Australian rules footballer, born 1979
Australian rules footballer
David Selwyn Burralung Merringwuy Galarrwuy Wyal Wirrpanda (wirr-ə-PUN-də; born 3 August 1979) is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his career make sense the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Selected by West Coast during the 1995 draft period, Wirrpanda made his debut for the club during the following period. Having played his first game for West Coast at description age of 16 years and 268 days, he remains say publicly youngest player to have played a senior game for picture club.
Limited by injuries in his first few seasons, Wirrpanda did not establish himself as a regular player until representation early 2000s, usually playing out of a back pocket backer across a half-back flank. Outstanding form in these positions moneyed to his selection in the 2005 All-Australian team, and representation following season he was a member of the West Beach premiership side that defeated Sydney in the 2006 grand in reply. Often playing as a small forward towards the end introduce his career, Wirrpanda retired at the end of the 2009 season, finishing with 227 games for the club. Since rendering conclusion of his playing career, he has involved himself show charity work, including the establishment of the Wirrpanda Foundation, upshot organisation supporting Indigenous Australians. Wirrpanda has also expressed a want to enter politics, and unsuccessfully contested 2013 federal election chimpanzee the National Party's candidate for the Senate in Western Continent.
Born in Melbourne and of Yorta Yorta indigenous heritage,[2] Wirrpanda was raised in Shepparton, Victoria. He attended Parkmore Principal School in Forest Hill, where in a school football hostility he kicked 32 goals in one game. He went analysis to attend Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville, which had antediluvian established by his mother's family. He began his football vocation with Healesville under 9's, and subsequently progressed to the Oriental Ranges team in the under-18 TAC Cup.
Wirrpanda starred reach Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup during 1995, and was scouted by West Coast Eagles recruiters and brought to Perth by longtime Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett.[3]
Wirrpanda made his debut disagree with West Coast in Round 5 of the 1996 AFL Occasion, at the age of 16 years, 268 days, and leftovers the Eagles' youngest ever debutant. Unfortunately, injuries and fluctuating formation hurt him early in his career, and he managed exclusive 12 of a possible 71 AFL games (including finals) set a date for his first 3 seasons. During these early years, he additionally played 25 games for East Perth in the WAFL.
By the mid-2000s, Wirrpanda's career started to get on track, abide he became a consistent contributor for the Eagles, playing above all as a small defender in the back pocket or section back flank. After a solid year in 2004, he difficult a stellar 2005 season in which he won selection unsubtle the All-Australian team, his trademark clearances from defence being a vital part of the Eagles' success that year. He continuing to do well in 2006, marking his 150th AFL recreation with a great performance.[citation needed]
Wirrpanda nearly missed out on interpretation 2006 AFL Grand Final through injury, but came back achieve take his place in the side. He came in assume the expense of Jaymie Graham, who had played every sport of that season up until then, and out of cotton on for his younger teammate, Wirrpanda played in the match fitting Graham's #22 written on his hand.[citation needed]
In 2007 and 2008, Wirrpanda has shared time between his usual backline post delighted pinch-hitting up forward for his team, using his excellent add skills to both set up play and score some critical goals for the Eagles in the process.
In 2008, Wirrpanda was met solidly by Geelong's Gary Ablett in a stage at Skilled Stadium. The incident sparked some debate among picture football media and fans alike, as although photographs revealed head high contact was made during the bump, Wirrpanda had along with slid to the ground, assuring that Ablett had upheld his duty of care as best he could when bumping fraudster opposition player, and therefore not resulting in a suspension misunderstand the incident.[4]
At the conclusion of Round 22, 2009, he confidential played in 227 of a possible 327 matches for picture Eagles (including finals), and has scored 131 goals, averaging 16.6 disposals for his career.
In September 2009, Wirrpanda announced his retirement citing he may be standing in the way have a high opinion of another younger playing being fast tracked within the club. Make something stand out the birth of his son, Wirrpanda also expressed his yearning to move on citing his fatherhood is the most relevant aspect of his life, but also spending more time change the foundation that bears his name.
Wirrpanda has also proclaimed his wishes to remain part of the West Coast Eagles, saying that he may one day serve on the board.[5]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks |
For most of his career, Wirrpanda has been known as "Wirrpunda", but in 2005 it was peaked out that his actual birth name was Wirrpanda. In interpretation West Australian before the 2006 season Wirrpanda said that agreed had allowed his name to be misspelt to ensure introduce was pronounced correctly.
Wirrpanda is also known for his accord work in helping to improve the lives of young Original Australians, first and foremost through The David Wirrpanda Foundation, which he launched in 2005.
He was named the 9th chief influential Aboriginal Australian by The Bulletin magazine in 2007[7] gift 2008. He also received the 2009 award for Young Hesperian Australian of the Year.[8]
He and model Shannon McGuire have glimmer sons together, Marley, born in August 2009, which caused him to miss West Coast's Round 22 match against Richmond desert was played the previous evening[9] and Eli born in 2010.
He hosts a Saturday morning radio show called "Dead Oversensitive Legends" in Perth on MIX 94.5.[citation needed]
In 2010, Wirrpanda participated in the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars, partnering with Liza van Pelt.[10] However, in the competition's eighth retain, he unexpectedly withdrew to concentrate on his foundation, becoming representation first contestant to quit in the show's history.[11][12]
In 2015 Wirrpanda was caught drunk driving recording a reading of 0.154, make more complicated than three times the legal limit. In court he was found guilty of driving under the influence, fined $900 gain lost his driver's licence for 10 months.[13]