Lions Captains

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Captains

Click on the links below for profiles of Lions captains:

2007
2008
2009

2009 Captains

Offence

No	Name	Position	Years
66	David Thode	Guard	2003-
47	James Shine	Tight End	2001, 3-

Matt Croasdaile

Runningback

2004, 6-

Defence

No	Name	Position	Years
56	Joe Lim	Linebacker	2002-
37	Leigh Louey-Gung	Strong Safety	1999-

Nick Baldwin

Linebacker

2003-

Captain	47 JAMES SHINE Tight End 180 cm 92 kg
	A sure-handed receiver with a knack for getting open for the big play. Moved to tight end in 2006 after three years on the offensive line. A versatile player with productive game-time at running back and quarterback in a back up role. Started on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Played for Cubs from 1998 to 2002, including starting at centre and linebacker on the NSWGFL Colts championship teams of 2001 and 2002.
		Year	Catches	Yards	Yards/Catch	TDs	2pts	Long
		2005	1	12	12.0	1	0	12TD
		2006	18	198	11.0	3	0	19
		2007	20	206	10.3	4	0	28
		2008	14	113	8.1	1	1	15
		2009	6	48	8.0	0	0	16
		Career	59	577	9.8	9	1	28

2007 2009

Captain

66 DAVID THODE

Guard 178 cm 115 kg

A powerful and mobile blocker with sure technique and a head for the game. Moved to guard in 2007 after four seasons at tackle. Randel Mann Award for 2007 pre-season. Played on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Doubled as an assistant coach of special teams from 2007. Started for Cubs at guard in 2003. Represented NSW and Australia at guard. Captain of Australian Outback on 2009 tour of UK.

2007 2008 2009

Captain	87 MATHEW FREEMAN Receiver 180 cm 95 kg
	An explosive receiver with the strength to break the tackle and the speed to go all the way. Lions records for career receptions (245+), career reception yardage (3,322+), career TD receptions (54) and TD receptions in a game (4 v. Wollongong 15/8/05). Lead the team in pass receiving for five years (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008). Started on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Fourth in career scoring (363 points) and the most points by a receiver. Third in career net punting yardage (1328). Started for Cubs at linebacker and fullback on NSWGFL Colts championship teams of 2001 and 2002. Represented NSW and Australia at receiver.
		Year	Catches	Yards	Yards/Catch	TDs	2pts	Long
		2001	+	+	-	4	+	+
		2003	46	492	10.7	10	0	50
		2004	35	380	10.9	4	0	40
		2005	42	688	16.4	14	0	30
		2006	35	504	14.4	5	0	50TD
		2007	42	635	15.1	7	0	64TD
		2008	45	623	13.8	10	0	45
		Career	245+	3322+	13.6	54	0	64TD

2007 2008

Captain	56 JOE LIM Linebacker 179 cm 101 kg
	The consumate middle linebacker - quick to the ball, hard at the contact and always on top of the play. Lions career records for tackles (400+), tackles for loss (68+) and backfield tackles (93+). Lions season record for tackles (99 in 2009). Lions game records for tackles (22 v Northwestern 27/10/07) and tackles for loss (4 v Wollongong, 20/09/08). Captain of 2004 Lions defence which set Gridiron NSW records for shut-outs in a season (9) and fewest points conceded in a regular season (12). Moved to middle linebacker in 2004 after two seasons at outside linebacker. Randel Mann award for 2004 pre-season. Started on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. First in career sacks averaged (40), career tackles for loss averaged (109) and career backfield tackles averaged (149). Second in career tackles averaged (533). Third in career fumble recoveries (9). Started for Cubs at linebacker on NSWGFL Colts championship teams of 2001 and 2002. Represented NSW and Australia at linebacker. Captain of Australian Outback on 2009 tour of UK. MVP of Australian Outback 2009 tour of UK.
	Year	Tackles	TLoss	Sacks	Safeties	FC	FR	Int	PBU
	2002	+	+	+	0	+	+	1+	+
	2003	+	+	+	0	+	+	+	+
	2004	55	12	4	0	2	1	1	4
	2005	17+	+	0+	0	0+	1+	0+	+
	2006	70	8	5	0	0	1	1	2
	2007	81	18	3	0	0	1	1	2
	2008	78	15	8	0	0	4	0	1
	2009	99	15	5	0	1	1	1	5
	Career	400+	68+	25+	0	3+	9+	5+	14+

2007 2008 2009

Captain	37 LEIGH LOUEY-GUNG Safety 181 cm 86 kg
	A powerful force against the run, with excellent speed and technique in pass defence. Lions record for career interceptions for touchdown (2). Randel Mann award for 2009 pre-season. Started on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. First in career tackles averaged (624). Second in career interceptions (29+) and career interceptions averaged (42). Led the team in interceptions in 2002 and 2006, with no defensive statistics taken 1999-2003. Second in career tackles for loss averaged (88) and second in career fumbles caused (8). Played receiver in 2005 with 17 catches for 227 yards and 1 TD. Played for Cubs from 1999 to 2001, including starting at safety on the NSWGFL Colts championship team of 2001. Represented NSW and Australia at safety.
	Year	Tackles	TLoss	Sacks	Safeties	FC	FR	Int	PBU
	1999	4+	0+	0+	0	0+	0+	0+	1+
	2000	+	+	+	0	+	+	+	2+
	2001	+	+	+	0	+	+	1+	+
	2002	+	+	+	0	+	+	5+	+
	2003	+	+	+	0	+	+	1+	+
	2004	47	5	0	0	0	1	5	4
	2005	1+	+	0+	0	0+	0+	1	+
	2006	49	2	1	0	1	0	5	6
	2007	55	9	1	0	2	0	1	1
	2008	80	15	1	1	2	2	4	6
	2009	82	13	1	0	3	1	5	10
	Career	318+	44+	4+	1	8+	4+	28+	28+

2007 2008 2009

Captain	42 ANTHONY SINTON Safety 178 cm 85 kg
	A devastating tackler with break-out speed and a nose for the ball. Lions record for returns for touchdown (6), including an 80 yard punt return for touchdown in the 2004 Waratah Bowl and an 81 yard punt return for touchdown in the 2006 Waratah Bowl. Lead the team in interceptions for at least two seasons (2004 & 2005), with no defensive statistics recorded 1998-2003. Started on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Too talented to be pinned down to one position. Only Lions player to lead the team in rushing (2001) and passing (1999) in different seasons. Lead the team in scoring for two years (2001 & 2002). Third in career interceptions averaged (41), sixth in career tackles averaged (307), eighth in career scoring (303 points) and tenth in career receptions for touchdown (14+). Scored second highest points total in a game (32 points v UTS, 2001 (5TDs & 2pt)). Played on NSWGFL Colts championship Cubs teams of 1994, 1995 and 1996, including as captain and quarterback of 1996 team. Represented NSW and Australia at safety.
	Year	Tackles	TLoss	Sacks	Safeties	FC	FR	Int	PBU
	1995	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
	1996	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	3
	1997	16	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1998	+	+	+	0	+	+	+	+
	1999	+	+	+	0	+	+	+	+
	2000	+	+	+	0	+	+	+	+
	2001	1+	1+	+	0	+	1+	1+	+
	2002	+	+	+	0	+	+	+	+
	2003	+	+	+	0	+	+	+	+
	2004	30	0	0	0	1	0	8	4
	2005	28+	0+	0+	0	0+	0+	3+	+
	2006	35	3	0	0	0	1	4	6
	2007	30	1	0	0	0	0	1	4
	2008	23	5	0	0	0	1	2	6
	2009	14	0	0	0	0	0	5	4
	Career	187+	11+	0+	0	1+	4+	24+	29+

2007

Captain	16 DANIEL KELEN Quarterback 179 cm 90 kg
	An accurate passer who leads by example and delivers under pressure. Played on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009, including quarterbacking the Lions to victory in 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Waratah Bowls. "Stephen Jones" Gridiron NSW League MVP in 2007. Waratah Bowl co-MVP in 2003. Lions career records for completions (703+), attempts (1,156+), completion percentage (60.8%), yards (9,983+), yards per game (166.4), yards per attempt (8.6), TD passes (155) and quarterback rating (167.5). Lions season records for completions (172 in 2003), attempts (306 in 2003), completion percentage (68.1% in 2008), yards (2,331 in 2007), yards per game (211.9 in 2007), yards per attempt (10.3 in 2007) and TD passes (35 in 2007). Lions game records for completions (24 v UWS, 20/9/03), attempts (44 v UWS, 30/10/04), completion percentage (85.7% v Sutherland 22/11/08) and TD passes (5 v West Sydney 13/9/03, v Northwestern 27/10/07, v Sutherland 1/12/07). Played for Cubs from 1996-2002, including on NSWGFL Colts championship teams of 1996, 2001 and 2002.
	Year	Com	Att	%	Yards	Yds/G	Yds/Att	TDs	Int	Rating
	2002	+	+	-	+	-	-	10	+	-
	2003	172	306	56.2%	2074	188.5	6.8	27	13	133.8
	2004	111	199	55.8%	1448	144.8	7.3	19	7	141.4
	2005	15	25	60.0%	249	41.5	10.0	5	2	193.7
	2007	148	226	65.5%	2331	211.9	10.3	35	7	197.0
	2008	130	191	68.1%	1821	165.5	9.5	31	6	195.4
	2009	127	209	60.8%	2060	187.3	9.9	28	7	181.1
	Career	703+	1 156+	60.8%	9 983+	166.4	8.6	155	42+	167.5

2008

Captain	11 KIERNAN DORNEY Safety 193 cm 87 kg
	A strong-armed quarterback with surprising speed. Played on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009, including quarterbacking Lions to victory in 2004, 2005 and 2006 Waratah Bowls. Waratah Bowl MVP in 2005. Lions career record for consecutive passes without interception (97). Third in career completions (273) and pass yards (3,590). Fourth in career passing TDs (48). Showed his athleticism and head for the game by winning a starting spot at free safety in 2008 and receiver in 2009. Lions record for receiving yards in a game (200 v UTS, Waratah Bowl, 12/12/09) and longest pass reception (87 TD v UTS, Waratah Bowl, 12/12/09). Played at quarterback for Cubs in 2003. Represented NSW and Australia at quarterback.
	Year	Com	Att	%	Yards	Yds/G	Yds/Att	TDs	Int	Rating
	2003	14	35	40.0%	149	24.8	4.3	3	3	86.9
	2004	77	156	49.4%	966	80.5	6.2	11	6	117.0
	2005	85	171	49.7%	1178	117.8	6.9	19	4	139.6
	2006	81	161	50.3%	1091	99.2	6.8	13	8	123.9
	2008	4	15	26.7%	58	58.0	3.9	0	1	45.8
	2009	12	19	63.2%	148	49.3	7.8	2	1	152.8
	Career	273	557	48.5%	3442	86.1	6.4	46	22	122.3

2008

Captain	33 MATT CROASDAILE Runningback 174 cm 88 kg
	A powerful runner with explosive speed to the hole and great drive through the contact. Lions career record for rushing touchdowns per game (1.9). Lions season records for scoring (186 points in 2009), touchdowns (30 in 2009), rushing touchdowns (29 in 2009), rushing touchdowns per game (2.6 in 2009) and rushing attempts (246 in 2009). Played on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Named MVP of 2006 Waratah Bowl, rushing for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns. Named MVP of 2008 Waratah Bowl, rushing for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns. Named MVP of 2009 Waratah Bowl, rushing for 100 yards and 4 touchdowns. Second in career scoring (526 points) and career rushing touchdowns (80). Third in career rushing yards (4,323), career yards per game (102.9) and career rushing carries (427). Represented NSW and Australia at runningback.
		Year	Carries	Yds	Yds/Game	Yds/Carry	TDs	Long
		2004	11	20	10.0	1.8	2	7
		2006	110	821	68.4	7.5	15	71 TD
		2007	105	563	70.4	5.4	12	22 TD
		2008	201	1 386	154.0	6.9	22	53
		2009	246	1 533	139.4	6.2	29	68 TD
		Career	673	4 323	102.9	6.4	80	71TD

2009

Captain	44 NICK BALDWIN Linebacker 177 cm 92 kg
	A dominating force at outside linebacker, with relentless pursuit to the ball and incredible power at the tackle. Lions career records for fumbles caused (11) and fumble recoveries for touchdown (2). Lions season records for sacks (11 in 2004) and tackles for loss (22 in 2004). Started on Gridiron NSW championship teams of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Second in career tackles for loss (62+), career backfield tackles (86+), career sacks averaged (34) and career fumble recoveries (10). Third in career sacks (24+) and career tackles for loss averaged (87). Fourth in career tackles (302+) and career tackles averaged (354). Lead the team in tackles for loss in 2004 and 2008 and in sacks for 2004. Represented NSW and Australia at linebacker.
	Year	Tackles	TLoss	Sacks	Safeties	FC	FR	Int	PBU
	2003	+	+	+	0	+	+	+	+
	2004	78	21	11	0	4	2	1	1
	2005	18	+	0	0	1	2	0	+
	2006	48	6	0	0	1	2	1	4
	2007	49	14	4	0	1	1	0	1
	2008	63	15	4	0	4	1	0	4
	2009	46	6	4	0	0	2	0	1
	Career	302+	62+	23+	0	11+	10+	2+	11+

2009

Captains

2007 Captains

2008 Captains

2009 Captains