Paul Couch

Paul Couch
Personal information
Date of birth	(1964-07-19) 19 July 1964
Original team(s)	Warrnambool
Debut	Round 5, 1985, Geelong v. North Melbourne, at Kardinia Park
Height/Weight	1.80 m / 82 kg
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1985–1997	Geelong	259 (203)
Representative team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
	Victoria	5 (?)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1997 season.
Career highlights
Brownlow Medallist (1989) 3x Geelong Best & Fairest (1986, 1989, 1995) 2x All Australian Team (1991, 1995) Geelong Team of the Century (Interchange) Geelong Life Membership (2006)

Paul Couch (born 19 July 1964) is a retired Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Australian Football League.

Prior to playing with Geelong, Couch initially tried out with Fitzroy, but was rejected for being too slow.

"Couchy" played 259 games and kicked 203 goals for the Cats from 1985 to 1997, and won the coveted Brownlow Medal in 1989. He was recruited from Warrnambool and, though never blessed with pace and very "one-sided" on his trusty left boot, had the ability to make position and place his team to advantage throughout twelve (often knee-injury ridden) years.

As a traditional "centreman", he was the pivot for the outstanding teams of 1989–1995 and though the Club failed to win a premiership during that time, it was little fault of Paul's. Although lacking outright pace, he had a strong work-ethic along with a good football brain and exquisite disposal skills. This made Couch a highly respected centreman during his career.

Paul represented Victoria five times, was named All-Australian 2 times (1991, 1995) and won three club best-and-fairest awards (1986, 1989, 1995), as well as being named in the Club's Team of the Century.

He was judged best on ground in his 250th match against the West Coast Eagles at Skilled Stadium.

Couch is well known for carrying a broad, toothy smile, and formed an excellent partnership in the midfielder with good friend, Mark Bairstow, both servicing career-forward Billy Brownless and Gary Ablett with pin-point passes.

Couch's son Tom Couch played 3 games for the Melbourne Football Club before being delisted in 2013. He is currently signed to Collingwood's VFL side in the VFL and his nephew, Nick Couch, plays for the North Ballarat Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Playing Statistics

	Led the league for the Season only*
	Led the league after finals only*
	Led the league after Season and Finals*

*10 games required to be eligible.

Season	Team	#	Games	G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
			Totals								Averages (per game)
1985	Geelong	7	17	15	23	202	107	309	60	-	0.9	1.4	11.9	6.3	18.2	3.5	-
1986	Geelong	7	18	12	10	247	143	390	80	-	0.7	0.6	13.7	7.9	21.7	4.4	-
1987	Geelong	7	19	14	14	292	118	410	78	32	0.7	0.7	15.4	6.2	21.6	4.1	1.7
1988	Geelong	7	17	15	13	262	174	436	67	27	0.9	0.8	15.4	10.2	25.6	3.9	1.6
1989	Geelong	7	26	23	19	415	285	700	82	56	0.9	0.7	16.0	11.0	26.9	3.2	2.2
1990	Geelong	7	20	13	16	286	222	508	63	35	0.7	0.8	14.3	11.1	25.4	3.2	1.8
1991	Geelong	7	24	21	17	374	262	636	73	44	0.9	0.7	15.6	10.9	26.5	3.0	1.8
1992	Geelong	7	23	26	14	293	201	494	82	43	1.1	0.6	12.7	8.7	21.5	3.6	1.9
1993	Geelong	7	20	14	10	260	179	439	38	32	0.7	0.5	13.0	9.0	22.0	1.9	1.6
1994	Geelong	7	24	29	23	327	229	556	64	53	1.2	1.0	13.6	9.5	23.2	2.7	2.2
1995	Geelong	7	25	13	12	401	221	622	57	48	0.5	0.5	16.0	8.8	24.9	2.3	1.9
1996	Geelong	7	21	5	10	330	134	464	72	35	0.2	0.5	15.7	6.4	22.1	3.4	1.7
1997	Geelong	7	5	3	0	49	29	78	8	6	0.6	0.0	9.8	5.8	15.6	1.6	1.2
Career			259	203	181	3738	2304	6042	824	411	0.8	0.7	14.4	8.9	23.3	3.2	1.8

Honours and achievements

Brownlow Medal votes
Season	Votes
1985	—
1986	8
1987	6
1988	10
1989	22
1990	3
1991	11
1992	6
1993	2
1994	9
1995	16
1996	6
1997	—
Total	99
Key:
Green / Bold = Won

• Team
  • McClelland Trophy (Geelong): 1992

• Individual
  • Brownlow Medal: 1989
  • Carji Greeves Medal: 1986, 1989, 1995
  • All-Australian: 1991, 1995
  • Geelong F.C. Team of the Century - Interchange

External links

• Paul Couch's profile on the official website of the Geelong Football Club

Awards
Preceded by Greg Williams	Carji Greeves Medal 1986	Succeeded by Mark Bos
Preceded by Gerard Healy	Brownlow Medallist 1989	Succeeded by Tony Liberatore
Preceded by Mark Bos	Carji Greeves Medal 1989	Succeeded by Barry Stoneham
Preceded by Garry Hocking	Carji Greeves Medal 1995	Succeeded by Garry Hocking