Austin Wonaeamirri

Infobox afl player NEW
playername = Austin Wonaeamirri
fullname = Austin Wonaeamirri
image capt = Austin Wonaeamirri in action for AFL Mel


birthdate = birth date and age|1988|10|02|df=y
birthplace = Milikapiti, Melville Island, Northern Territory
originalteam = Norwood (SANFL)/St Marys Football Club (NTFL)
draftpick = 19^th overall, 2007 AFL Rookie Draft
AFL Mel
heightweight = 173cm / 72kg
position = Midfielder
dead = alive
deathdate =
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currentclub = AFL Mel
guernsey = 39
years = 2008 –
clubs = AFL Mel
games(goals) = 18 (24)
sooyears =
sooteams =
soogames(goals) =
nationalyears =
nationalteams =
nationalgames(goals) =
coach = notcoach
coachyears =
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coachgames(wins) =
statsend = 2008
careerhighlights =

* U/18 indigenous tour to South Africa, 2006
* AFL U/18 National Championships (Northern Territory), 2007
* U/18 Northern Territory best player, 2007
* NAB AFL Rising Star Nominee, R7 2008

Austin Wonaeamirri (born 2 October 1988) is an Indigenous (Tiwi) Australian rules football player. He currently plays for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Early career

Wonaeamirri was born and grew up on the Tiwi Islands in the remote community of Snake Bay and Milikapiti, on Melville Island. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23639256-19742,00.html Aussie gives Dees a reason to smile] ] He began playing football at the age of six [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23486645-19769,00.html Austin Wonaeamirri to make senior debut | Herald Sun ] ] and as a junior, he played in the Tiwi Islands Football League.

Wonaeamirri played senior football in both the TIFL and the Northern Territory Football League in Darwin, Northern Territory, where he was a junior star for the St Marys Football Club.

He was named in the inaugural list of the Tiwi Bombers, as one of their youngest stars. He was a solid contributor for the Bombers during the record thrashing of Rumbalara Football Club in their historic encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as a curtainraiser to the "Dreamtime at the 'G" match between the Essendon Bombers and Richmond Tigers.

After being overlooked in the 2006 AFL Draft, Wonaeamirri moved to Adelaide in South Australia to play in the SANFL for the Norwood Football Club to increase his chances of being drafted from a more competitive league.

That year he represented Australia's indigenous youth on tour to South Africa with the "Flying Boomerangs" to play against the South Africa's Buffaloes. [AFL Record. Round 9, 2008. pg 9]

After a solid season with Norwood, he nominated for the AFL Draft later that year.

After strong performances in the 2007 AFL National Under 18 Championships for the Northern Territory where he was voted the Territory's best player at the tournament, he attracted the interest of talent scouts.

AFL career

The small crumbing forward was tipped by some to be selected in the national draft with his pace and ability to apply forward line pressure, run down opponents, ballwinning ability and skills on both sides of the body being a feature of his game. Some were critical of him being slightly overweight for an AFL footballer, while his short stature may have put some clubs off. Others likened him to the Davey brothers, and in particular, the shorter but speedy Essendon Football Club star Alwyn Davey, the brother of Melbourne's goalsneak Aaron Davey. Despite these things the Melbourne Demons picked him up in the 2007 Rookie draft.

He joined Aaron Davey and Matthew Whelan as current Melbourne Demons players from Darwin.

An injury to Jack Grimes which put him on the long term injury list paved the way for Wonaeamirri to debut in round 3 against Geelong. With 8 kicks and 4 tackles, the short forward did enough to earn him a spot and play consecutive matches in the next few games. In his second game against North Melbourne, he was impressive, kicking 2 goals. Against the Brisbane Lions at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, Wonaeamirri also starred with 3 goals.

The breakthrough for Wonaeamirri was his 4 goals in the stirring round 7 come from behind victory against the Fremantle Dockers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. One of his goals was at a critical point in the game, helping his team steal the lead for the first time in the game and for good. His final quarter produced a total of 3 goals, when the game was still in the balance. With his enthusiastic celebrations he established himself as a cult figure, with many nicknaming him "Aussie" and "Wonna". He picked up the AFL Rising Star Award for his outstanding performance against the Dockers. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23653404-11088,00.html Demon Austin Wonaeamirri picks up Rising Star nomination] ]

Austin Wonaeamirri likes to return to his home in Tiwi Islands as much as possible. In his freetime, he enjoys talking to locals in the community, seeing friends and making stews. But it is his passion for hunting sea turtles including Flatback Turtle that has inspired his nickname Austin 'turtle' Wonaeamirri within football circles. Coach Dean Bailey has recently raised concerns about Austin's passion for turtle meat which dietitians have said has a high fat content.

References

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