Gavin Wanganeen
| Gavin Wanganeen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Gavin Adrian Wanganeen | ||
| Date of birth | 18 June 1973 | ||
| Original team | Port Adelaide (SANFL) | ||
| Draft | #12, 1989 National Draft, Essendon | ||
| Height/Weight | 181cm / 83kg | ||
| Position(s) | Utility | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1991–1996 1997–2006 Total |
Essendon Port Adelaide |
127 (64) 173 (138) 300 (202) |
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1 Playing statistics to end of 2005 season .
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| Career highlights | |||
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Gavin Adrian Wanganeen (born 18 June 1973) is a retired Australian rules footballer, playing in two Australian Football League premierships with Essendon and Port Adelaide. Wanganeen is a Brownlow Medallist and is considered one of the finest indigenous players ever. He is the first cousin of brothers Aaron and Alwyn Davey.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Early life
An Australian Aboriginal of Kokatha Mula descent,[2] Wanganeen played junior football for Adelaide based Amateur club Salisbury North Hawks before debuting in 1990 aged 16 with Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) (prior to that club joining the AFL), playing 24 matches and kicking 46 goals, winning the SANFL Rookie of the Year award, starring in Port Adelaide's 1990 Premiership team[3] and gaining the attention of AFL side Essendon.
[edit] AFL career
[edit] Essendon Career (1990–1996)
Wanganeen debuted for Essendon in 1991, immediately finding a niche as an attacking defender. His quality was recognised in 1993 when he won the Brownlow Medal for the best and fairest player in the league, the first Aboriginal Australian to do so, as well as being a key player in Essendon's premiership win that year. In 2002, he was voted the 19th best Essendon player of all time in the "Champions of Essendon" list.
[edit] Port Adelaide Power Career (1997–2006)
Wanganeen returned to Port Adelaide in 1997 to captain Port Adelaide and won 11 Brownlow votes, but after his first season injuries conspired to minimise his impact. He relinquished the Port Adelaide captaincy at the end of the 2000 season which saw a return to his best form. In the 2003 season he was favourite to once again win the Brownlow (he finished equal second). In 2004 he won his second premiership medal in Port's first AFL premiership side. Wanganeen played his 300th AFL game in the 2006 season, but then injured his right knee in an SANFL game for the Port Adelaide Magpies, which led him to retire from football.[4] Wanganeen was the first Aboriginal player to play 300 games. He was honoured by the Power by the naming of the best under 21 medal after him, the Gavin Wanganeen Medal.
[edit] Career highlights
- Port Adelaide premiership side 1990
- SANFL Rookie of the Year 1990
AFL
- AFLPA Rookie of the Year 1991
- All-Australian Team 1992, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2003
- Essendon preseason premiership side 1993, 1994
- Michael Tuck Medal 1993
- Brownlow Medal 1993
- Essendon premiership side 1993
- Essendon Team of the Century (back pocket) 1997
- Port Adelaide captain 1997–2000
- Port Adelaide preseason premiership side 2001, 2002
- 'Champions of Essendon' elected 19th, 2002
- Second Brownlow Medal (equal) 2003
- Leigh Matthews Trophy runner-up 2003
- Port Adelaide best and fairest 2003
- 'Inside Football' Player of the Year 2003
- Port Adelaide premiership side 2004
- AFL Life Membership 2004
- Most Outstanding achievement in AFL 2004 (The Deadlys)
- Indigenous Team of the Century Half-Back Flank 2005
- Port Adelaide Life Membership 2006
[edit] Personal life
In 2000 Wanganeen married Stephanie Richards and had two children; a daughter, Mia, and a son, Tex. They separated in 2009.
Gavin has served as a voluntary ambassador for the Australian branch of the White Ribbon Campaign which is a men's campaign that tackles violence against women.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Flanagan, M., "The Davey pacesetters", Real Footy, 9 May 2007. Retrieved on 9 May 2007.
- ^ Ralph, J. "Indigenous superman Gavin Wanganeen blazed a trail", Herald Sun, 4 June 2010. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/indigenous-superman-gavin-wanganeen-blazed-a-trail/story-e6frf9jf-1225875209902 Accessed 4 June 2010.
- ^ Argent, P. "Now an immortal", Koori Mail, 16 June 2010, p. 85.
- ^ [1]
[edit] External links
- Gavin Wanganeen's profile on the Official AFL Website of the Port Adelaide Football Club
- Gavin Wanganeen's statistics from AFL Tables
- Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club
- Port Adelaide Football Club
- The Power From Port - Unofficial Port Adelaide Power and Magpies Football Clubs Website
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Establishment of AFL club
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Port Adelaide Football Club captain 1997–2000 |
Matthew Primus |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by Scott Wynd |
Brownlow Medallist 1993 |
Succeeded by Greg Williams |
| Preceded by Matthew Primus |
John Cahill Medal 2003 |
Succeeded by Warren Tredrea |
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- Australian rules footballers from South Australia
- Essendon Football Club players
- Port Adelaide Football Club players
- Brownlow Medal winners
- All-Australians (AFL)
- South Australian State of Origin players
- Champions of Essendon
- John Cahill Medal winners
- Port Adelaide Magpies players
- Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football
- 1973 births
- Living people
- Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees
