 |
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1979-03-28) 28 March 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Gippsland, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1997 | Gippsland Falcons | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2000 | Gippsland Falcons | 42 | (0) |
| 1998 | → South Dandenong (loan) | 11 | (3) |
| 2002 | Fitzroy City | 20 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Eastern Lions | (17) | |
| 2005–2007 | Morwell Pegasus | (9) | |
| 2009–2011 | Diamond Valley United | (12) | |
| 2012–2013 | Moe United | 24 | (16) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Adrian Savage (born 28 March 1979) is an Australian former association footballer who played as a midfielder. A product of the Gippsland Falcons youth system, Savage appeared at national level in the National Soccer League with the Falcons before forging a lengthy career in Victorian state leagues.
During his senior career, Savage represented clubs including South Dandenong, Fitzroy City, Eastern Lions, Morwell Pegasus, Diamond Valley United. He later featured prominently in regional football with Moe United in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League, where he was a regular goalscorer in midfield roles.
Playing career
Gippsland Falcons
Savage developed through the Gippsland Falcons youth system, representing the club in the National Youth League during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. His progression through the Falcons’ pathway led to senior opportunities from 1998, marking the beginning of his professional career. [1]
He made his senior breakthrough with Gippsland during the club’s final years in the National Soccer League. Between 1998 and 2000, Savage became a regular member of the senior squad, including making 28 league appearances during the 1999–2000 NSL season.[2]
On 11 October 1998, aged 19, Savage made his first NSL appearance in Round 1, coming on as a 71st minute substitute for Brian MacNicol in a 2–1 away loss over championship-bound South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium.[3]
He went on to make a total of 15 league appearances for the Falcons during the 1998–99 season, establishing himself as a reliable defensive option in the latter part of the campaign.[4][5]
South Dandenong (loan)
During the 1998 season, Savage was loaned to South Dandenong in the Victorian Premier League. He featured prominently from midfield, making 11 appearances and scoring three goals.
Fitzroy City
Following Gippsland Falcons’ exit from the NSL, Savage joined Fitzroy City for the 2002 Victorian Premier League season. He was a consistent selection throughout the campaign, adding stability and experience to the midfield across 20 league appearances.[6]
Eastern Lions
Savage moved to Eastern Lions in 2003, where he enjoyed one of the most productive periods of his career. Across the 2003 and 2004 seasons, he established himself as a key attacking midfielder, contributing regularly in front of goal and becoming one of the standout offensive performers in the Victorian State League.[7]
In 2003, Savage put together arguably his best ever season, scoring 11 goals from midfield for Eastern Lions.[8]However, the Lions could only finish third, narrowly missing out on promotion.[9]
Morwell Pegasus
In 2005, Savage signed with Morwell Pegasus, returning to regional Victorian football. He represented the club over multiple seasons in the Victorian State League, competing in both Division Two and Division Three competitions and providing experience and attacking presence from midfield during his tenure.
Diamond Valley United
Savage joined Diamond Valley United in 2009, entering another high-output phase of his career. Over three seasons with the club, he recorded several strong goal-scoring campaigns from midfield, finishing among the team’s leading contributors during his time at Partington Flats.
Moe United
In 2012, Savage moved to Latrobe Valley Soccer League powerhouse Moe United, competing in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.[10]
He continued his goal-scoring form over two seasons with the Red Devils and despite being in his mid-30s, put together arguably his greatest ever single-match performance, scoring five goals in a 6-1 rout of Tyers Lightning in 2012.[11]
Savage played a key role in the club’s successful 2013 campaign, which culminated in Moe United winning the Latrobe Valley Soccer League Championship in his very final match as a footballer.[12]
References
- ^ "1996–97 National Youth League Southern Division". OzFootball. 26 October 1996. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Gippsland Falcons Squad Profile - 1999/2000". OzFootball. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "R1 1998 South Melbourne v Gippsland Falcons". BeSoccer.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Gippsland Falcons Squad Profile - 1998/1999". OzFootball. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Adrian Savage – OzFootball Profile". OzFootball. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Adrian Savage – Vicfootball Profile". Vicfootball. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Adrian Savage – OzFootball Profile". OzFootball. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "2003 State League Division Two South-East Results". OzFootball. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "2003 State League Division Two South-East Table". OzFootball. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Adrian Savage - MyGameDay". MyGameDay. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Red Devils 'Savage' the Lightning". MyGameDay. 3 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ Liam Durkin (2023-07-11). "Moe and the miracle championship". Latrobe Valley Express. Archived from the original on 2026-01-11. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
