Gavin Wanganeen plays his 300th AFL game this Saturday. It's time to salute the little champ who has achieved so much at two great clubs.
Gavin started his career at Port Adelaide in the SANFL, moved to Essendon in the AFL in 1991 and won a premiership with the Bombers, a Brownlow medal, a best and fairest, a Michael Tuck medal and was three times selected in the All Australian side. He played 127 games for the club from Windy Hill.
He returned to Port in 1997 and was the first captain of the club in the AFL. He won a Premiership, two pre season flags, captained the club for four years and gained another All Australian selection.
He was selected in the AFL Indigenous Players team of the century and has also won the AFL Players Association's Robert Rose Award for the Most Courageous Player.
Mark Williams has this to say about Wangas..."someone who doesn't know how to play the game unless it is flat-out".
"He has a brilliant ability to win the ball when it is not his, he has super speed and great agility, and he can play in most positions on the field," Williams said.
"Gavin's all-round ability has been outstanding, and a delight to coach. He has lasted the test of time, and he has a great sense of humour. He is a humble player and a humble person. He treats people properly and with respect. He shows great care and understanding for people."
Kevin Sheedy also has nothing but praise for Wanganeen...
Sheedy's praise for Wanganeen
Monday 27 March 2006
Paul Gough
Sportal for afl.com.au
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has led the praise for Port Adelaide's Gavin Wanganeen, who becomes the first Aboriginal player in league history to notch up 300 games when the Power opens its 2006 campaign against the Kangaroos on Saturday night.
Wanganeen, who becomes the 46th player overall to reach the treasured mark, played his first 127 games under Sheedy at Essendon from 1991-96 before returning to join Port - for whom he played in the SANFL - when the club was admitted to the AFL in 1997.
During his time at Essendon, Wanganeen not only played in the club's 1993 premiership win but capped off a memorable double that year by also winning the Brownlow Medal.
Sheedy recalled on Monday just how well Wanganeen, then just 19, adapted at the start of the 1993 season to his new position of back pocket.
"He had never played in the back pocket and he said to me 'coach, I don't know how to play there' and I said 'go and try it'," Sheedy said.
Sheedy said he rates Wanganeen as one of the three best players he has coached at Essendon during his 25-year tenure, bracketing him alongside James Hird and Tim Watson.
But it is Wanganeen's longevity he admires as much as his skill and courage, best summed up by his starring roles in two premiership wins (Essendon in 1993 and Port Adelaide in 2004) more than a decade apart.
"It's just a sensational effort," Sheedy said.
"Not too many Aboriginal players play for ten years let alone play in premierships ten years apart."
Wanganeen, who has already declared this year will be his last, still managed 23 games last season with the 32-year-old still picking up an average of 16 touches per match.
A member of the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century, he has also been an All-Australian on five occasions, won Port's best and fairest award in 2003 and captained the Power from 1997-2000.
Congratulations Gavin Wanganeen on an outstanding career and best wishes for game number 300.
Gavin started his career at Port Adelaide in the SANFL, moved to Essendon in the AFL in 1991 and won a premiership with the Bombers, a Brownlow medal, a best and fairest, a Michael Tuck medal and was three times selected in the All Australian side. He played 127 games for the club from Windy Hill.
He returned to Port in 1997 and was the first captain of the club in the AFL. He won a Premiership, two pre season flags, captained the club for four years and gained another All Australian selection.
He was selected in the AFL Indigenous Players team of the century and has also won the AFL Players Association's Robert Rose Award for the Most Courageous Player.
Mark Williams has this to say about Wangas..."someone who doesn't know how to play the game unless it is flat-out".
"He has a brilliant ability to win the ball when it is not his, he has super speed and great agility, and he can play in most positions on the field," Williams said.
"Gavin's all-round ability has been outstanding, and a delight to coach. He has lasted the test of time, and he has a great sense of humour. He is a humble player and a humble person. He treats people properly and with respect. He shows great care and understanding for people."
Kevin Sheedy also has nothing but praise for Wanganeen...
Sheedy's praise for Wanganeen
Monday 27 March 2006
Paul Gough
Sportal for afl.com.au
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has led the praise for Port Adelaide's Gavin Wanganeen, who becomes the first Aboriginal player in league history to notch up 300 games when the Power opens its 2006 campaign against the Kangaroos on Saturday night.
Wanganeen, who becomes the 46th player overall to reach the treasured mark, played his first 127 games under Sheedy at Essendon from 1991-96 before returning to join Port - for whom he played in the SANFL - when the club was admitted to the AFL in 1997.
During his time at Essendon, Wanganeen not only played in the club's 1993 premiership win but capped off a memorable double that year by also winning the Brownlow Medal.
Sheedy recalled on Monday just how well Wanganeen, then just 19, adapted at the start of the 1993 season to his new position of back pocket.
"He had never played in the back pocket and he said to me 'coach, I don't know how to play there' and I said 'go and try it'," Sheedy said.
Sheedy said he rates Wanganeen as one of the three best players he has coached at Essendon during his 25-year tenure, bracketing him alongside James Hird and Tim Watson.
But it is Wanganeen's longevity he admires as much as his skill and courage, best summed up by his starring roles in two premiership wins (Essendon in 1993 and Port Adelaide in 2004) more than a decade apart.
"It's just a sensational effort," Sheedy said.
"Not too many Aboriginal players play for ten years let alone play in premierships ten years apart."
Wanganeen, who has already declared this year will be his last, still managed 23 games last season with the 32-year-old still picking up an average of 16 touches per match.
A member of the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century, he has also been an All-Australian on five occasions, won Port's best and fairest award in 2003 and captained the Power from 1997-2000.
Congratulations Gavin Wanganeen on an outstanding career and best wishes for game number 300.
