicking the goal before he landed.

Wells was selected in the Australian team for the 2005 International Rules Series but was unable to play due to injury. He enjoyed a fairly good year in 2006 in which he averaged 18 disposals and finished 2nd in the Syd Barker Medal.

In 2008, Wells enjoyed a good season averaging 21 disposals and having a big impact in matches in the second half of the season during North Melbourne's winning period. He was rewarded with selection in the Australian side that lost to Ireland in that year's International Rules Series.

2009 was a disappointing year for Wells when injuries restricted him to just 7 games.

In 2011 Wells produced a brilliant and consistent season when he won his first Syd Barker Medal which he shared with Andrew Swallow. He would also be named in the 40 man All Australian squad but would miss out on being part of the final 22.

Following the 2013 season, the two-time best and fairest was chosen to represent Australia in the International Rules Series as captain of the exclusively Indigenous team, a rare and memorable honour.

Health scare

At the end of the 2011 season Wells had shoulder surgery during which it was discovered that he had a large blood clot on his lungs. The clot was successfully removed and Wells returned to full health and resumed playing.

Media profile and personal life

In 2007, Wells appeared in a television advertisement for AFL on the Gold Coast and in 2009 and he featured in the official advertisement for the AFL, playing Australian Rules on an Association Football ground.

He is a devout Roman Catholic.

On 14 October 2006 Wells married school teacher Mariangela Laudato. They have a daughter, Laudate Angelus.

External links

• Daniel Wells's profile on the official website of the North Melbourne Football Club
• Daniel Wells's statistics from AFL Tables

Awards
Preceded by Chris Judd	AFLPA Best First Year Player Award 2003	Succeeded by Aaron Davey