Wil Powell
Australian rules footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wil Carlos Powell (born 26 August 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). He made his debut in Round 15 of the 2018 season against the Collingwood Magpies at Carrara Stadium[1] and scored a goal with his first kick.[2]
| Wil Powell | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Powell playing for Gold Coast in August 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Wil Carlos Powell | ||
| Born | 26 August 1999 | ||
| Original team | Claremont Tigers (WAFL) | ||
| Draft | 19, 2017 national draft | ||
| Debut | June 30, 2018, Gold Coast vs. Collingwood, at Carrara Stadium | ||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Gold Coast | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2018– | Gold Coast | 132 (16) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 2026 | Western Australia | 1 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 1, 2026. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Early football
Powell grew up in Scarborough, Western Australia. His grandfather Roy Powell played in three premierships with the East Perth Football Club.[3]
Powell played Colts football for the Claremont Tigers in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He averaged 14 disposals and kicked eight goals from 18 games and was invited to test at the Western Australian State Combine. Powell was selected by the Suns with pick 19 in the 2017 national draft, their first selection. He was described as a "shock pick" and a "bolter"; Claremont had earlier posted a list of possible draftees from the club on Twitter, but Powell was not included.[4]
AFL career
In May 2018, Powell extended his contract with the Suns to 2021.[5] His 2022 season ended early with a compound fracture to his ankle.[citation needed]
Homophobic slur and suspension
In 2024, the AFL reported that he would be banned for five matches after he made a homophobic slur. It was the third instance in 2024 of a homophobic slur being said by an AFL player or coach.[6] After the slur was made, it was made public that Powell had previously made numerous homophobic posts on social media.[7] Melbourne captain Max Gawn said it was "embarrassing" for Powell to call himself an AFL player in light of the controversy.[8] AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said, "It is extremely disappointing to be dealing with a similar incident in only a matter of weeks."[9]
Statistics
Updated to the end of round 1, 2026.[10]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2018 | Gold Coast | 27 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 37 | 24 | 61 | 18 | 14 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 5.3 | 3.4 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0 |
| 2019 | Gold Coast | 27 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 88 | 70 | 158 | 46 | 35 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 12.2 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 0 |
| 2020[a] | Gold Coast | 27 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 102 | 95 | 197 | 49 | 25 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 13.1 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0 |
| 2021 | Gold Coast | 27 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 259 | 132 | 391 | 115 | 54 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.8 | 6.0 | 17.8 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 0 |
| 2022 | Gold Coast | 27 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 136 | 40 | 176 | 43 | 29 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 11.3 | 3.3 | 14.7 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 0 |
| 2023 | Gold Coast | 27 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 275 | 90 | 365 | 115 | 42 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 15.3 | 5.0 | 20.3 | 6.4 | 2.3 | 0 |
| 2024 | Gold Coast | 27 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 220 | 112 | 332 | 97 | 42 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 12.2 | 6.2 | 18.4 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 0 |
| 2025 | Gold Coast | 27 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 236 | 169 | 405 | 120 | 76 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 9.4 | 6.8 | 16.2 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 0 |
| 2026 | Gold Coast | 27 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 6 | 12 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 10.0 | 9.5 | 19.5 | 3.0 | 6.0 | |
| Career | 132 | 16 | 27 | 1373 | 751 | 2124 | 609 | 329 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 10.4 | 5.7 | 16.1 | 4.6 | 2.5 | 0 | ||
Notes
- The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
