David Schwarz (footballer)

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David "The Ox" Schwarz (born July 24, 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer who retired in 2003.

[edit] Football career

Recruited from Sunbury, Schwarz made his AFL debut in 1991. As a player for the Melbourne Football Club, he was known as "the Ox" for his beast-like build. He was a great centre half-forward or full-forward and was a top player until he suffered numerous injuries, including missing 9 games of the 1996 season. He retired at the end of 2003.

Schwarz overcame 3 knee reconstructions after being touted as the games next superstars, taking more marks than Wayne Carey in 1994, and with some breathtaking finals performances (including "that" blind turn against Carlton). He was clearly destined for superstardom before injuries struck him down in his prime, although he still won a club best and fairest and selection in Victoria's State of Origin team.

Late in his playing career, he appeared as a panelist on the AFL Footy Show in a memorable show where Sam Newman threw a pie in his face. A visibly angry Schwarz pushed Newman down to the ground and stormed off stage. He has later made light of the incident, declaring it to be a hoax as they planned it in rehearsal.

[edit] SEN

In 2005, in his job on radio station SEN 1116, he admitted that during his football career he had a gambling problem and whittled away most of his income.