Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Wayne Schwass

Known as
Wayne Schwass

Born
27 November 1968 (age 55)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 127d
Last game: 33y 200d

Height and weight
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
North Melbourne; Sydney

Jumper numbers
North Melbourne: 46, 2
Sydney: 2

Recruited from
South Warrnambool (1988); North Melbourne (1998)

Wayne Schwass

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
North MelbourneV/AFL1988-1997184970.5355%13.986.632.5388
SydneyAFL1998-200298570.5849%15.567.293.6149
V/AFL1988-20022821540.5553%14.536.862.91137
Total1988-20022821540.5553%14.536.862.91137

AFL: 9,910th player to appear, 135th most games played, 628th most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 788th player to appear, 38th most games played, 74th most goals kickedSydney: 1,285th player to appear, 147th most games played, 129th most goals kicked

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

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.