David Sierakowski
Encyclopedia
David Sierakowski is a former Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
.
He was recruited to the Saints in the 1992 AFL Draft
under the father-son rule
. He spent the whole of 1993 season in the reserves developing his game and settling into Melbourne life with relatives. He became a solid key position
player, particularly in defence.
During his 1993 debut year with just 3 games he spent 3 months in Perth under orders of coach Stan Alves
to improve his fitness. Sierakowski returned to St Kilda and played most of the 1994 season in major roles down back in the senior side. This season saw David win the clubs Best First Year and Most Improved Player Awards.
Sierakowski played in St Kilda’s 1996 AFL Ansett Australia Cup
winning side.
Throughout the year Sierakowski found himself playing both forward and defensive roles. Taking a liking to the wide open spaces of Waverley Park
, and building a reputation along the way.
A major career highlight included playing in the 1997 Grand Final
side.
By 1998 he had become a versatile player and was spending more time in ruckman
roles. He capped off a stellar year earning State of Origin selection for WA and played against South Australia
in Adelaide
. The off-season meant major knee surgery after suffering from recurring patela tendonitis
.
Mid-way through 1999 came the first of a series of major knee injuries, snapping his right patela tendon in a game against Fremantle
. Sierakowski was sidelined for nearly 12 months and returned to play 13 games in 2000 under new coach Tim Watson
and finish 6th in the club's Best and Fairest
award. The off-season saw the robust utility traded to the West Coast Eagles
in a trade that enabled Fraser Gehrig
to return to Melbourne. WCE drafted Daniel Kerr
.
Sierakowski, originally from Perth, moved back to his home state in 2001. He made his debut for the club in Round 1 of that year against Geelong at Kardinia Park but was struck in the back of the head by an errant swinging forearm. Knocked unconscious mid-air from the severity of the blow, and landing awkwardly, he suffered a second knee injury, requiring a reconstruction that forced him out of the game until 2002. He returned but struggled to find form, with a series of hamstring injuries and continuing knee problems. Unable to capture his true form he retired at the end of 2003.
Sierakowski has stayed involved in football at WAFL
level as an assistant coach with Subiaco Football Club
, initially under Peter German
where the club won 2 Premierships in 3 years. Now under Scott Watters
he has been an important part of the match committee.
He now owns and manages Scout Entertainment.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
He was recruited to the Saints in the 1992 AFL Draft
1992 AFL Draft
The 1992 AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
under the father-son rule
Father-son rule
The father-son rule is a rule that allows clubs to select the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team in Australian rules football, most notably the Australian Football League...
. He spent the whole of 1993 season in the reserves developing his game and settling into Melbourne life with relatives. He became a solid key position
Key position
In the sport of Australian rules football, a "key position" refers to positions on the ground that are considered vital to the structure of a team.Key position players make up what is known as the "spine" of a team...
player, particularly in defence.
During his 1993 debut year with just 3 games he spent 3 months in Perth under orders of coach Stan Alves
Stan Alves
Stan Alves, OAM was an Australian rules football player and coach. He played 226 games for the Melbourne Football Club in the 1970s, captaining them from 1973–1976 and finishing runner-up for the Brownlow Medal in 1975, before joining North Melbourne in 1977. Legend has it that he chose to play...
to improve his fitness. Sierakowski returned to St Kilda and played most of the 1994 season in major roles down back in the senior side. This season saw David win the clubs Best First Year and Most Improved Player Awards.
Sierakowski played in St Kilda’s 1996 AFL Ansett Australia Cup
1996 Ansett Australia Cup
- Scorecard :-St Kilda Football Club:-Carlton Football Club:- Final Placings :1. St. Kilda 2. Carlton 3. West Coast 4. North Melbourne 5. Collingwood 6. Brisbane 7. Footscray 8. Adelaide 9. Sydney 10. Fremantle 11. Fitzroy 12. Richmond...
winning side.
Throughout the year Sierakowski found himself playing both forward and defensive roles. Taking a liking to the wide open spaces of Waverley Park
Waverley Park
Waverley Park was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian based Victorian Football League/Australian Football League clubs. However, during the 1990s it became the home ground of...
, and building a reputation along the way.
A major career highlight included playing in the 1997 Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
side.
By 1998 he had become a versatile player and was spending more time in ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
roles. He capped off a stellar year earning State of Origin selection for WA and played against South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. The off-season meant major knee surgery after suffering from recurring patela tendonitis
Tendonitis
Tendinitis , meaning inflammation of a tendon , is a type of tendinopathy often confused with the more common tendinosis, which has similar symptoms but requires different treatment...
.
Mid-way through 1999 came the first of a series of major knee injuries, snapping his right patela tendon in a game against Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
. Sierakowski was sidelined for nearly 12 months and returned to play 13 games in 2000 under new coach Tim Watson
Tim Watson
Timothy Michael "Tim" Watson is a former Australian rules footballer and coach, sports journalist and media personality.He is notable for his long career at the Essendon Football Club as a player where he participated in several premiership teams...
and finish 6th in the club's Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
award. The off-season saw the robust utility traded to the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
in a trade that enabled Fraser Gehrig
Fraser Gehrig
Fraser Gehrig is a retired Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League who played for the St Kilda Football Club and the West Coast Eagles...
to return to Melbourne. WCE drafted Daniel Kerr
Daniel Kerr
Daniel Matthew Kerr is an Australian rules footballer.Kerr was recruited from East Fremantle Football Club and made his AFL debut in 2001 with the West Coast Eagles. He is a hard-running midfielder who is a vital part of the midfield at the Eagles.-Background:Kerr is of Anglo-Indian descent...
.
Sierakowski, originally from Perth, moved back to his home state in 2001. He made his debut for the club in Round 1 of that year against Geelong at Kardinia Park but was struck in the back of the head by an errant swinging forearm. Knocked unconscious mid-air from the severity of the blow, and landing awkwardly, he suffered a second knee injury, requiring a reconstruction that forced him out of the game until 2002. He returned but struggled to find form, with a series of hamstring injuries and continuing knee problems. Unable to capture his true form he retired at the end of 2003.
Sierakowski has stayed involved in football at WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
level as an assistant coach with Subiaco Football Club
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
, initially under Peter German
Peter German
Peter German is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the AFL. He played 185 games with the club, mostly in the midfield....
where the club won 2 Premierships in 3 years. Now under Scott Watters
Scott Watters
Scott Watters is the current senior coach of the St Kilda Football Club. He was an Australian rules footballer, drafted from the South Fremantle Football Club in the WAFL to the West Coast Eagles in the AFL in 1988, before later playing for the Sydney Swans and Fremantle...
he has been an important part of the match committee.
He now owns and manages Scout Entertainment.