Bradley Close, commonly known as Brad Close, is a professional Australian rules footballer who has significantly impacted the Australian Football League (AFL).
Playing for the Geelong Cats, Close has demonstrated his skills and versatility on the field, contributing to his team’s successes and earning recognition for his performances.
Here, we have Brad Close’s net worth, salary, contract, career earnings, relationship status, and more.
About Brad Close
Bradley Close was born on July 30, 1998, in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Growing up in a region known for its strong football culture, Close was introduced to the sport at a young age.
His early years were spent honing his skills and developing a passion for Australian rules football, eventually leading him to a professional career in the AFL.
Close’s family supported his journey, encouraging his aspirations and standing by him as he pursued his dreams of playing at the highest level.
Before making his mark in the AFL, Close’s football journey began at the grassroots level, playing for the North Gambier Football Club.
His talent and dedication on the field soon caught the attention of scouts, leading him to play for the Glenelg Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).
During the 2019 season with Glenelg, Close showcased his potential by kicking 13 goals over 21 matches and being part of the team that won the 2019 SANFL premiership.
AFL Career
Brad Close’s AFL career officially began when the Geelong Cats recruited him with the 14th pick in the 2019 rookie draft.
He debuted in the eighth round of the 2020 AFL season in a match against the Fremantle Dockers.
Close made an immediate impact, kicking his first goal with his first kick just one minute into the game.
His debut season was impressive, earning him the Best Young Player Award for the Geelong Football Club.
Since then, Close has continued to develop his game, becoming an integral part of the Cats’ forward line.
Brad Close’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Brad Close’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million. AFL players’ earnings vary significantly based on experience, performance, and contract negotiations.
Close’s contributions to the Geelong Cats and his potential for future growth suggest that his earnings reflect his value to the team.
Contract and Salary
Brad Close signed a contract extension with the Geelong Cats in November 2020, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2023 season.
Brad Close’s contract status is listed as “NFA” (not a free agent) with the final year of 2025, indicating that he may have signed another extension beyond the 2023 season mentioned in the initial contract update.
AFL contracts are typically structured to reward players for their on-field performances and contributions to the team’s success.
Personal Details
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Bradley Close |
| Date of Birth | 30 July 1998 |
| Place of Birth | Mount Gambier, South Australia |
| Draft | No. 14, 2019 Rookie Draft, Geelong |
| Debut | 27 July 2020, Geelong vs. Fremantle, at Optus Stadium |
| Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) |
| Position(s) | Medium Forward |
| No. 14, 2019 Rookie Draft, Geelong | Geelong |
| Number | 45 |
| Playing Career | 2020–present |
| Games (Goals) | 76 (64) |
Age
Brad Close is 25 years old.
Height
Brad Close stands at 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) tall.
AFL Career Statistics
| Season | Games | Goals | Kicks (Avg) | Handballs (Avg) | Disposals (Avg) | Marks (Avg) | Tackles (Avg) | SuperCoach Rating (Avg) |
| 2020 | 8 | 2 | 29 (3.6) | 41 (5.1) | 70 (8.8) | 13 (1.6) | 24 (3.0) | 40.4 |
| 2021 | 22 | 15 | 132 (6.0) | 159 (7.2) | 291 (13.2) | 61 (2.8) | 72 (3.3) | 58.5 |
| 2022 | 25 | 26 | 181 (7.2) | 213 (8.5) | 394 (15.8) | 85 (3.4) | 93 (3.7) | 70.5 |
| 2023 | 21 | 21 | 124 (5.9) | 153 (7.3) | 277 (13.2) | 53 (2.5) | 56 (2.7) | 55.9 |
FAQs
1. Who is Brad Close?
Brad Close (born July 30, 1998) is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Cats in the AFL. He plays as a forward, renowned for his pressure, goal sense and craft inside the attacking 50.
2. What teams did Brad Close play for before joining the AFL?
Before joining the AFL, Brad Close played local football at North Gambier Football Club before moving to Glenelg in the SANFL in 2019, where he helped secure a premiership and showcased his goal-kicking abilities.
3. How did Brad Close perform in the SANFL in 2019?
In 2019 at Glenelg in the SANFL, Close played 21 matches, kicked 13 goals and played a key role in winning the club’s premiership, demonstrating his readiness for the demands of AFL competition.
4. When did Brad Close make his AFL debut and against which team?
Brad Close made his AFL debut in round eight of the 2020 season for Geelong against Fremantle at Optus Stadium, marking the occasion with immediate impact in his first top-level match.
5. What remarkable feat did Close achieve on debut?
In that debut match, Close kicked his first AFL goal with his first kick just one minute into play, collected 14 disposals, took three marks and laid four tackles, underlining his readiness for senior football.
6. What award did Brad Close receive at the conclusion of his debut season?
At the end of 2020, Geelong Football Club awarded Close its Best Young Player Award, recognising his impact as a debutant, consistent work ethic and potential to develop into a key forward asset.
7. How many games and goals had Brad Close recorded by the end of round 6, 2023?
Up to end of round six, 2023, Close had played 61 games for Geelong and kicked 52 goals, while consistently improving his role as a pressure forward within the club’s attacking structure.
8. What milestone did Close reach in the 2024 Qualifying Final?
Qualifying final against Port Adelaide, Close turned out his 100th AFL match, becoming one of the few emerging forwards at Geelong to reach the century mark within his first five seasons.
9. How did Brad Close contribute to Geelong’s forward line?
Close kicked at least one goal in 18 of Geelong’s first 19 matches, showcasing his scoring consistency, and finished equal second in the club’s goal assists tally.
10. What guernsey number does Brad Close wear for Geelong?
Brad Close wears the number 45 guernsey for Geelong, a number he debuted in during 2020 and continues to don as an integral member of the Cats’ forward line.
RELATED ARTICLES
