Nathan Bassett

Biography

AFC Debut Number: 87               AFC Debut Game:  Round 1 v Carlton, 1998

AFC Career Guernsey Number: 8

Nathan Bassett’s career took some time to start but his persistence helped build a successful 11-year career with Adelaide. An outstanding junior at SANFL club Norwood, Bassett made his league debut at the age of 17. He was overlooked by Port Adelaide when it formed its inaugural AFL list at the end of 1996, and was claimed instead by Melbourne as a rookie.

He was elevated to their senior list during the season but a chest injury stopped him from making his AFL debut with the Demons. Bassett, who was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at this time, was traded to the Crows and played his first AFL game in the opening round of 1998. He had a strong debut season, finishing 10th in the best and fairest despite playing only 13 games He unfortunately missing out on finals and the grand final through injury. His best season was arguably 2005, when he finished runner-up in the Club’s best and fairest to Simon Goodwin and won the Best Team Man award.

The development of Ben Rutten at full-back allowed Bassett to move into the back pocket and he took his rebounding game to a new level. This was recognised the following year when he was chosen in the All Australian side. A broken ankle cut short Bassett’s 2007 season  missing the last 10 games. He retired in 2008 season and after the elimination final loss to Collingwood walked back on to AAMI Stadium and had a kick with the fans.

Bassett served as a director on the Crows Foundation Board while he coached Norwood to three grand finals and back-to-back premierships in 2012 and 2013 during a four-year stint at the club. In October 2013 he was appointed as an assistant coach at Essendon, and then in 2016 as an assistant coach at Port Adelaide.