Australian Football

Recruited by North Melbourne from South Warrnambool, New Zealand-born Wayne Schwass was an exceptional junior talent who won the 1987 Morrish Medal for the best and fairest player in the VFL under 19s competition. That same year he captained the Kangaroos to the VFL under 19 premiership, before making his senior debut in 1988.

Over the course of a 10-season, 184 game career with North Schwass was indisputably, and consistently, one of that club's leading lights, winning the club champion award, the Syd Barker Medal, in 1994 and 1995, and being one of the best players afield in the 1996 Grand Final victory over Sydney.

Ironically, a couple of seasons later Schwass found himself shunted to Sydney in exchange for Shannon Grant, but any thoughts that he may have passed his 'sell by date' were rapidly dispelled. In 1999 he enjoyed arguably his finest season to date, winning the Swans best and fairest award, and earning AFL All Australian selection.

A Victorian state of origin representative on several occasions, Schwass was an elegant, purposeful left footer who knew where the ball was and utilised it impeccably. Possessing evasive skills of the highest order, Schwass nevertheless was not averse to 'mixing it' when occasion demanded. He remained an integral part of the Sydney engine room until persistent injuries and a diminished desire to play at the top level led to his retirement, after 98 games for the club, in 2002.

Author - John Devaney