Matthew Bode
A clever and persistent small forward whose 12-year AFL career was defined by football intelligence and a knack for crucial goals.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Australian rules footballer, born 1979·Birthday: June 29·Generation X
Biography
Matthew Bode carved out a solid, workmanlike career in the AFL not through sheer physical dominance, but with smart positioning and relentless effort. Drafted by Port Adelaide, he spent his early years learning his trade before a move to the Adelaide Crows provided a platform for his best football. Standing at 180 cm, he was often giving away height to his opponents, but compensated with sharp game sense and clean skills. Bode was a reliable contributor, known for popping up to kick important goals and applying fierce defensive pressure. His consistency made him a regular fixture in the Crows' lineup for nearly a decade, where he played in multiple finals series. While he never claimed the game's highest individual honors, Bode's longevity and dependable performances made him a respected figure among teammates and fans who valued substance over flash.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matthew was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 162 AFL games across 12 seasons for Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows.
- Kicked 113 career goals, often as a midfield-forward.
- Played in multiple AFL finals series with the Adelaide Football Club.
- Was a member of Port Adelaide's inaugural AFL squad in 1997.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted with pick No. 66 in the 1996 AFL Draft.
Bode studied law while playing professional football and later worked as a lawyer.
After retirement, he served as a director of the AFL Players' Association.
“You earn your spot every week with pressure acts and two-way running.”
