Shaun Rehn

Biography

AFC Debut Number: 35               AFC Debut Game:  Round 18 v Sydney, 1991

AFC Career Guernsey Number: 52

Three knee reconstructions in a decade did not stop Shaun Rehn from being one of the most influential ruckmen of his era. At 203cm, Rehn combined a powerful presence in the centre square and at stoppages with marking strength, courage and astonishing skill. Rehn was only a few months out of country football when signed by Adelaide.

From a wheat and sheep farm near Arno Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, he had only played a few under-19 games for West Adelaide in 1989 and then two league matches late in 1990, when he won the Mail Medal in his country competition. He played six AFL games in 1991 and confirmed his standing as one of the Club’s great finds when he was best afield in the last game against North Melbourne, collecting 24 possessions and 20 hit-outs.

His rapid development continued, in 1994 he was named an All Australian and won the Club Champion award. But in round three of 1995 he suffered a torn ACL. Three games into the 1996 season, the right knee buckled again, and he was out for another season. His courage and commitment to returning to the game was rewarded with two premiership medals.

in 1997 Rehn took some time to regain top form but he lifted for the grand final discarding his knee brace in the process. In 1998 he was selected as All Australian again. That year, in addition to his second Premiership Medal, he polled 22 Brownlow votes, finishing fourth. He endured a third knee reconstruction, this time on his left knee, before the start of the 1999 season but returned to play out one more season in 2000. Citing a desire to rejuvenate his passion for the game Rehn was traded to Hawthorn at the end of 2000, retiring as a player  at the end of 2002. He was an automatic selection to lead the ruck in the AFC Team of the Decade 1991-2000.

Rehn was appointed coach at West Adelaide in 2003 and led the side to a grand final in his first season. In 2006-07 he was an assistant coach with the Brisbane Lions and  then Port Adelaide during 2012 -2014.

In 2021 he was selected as ruck in Adelaide’s “Best 22 of 30 Years”.