David Wirrpanda
Encyclopedia
David Selwyn Wirrpanda (born 3 August 1979, Melbourne, Victoria) is a former Australian rules football
er, who played for the West Coast Eagles
in the Australian Football League
between 1996 and 2009. He is seen as a prominent role model for many Indigenous Australians.
to mother Margaret (née Briggs), a Dhulanyagan woman of the Ulupna Clan Yorta Yorta
. Relatives include pastor and South Australian Governor Sir Doug Nicholls, Eddie Jackson
, Robbie Muir
, Sean Charles
, Andrew Lovett
, Nathan Lovett-Murray
. His father, also named David Wirrpanda, is a Yolngu
Djapu from East Arnhem Land
.
Wirrpanda was raised in Shepparton
and Healesville
, and prior to being drafted as a 16-year old, attended Worawa College, Victoria's only Aboriginal college. His mother's family had set up Worowa for young indigenous youth who were being missed by the net of education at mainstream schools. Wirrpanda had a minor role in "Rose Against All Odds," a biopic of the life of boxer Lionel Rose
.
in the TAC Cup
during 1995, and was scouted by West Coast Eagles
recruiters and brought to Perth
by longtime Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett.
Wirrpanda made his debut with West Coast in Round 5 of the 1996 AFL Season, at the age of 16 years, 268 days, and remains the Eagles' youngest ever debutant. Unfortunately, injuries and fluctuating form hurt him early in his career, and he managed only 12 of a possible 71 AFL games (including finals) in his first 3 seasons. During these early years, he also played 25 games for East Perth
in the WAFL
.
By the mid-2000s, Wirrpanda's career started to get on track, and he became a consistent contributor for the Eagles, playing mainly as a small defender in the back pocket
or half back flank. After a solid year in 2004, he had a stellar 2005 season in which he won selecttion in the All-Australian team
, his trademark clearances from defence being a vital part of the Eagles' success that year. He continued to do well in 2006, marking his 150th AFL game with a great performance.
Wirrpanda nearly missed out on the 2006 AFL Grand Final through injury, but came back to take his place in the side. He came in at the expense of Jaymie Graham
, who had played every game of that season up until then, and out of respect for his younger teammate, Wirrpanda played in the match with Graham's #22 written on his hand.
In 2007 and 2008, Wirrpanda has shared time between his usual backline post and pinch-hitting up forward for his team, using his excellent footskills to both set up play and score some crucial goals for the Eagles in the process.
In 2008, Wirrpanda was met solidly by Geelong's Gary Ablett
in a match at Skilled Stadium. The incident sparked some debate among the football media and fans alike, as although photographs revealed head high contact was made during the bump, Wirrpanda had also slid to the ground, assuring that Ablett had upheld his duty of care as best he could when bumping an opposition player, and therefore not resulting in a suspension for the incident.
At the conclusion of Round 22, 2009, he had played in 227 of a possible 327 matches for the 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 of another younger playing being fast tracked within the club. After the birth of his son, Wirrpanda also expressed his desire to move on citing his fatherhood is the most important aspect of his life, but also spending more time with the foundation that bears his name.
Wirrpanda has also announced his wishes to remain part of the West Coast Eagles, saying that he may one day serve on the board.
before the 2006 season Wirrpanda said that he had allowed his name to be misspelled to ensure it was pronounced correctly.
Wirrpanda is also known for his community work in helping to improve the lives of young Indigenous Australians, first and foremost through The David Wirrpanda Foundation, which he launched in 2005.
He was named the 9th most influential Aboriginal Australian by The Bulletin
magazine in 2007 and 2008. He also received the 2009 award for Young Western Australian of the Year.
He is currently dating model Shannon McGuire, and the couple have a son together called Marley born in August 2009, which caused him to miss West Coast's Round 22 match against Richmond that was played the previous evening.
Wirrpanda has been named in the cast of Australian television station
Channel 7
's light entertainment "reality show"
Dancing with the Stars.
He hosts a Saturday morning radio show called "Dead Set Legends" in Perth on MIX 94.5.
Wirrpanda is featured in the song "Jimmy Recard" by Drapht
.
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, who played for 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 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...
between 1996 and 2009. He is seen as a prominent role model for many Indigenous Australians.
Early life
Wirrpanda was born in Carlton, VictoriaCarlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
to mother Margaret (née Briggs), a Dhulanyagan woman of the Ulupna Clan Yorta Yorta
Yorta Yorta people
The Yorta Yorta people are the Indigenous Australians who traditionally lived around the junction of the Goulburn and Murray Rivers in present-day northeast Victoria....
. Relatives include pastor and South Australian Governor Sir Doug Nicholls, Eddie Jackson
Edward Jackson (footballer)
Edward Jackson is a former Australian rules football player in the Victorian Football League .He played in the 1948 Melbourne team in the 1948 Grand Final.-External links:*-References:*...
, Robbie Muir
Robbie Muir (footballer)
Robbie "Mad Dog" Muir is a former part-Indigenous Australian rules football player for the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League ....
, Sean Charles
Sean Charles
- External links :*...
, Andrew Lovett
Andrew Lovett
Andrew Lovett is an Aboriginal Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League for Essendon between 2005 and 2009...
, Nathan Lovett-Murray
Nathan Lovett-Murray
Nathan Lovett-Murray is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League....
. His father, also named David Wirrpanda, is a Yolngu
Yolngu
The Yolngu or Yolŋu are an Indigenous Australian people inhabiting north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Yolngu means “person” in the Yolŋu languages.-Yolŋu law:...
Djapu from East Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land
The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
.
Wirrpanda was raised in Shepparton
Shepparton, Victoria
Shepparton is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the north east of Victoria, Australia approximately north-east of Melbourne. It is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The estimated population of Shepparton's statistical area is 48,926.It began as a sheep station...
and Healesville
Healesville, Victoria
Healesville is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges...
, and prior to being drafted as a 16-year old, attended Worawa College, Victoria's only Aboriginal college. His mother's family had set up Worowa for young indigenous youth who were being missed by the net of education at mainstream schools. Wirrpanda had a minor role in "Rose Against All Odds," a biopic of the life of boxer Lionel Rose
Lionel Rose
Lionel Edmund Rose MBE was an Australian bantamweight boxer, the first Indigenous Australian to win a world title.-Early life:...
.
Football career
Wirrpanda starred for Eastern RangesEastern Ranges
The Eastern Ranges are an Australian rules football team in the TAC Cup.The club is a founding member of the TAC Cup competition and has produced several players for the Australian Football League including Nick Malceski, David Wirrpanda, Jess Sinclair, Damian Cupido, Lindsay Gilbee, Travis Cloke,...
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
during 1995, and was scouted by 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...
recruiters and brought to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
by longtime Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett.
Wirrpanda made his debut with West Coast in Round 5 of the 1996 AFL Season, at the age of 16 years, 268 days, and remains the Eagles' youngest ever debutant. Unfortunately, injuries and fluctuating form hurt him early in his career, and he managed only 12 of a possible 71 AFL games (including finals) in his first 3 seasons. During these early years, he also played 25 games for East Perth
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
in the 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...
.
By the mid-2000s, Wirrpanda's career started to get on track, and he became a consistent contributor for the Eagles, playing mainly as a small defender in the back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
or half back flank. After a solid year in 2004, he had a stellar 2005 season in which he won selecttion in the All-Australian team
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
, his trademark clearances from defence being a vital part of the Eagles' success that year. He continued to do well in 2006, marking his 150th AFL game with a great performance.
Wirrpanda nearly missed out on the 2006 AFL Grand Final through injury, but came back to take his place in the side. He came in at the expense of Jaymie Graham
Jaymie Graham
Jaymie Graham is an Australian rules footballer currently playing for South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League. He previously played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League ....
, who had played every game of that season up until then, and out of respect for his younger teammate, Wirrpanda played in the match with Graham's #22 written on his hand.
In 2007 and 2008, Wirrpanda has shared time between his usual backline post and pinch-hitting up forward for his team, using his excellent footskills to both set up play and score some crucial goals for the Eagles in the process.
In 2008, Wirrpanda was met solidly by Geelong's Gary Ablett
Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr. is a professional Australian rules football player and current captain of the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
in a match at Skilled Stadium. The incident sparked some debate among the football media and fans alike, as although photographs revealed head high contact was made during the bump, Wirrpanda had also slid to the ground, assuring that Ablett had upheld his duty of care as best he could when bumping an opposition player, and therefore not resulting in a suspension for the incident.
At the conclusion of Round 22, 2009, he had played in 227 of a possible 327 matches for the 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 of another younger playing being fast tracked within the club. After the birth of his son, Wirrpanda also expressed his desire to move on citing his fatherhood is the most important aspect of his life, but also spending more time with the foundation that bears his name.
Wirrpanda has also announced his wishes to remain part of the West Coast Eagles, saying that he may one day serve on the board.
Personal life
For most of his career, Wirrpanda has been known as "Wirrpunda", but in 2005 it was pointed out that his actual birth name was Wirrpanda. In the West AustralianThe West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
before the 2006 season Wirrpanda said that he had allowed his name to be misspelled to ensure it was pronounced correctly.
Wirrpanda is also known for his community work in helping to improve the lives of young Indigenous Australians, first and foremost through The David Wirrpanda Foundation, which he launched in 2005.
He was named the 9th most influential Aboriginal Australian by The Bulletin
The Bulletin
The Bulletin was an Australian weekly magazine that was published in Sydney from 1880 until January 2008. It was influential in Australian culture and politics from about 1890 until World War I, the period when it was identified with the "Bulletin school" of Australian literature. Its influence...
magazine in 2007 and 2008. He also received the 2009 award for Young Western Australian of the Year.
He is currently dating model Shannon McGuire, and the couple have a son together called Marley born in August 2009, which caused him to miss West Coast's Round 22 match against Richmond that was played the previous evening.
Wirrpanda has been named in the cast of Australian television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
Channel 7
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
's light entertainment "reality show"
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
Dancing with the Stars.
He hosts a Saturday morning radio show called "Dead Set Legends" in Perth on MIX 94.5.
Wirrpanda is featured in the song "Jimmy Recard" by Drapht
Drapht
Drapht is an Australian hip hop singer from Perth, Western Australia. Drapht is a member of the Syllaboliks crew, which comprises fellow Australian hip hop artists from Perth.-Biography:...
.