The Brisbane Lions star who played a premiership through injury
In short: In the 2024 AFL Grand Final, Eric Hipwood celebrated a massive 60-point victory with a miraculous goal. Yet, behind the celebration lay a hidden struggle: the star forward had navigated the entire finals series while battling an undisclosed injury.
Born in Melbourne's St Kilda suburb in 1997, Eric Hipwood’s footballing roots are deeply embedded in both Victoria and Queensland. His family history is tied to the Aspley Football Club, an institution established by his grandfather, Ken. After moving to the Sunshine Coast at age three, Hipwood progressed through the Brisbane Lions Academy, eventually becoming a key forward for the Brisbane Lions.
His professional ascent was rapid. Drafted 14th overall in the 2015 national draft, Hipwood was an academy selection after the Lions matched a bid from Richmond. He quickly made his mark on the league, earning the AFL Rising Star round nomination in 2017 following a standout performance against the Western Bulldogs. By 2018, he had become the club's leading goalkicker, finishing the season with 37 goals.
The career of the forward has been defined by both resilience and significant physical setbacks. In 2021, a ruptured ACL forced him to miss the Brisbane finals series, and he faced a 10-month recovery period before returning in 2022. Despite these hurdles, he secured a massive contract extension—the longest for the club since Alastair Lynch in 1994.
The pinnacle of his career arrived in 2024. During a 60-point triumph over the Sydney Swans, Hipwood struck a spectacular left-foot goal from the pocket, even imitating club legend Jason Akermanis in his celebration. While the victory was a triumph for the club, Hipwood later revealed the immense physical toll of the campaign, having played through injury during the finals series.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Eric Hipwood
- Also: Wikidata — Eric Hipwood · CC0
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