Wayne Schwass

Wayne Schwass
Personal information
Date of birth27 November 1968
Place of birthNew Zealand
Original teamSouth Warrnambool
Height/Weight180 cm / 80 kg
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1988–1997
1998–2002
Total -		North Melbourne
Sydney Swans		184 (97)
98 (57)
282 (154)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 2002 season.
Career highlights

Wayne Schwass (born 27 November 1968) is a former Australian rules football player in the VFL/AFL who debuted in 1988.

He is notable as one of only a few New Zealand-born players of Māori heritage[1] in the history of the VFL/AFL.

Schwass moved from New Zealand at the age of 10 to Warrnambool in Victoria, Australia area where he began playing Australian Rules before being recruited by VFL club Kangaroos.

"Schwatter" was a champion wingman, known for his blistering pace and courage who played in the Kangaroos' 1996 premiership side before becoming a leader in the Sydney Swans side.

In 2006, Schwass announced that he had suffered from depression during his successful AFL career. Since his retirement he has set up The Sunrise Foundation to help other athletes who suffer from depression.

He is now an AFL commentator for Triple M on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons

In 2012 Schwass was a player coach for the New Zealand representative AFL side the NZ Hawks against the Australian AIS. He has long been a great supporter and ambassador for the game in NZ which has had several AFL and a large number of Australian State league players play in the past 5 years.

References

  1. ↑ Māori overseas – Retaining Māori culture in Australia – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Wayne Carey		 North Melbourne Best and Fairest winner
1994–1995 		Succeeded by
Wayne Carey
Preceded by
Michael O'Loughlin		 Sydney Swans Best and Fairest
1999 		Succeeded by
Andrew Schauble