Simon White (#43)

GAMES
Season 2013: 9
Career: 26
VFL 2013: 5

GOALS
Season 2013: 0
Career: 2
VFL 2013: 1

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):
Disposals: 96 (10.7) Marks: 40 (4.4) Tackles: 13 (1.4) Rebound 50s: 12 (1.3) Inside 50s: 11 (1.2)

OVERVIEW
Simon White started season 2013 full of confidence, following his first uninterrupted pre-season since making his debut in Round 4, 2010. He played in nine of Carlton’s first 13 games for the year, before a seemingly innocent knock in the VFL turned serious for the 25-year-old.

After complaining of a stiff neck following the VFL match White had scans, which revealed he’d suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck. The injury sidelined White for the rest of the season and saw him spend eight weeks in a brace spanning from his neck to his waist.

In November, just as White returned to training at Visy Park, Carlton showed its faith in the versatile defender by signing him to a new one-year contract.  

IN THE NEWS

White signs for 2014

White ponders his lucky break

White out for the season

White Blues building

White brimming with confidence

HE SAID IT
THEY SAID IT
"These are the type of injuries we dread. Simon is semi-lucky, I guess, because you could say that it could have been worse.

"I don’t want to make it too dramatic but what it is, is reinforcement of the rule and thankfully it is in the AFL and hopefully that will filter down very strongly through football played underneath that.

"It is not a Mickey Mouse rule. It is a rule there for the safety of players.”

– Carlton coach Mick Malthouse speaking about Simon White’s serious neck injury, July 24, 2013.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
White’s best game for the season came in the Round 10 clash with GWS at Etihad Stadium. White gathered 21 disposals, six marks and three tackles.