Jesse White
From Snoutslouts
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Biographical
- Born: 9 January 1988
- Height: 197cm
- Weight: 94kg
- Recruited from: Collingwood
- Previous Club: Southport (QAFL)
- GFC League Debut: 2018
Guernsey Number: 18
Jesses White played two seasons with Glenelg at the end of his football career. Although recruited as a key forward/ruckman, he found his niche with Glenelg as a mobile ruckman, helping take Glenelg in 2019 to their first premiership success since 1986.
Jess White was born in Melbourne. His family moved to the Gold Coast when he was two years old. He was first selected to represent Queensland in basketball at under 12 level, and continued to make representative teams up to under 18 level. In 2005, he rejected a scholarship offer from the Australian Institute of Sport to concentrate on Australian football.
White played his junior football at the Surfers Paradise Australian Football Club on the Gold Coast, before switching to the Southport Australian Football Club to play both under 18 and senior football. He was overlooked in the 2005 AFL draft. He remained at Southport for the 2006 season, winning the QAFL premiership and was a standout performer in Queensland's victorious run at the 2006 AFL Under 18 Championships.
AFL career
White was drafted by the Sydney Swans with pick 79 in the 2006 AFL draft, but didn't make his AFL debut until 2008. In round 22 of the 2009 AFL season, White was rewarded with a nomination for the 2009 AFL Rising Star award.
White's playing style was primarily a forward that can also ruck. Despite promising performances as a forward throughout the 2010 season, he spent considerable time in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) throughout 2011 and the 2012 premiership year, due to inconsistent form. White found form for the 2013 season, kicking 20 goals in 15 games.
Despite his improved performances and Sydney's attempts to re-sign him, he moved to Collingwood. On 10 August 2017, White announced his retirement from AFL football at the end of the season.
In 2018, he returned to football signing with SANFL club Glenelg Football Club.
Glenelg
Originally recruited as a key forward and to provide ruck support, White became the Bays first choice ruckman. He proved to be very agile for big man, often roving to his own tap work. Around the ground he often outpointed his opposition rucks, showing his abilities honed as a leading forward.
In 2019, Jesse won the Glenelg Football Club Best and Fairest award in a premiership winning season -a significant recognition of his importance to the side as he out-voted the season's Magarey Medallist, Luke Partington. A fitting way to finish his playing career, he announced his retirement at the end of the season.
