34:
429:. 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 three 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 an
361:
370:
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
465:
Wonaeamirri had a poor 2011 season, partially due to his father's death in May, which derailed his pre-season. He took time off and returned home to the Tiwi
Islands before returning to Melbourne midway through the season and managing to play five matches. At season's end, new coach
405:
which put him on the long-term injury list paved the way for
Wonaeamirri to debut in round 3, 2008 against Geelong. With eight kicks and four 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
478:
Austin
Wonaeamirri likes to return to his home in Tiwi Islands as much as possible. In his free time, he enjoys talking to locals in the community, seeing friends and making kangaroo stews. But it is his passion for hunting
487:
that has inspired his nickname Austin "Turtle" Wonaeamirri within football circles. Coach Dean Bailey raised concerns about Austin's passion for turtle meat which dietitians have said has a high fat content.
1393:
1373:
726:
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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
326:
1388:
1408:
665:
455:
963:
823:
443:
In the off-season, Wonaeamirri returned to
Bathurst Island for the first time since the AFL season where he was held with celebrity status.
1413:
719:
682:
512:
261:, and was also a young member of the club's senior side. He lost his mother at the age of 12 and was brought up by his father, Matthew.
538:
1418:
587:
402:
640:
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nomination for his outstanding performance against the
Dockers. He would ultimately receive one vote to finish tenth for the award.
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In 2009, Wonaeamirri chose to change from guernsey number 39 to 33, a number previously worn by indigenous idols
421:
The breakthrough for
Wonaeamirri was his four goals in the stirring round 7 come-from-behind victory against the
340:
949:
250:
82:
347:
where he was voted the
Territory's best player at the tournament, he attracted the interest of talent scouts.
1403:
407:
283:, as one of their youngest stars. He was a solid contributor for the Bombers during the record thrashing of
1398:
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210:
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In just his first season with
Melbourne, he finished second in the club goalkicking for the year behind
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288:
206:
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257:. He began playing football at the age of six and as a junior, he for Muluwurri Magpies in the
430:
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8:
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That year he represented
Australia's indigenous youth on tour to South Africa with the "
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to increase his chances of being drafted from a more competitive league.
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as a curtainraiser to the "Dreamtime at the 'G" match between the
311:
264:
Wonaeamirri played senior football in both the TIFL and the
1394:
Indigenous
Australian players of Australian rules football
588:"Demon Austin Wonaeamirri picks up Rising Star nomination"
185:
AFL U/18 National Championships (Northern Territory), 2007
1374:
Australian rules footballers from the Northern Territory
332:
After a solid season with Norwood, he nominated for the
410:, he was impressive, kicking two goals. Against the
379:, the brother of Melbourne's forward-cum-midfielder
734:
398:as current Melbourne Demons players from Darwin.
1355:
683:"'Brothers' from the north share an AFL journey"
666:"Heat of historic battle turns boy into a man"
168:Playing statistics correct to the end of 2011.
957:
720:
418:, Wonaeamirri also starred with three goals.
454:. He lost weight and was selected for the
964:
950:
727:
713:
279:He was named in the inaugural list of the
182:U/18 indigenous tour to South Africa, 2006
32:
971:
594:. Australian Associated Press. 6 May 2008
539:"Austin Wonaeamirri to make senior debut"
249:in the remote community of Snake Bay and
188:U/18 Northern Territory best player, 2007
1409:Northern Territory Football Club players
612:
245:Wonaeamirri was born and grew up on the
229:) origin. He previously played for the
221:(born 2 October 1988) is a professional
699:Austin Wonaeamirri's playing statistics
638:
510:
1389:St Mary's Football Club (NTFL) players
1356:
536:
945:
708:
615:"The running man, Austin Wonaeamirri"
513:"Aussie gives Dees a reason to smile"
272:, where he was a junior star for the
287:in their historic encounter at the
38:Austin Wonaeamirri playing for the
13:
1414:Tiwi Bombers Football Club players
613:Robinson, Mark (6 February 2009).
310:in South Australia to play in the
266:Northern Territory Football League
14:
1430:
1419:Sandringham Football Club players
692:
639:Windley, Matt (31 October 2011).
339:After strong performances in the
641:"Dees delist Austin Wonaeamirri"
491:Wonaeamirri's favourite food is
473:
359:
1379:Melbourne Football Club players
664:Gleeson, Michael (5 May 2008).
537:Harris, Amelia (5 April 2008).
470:decided to delist Wonaeamirri.
341:2007 AFL Under 18 Championships
675:
658:
632:
606:
580:
568:
556:
530:
511:Epstein, Jackie (4 May 2008).
504:
302:After being overlooked in the
1:
1384:Norwood Football Club players
498:
350:
240:
672:. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
383:. Despite these things the
259:Tiwi Islands Football League
7:
21:Australian rules footballer
16:Australian rules footballer
10:
1435:
394:He joined Aaron Davey and
270:Darwin, Northern Territory
235:Australian Football League
1325:
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979:
929:
743:
223:Australian rules football
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96:
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31:
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427:Melbourne Cricket Ground
327:South Africa's Buffaloes
289:Melbourne Cricket Ground
565:. December 2008. p. 13.
416:Brisbane Cricket Ground
306:, Wonaeamirri moved to
285:Rumbalara Football Club
274:St Mary's Football Club
231:Melbourne Football Club
98:St Mary's Football Club
577:. Round 9, 2008. p. 9.
373:Essendon Football Club
325:" to play against the
225:player of indigenous (
211:AustralianFootball.com
1129:28. Ashley Arrowsmith
973:2008 AFL rookie draft
431:AFL Rising Star Award
387:picked him up in the
316:Norwood Football Club
114:2007 AFL Rookie Draft
1404:Casey Demons players
1277:53. Matthew Beckmans
1043:13. Luke Casey-Leigh
736:2008 AFL Rising Star
563:MELBOURNEfc Magazine
458:to play against the
456:Indigenous All-Stars
89:, Northern Territory
48:Personal information
1399:Tiwi Islands people
1034:11. Hugh Sandilands
1292:56. Michael Wundke
1086:Austin Wonaeamirri
345:Northern Territory
219:Austin Wonaeamirri
56:Austin Wonaeamirri
27:Austin Wonaeamirri
1351:
1350:
1268:51. Khan Haretuku
1230:46. Chris Kangars
1215:43. Will Sullivan
1166:Tristan Cartledge
939:
938:
389:2007 Rookie draft
336:later that year.
323:Flying Boomerangs
216:
215:
174:Career highlights
1426:
1332:60. James Wilsen
1199:Andrew McQualter
1144:31. Daniel Boyle
1081:18. Lachlan Hill
1077:Jarrod Silvester
1022:8. Glenn Chivers
966:
959:
952:
943:
942:
922:
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385:Melbourne Demons
363:
293:Essendon Bombers
154:
94:Original team(s)
74:
70:
68:
42:in February 2016
36:
24:
23:
1434:
1433:
1429:
1428:
1427:
1425:
1424:
1423:
1354:
1353:
1352:
1347:
1321:
1312:58. Aaron Bruce
1301:
1252:Michael Shields
1233:
1209:41. Jake Orreal
1153:
1095:Jarrod Atkinson
1090:20. Henry White
1064:
1039:Lewis Stevenson
1030:Matthew O'Dwyer
988:Clayton Collard
975:
970:
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917:
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829:
821:
813:
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797:
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781:
773:
763:
755:
747:
739:
733:
701:from AFL Tables
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659:
649:
647:
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633:
623:
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611:
607:
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531:
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519:
509:
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501:
485:flatback turtle
476:
408:North Melbourne
368:
367:
366:
365:
364:
353:
297:Richmond Tigers
255:Melville Island
243:
200:
192:AFL Rising Star
169:
153:2008–2011
152:
116:
87:Melville Island
72:
66:
64:
43:
22:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1432:
1422:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1345:
1339:
1333:
1329:
1327:
1323:
1322:
1320:
1319:
1313:
1309:
1307:
1303:
1302:
1300:
1299:
1293:
1290:
1284:
1282:Cameron Stokes
1278:
1275:
1269:
1266:
1260:
1254:
1248:
1241:
1239:
1235:
1234:
1232:
1231:
1228:
1222:
1216:
1213:
1212:42. Alex Grima
1210:
1207:
1201:
1195:
1189:
1183:
1180:
1174:
1168:
1161:
1159:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1151:
1149:Jeremy Laidler
1145:
1142:
1140:Cruize Garlett
1136:
1130:
1127:
1124:
1122:Brendan Murphy
1118:
1116:Jared Petrenko
1112:
1106:
1105:23. Pat Garner
1103:
1097:
1091:
1088:
1082:
1079:
1072:
1070:
1066:
1065:
1063:
1062:
1056:
1050:
1044:
1041:
1035:
1032:
1026:
1023:
1020:
1017:
1015:Brent Connelly
1011:
1005:
1003:James Mulligan
999:
998:3. Trent Zomer
996:
990:
983:
981:
977:
976:
969:
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693:External links
691:
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685:. 23 May 2011.
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605:
579:
567:
555:
529:
502:
500:
497:
475:
472:
460:Adelaide Crows
412:Brisbane Lions
396:Matthew Whelan
358:
357:
356:
355:
354:
352:
349:
304:2006 AFL Draft
242:
239:
214:
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149:
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132:Playing career
129:
128:
127:Forward pocket
125:
121:
120:
112:19th overall,
110:
106:
105:
95:
91:
90:
80:
79:Place of birth
76:
75:
71:2 October 1988
62:
58:
57:
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53:Full name
50:
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1369:Living people
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1304:
1298:
1297:Shane Mumford
1294:
1291:
1289:
1288:Callum Wilson
1285:
1283:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1273:Brodie Martin
1270:
1267:
1265:
1261:
1259:
1258:Shane Valenti
1255:
1253:
1249:
1247:
1246:Cameron Howat
1243:
1242:
1240:
1236:
1229:
1227:
1223:
1221:
1217:
1214:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1202:
1200:
1196:
1194:
1193:Pearce Hanley
1190:
1188:
1187:Calib Mourish
1184:
1182:36. John Shaw
1181:
1179:
1175:
1173:
1169:
1167:
1163:
1162:
1160:
1156:
1150:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1137:
1135:
1131:
1128:
1126:27. Tim Walsh
1125:
1123:
1119:
1117:
1113:
1111:
1107:
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1102:
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1057:
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1051:
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1042:
1040:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1027:
1025:9. James Moss
1024:
1021:
1019:7. Phil Smith
1018:
1016:
1012:
1010:
1006:
1004:
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997:
995:
991:
989:
985:
984:
982:
978:
974:
967:
962:
960:
955:
953:
948:
947:
944:
934:denote winner
933:
928:
921:
916:
913:
908:
905:
900:
897:
892:
889:
884:
881:
876:
873:
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841:
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804:
801:
796:
793:
788:
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780:
777:
772:
769:
768:
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759:
754:
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746:
745:
742:
737:
730:
725:
723:
718:
716:
711:
710:
707:
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697:
696:
684:
678:
671:
667:
661:
646:
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616:
609:
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589:
583:
576:
571:
564:
559:
544:
540:
533:
518:
514:
507:
503:
496:
494:
489:
486:
482:
474:Personal life
471:
469:
463:
461:
457:
453:
452:Byron Pickett
449:
444:
441:
439:
434:
432:
428:
424:
419:
417:
413:
409:
404:
401:An injury to
399:
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378:
374:
362:
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197:
193:
190:
187:
184:
181:
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177:
172:
165:
161:
159:
156:
150:
147:
146:Games (Goals)
144:
142:
139:
135:
130:
122:
119:
115:
107:
103:
99:
92:
88:
84:
77:
73:(age 35)
61:Date of birth
59:
51:
46:
41:
35:
30:
25:
19:
1337:Dean Terlich
1238:Fourth round
1226:Ryan Willits
1178:Jake Spencer
1172:David Ellard
1085:
1069:Second round
1060:Brodie Moles
1048:Nathan Grima
994:Aaron Joseph
931:
799:
765:
677:
669:
660:
648:. Retrieved
644:
634:
622:. Retrieved
618:
608:
596:. Retrieved
591:
582:
574:
570:
562:
558:
546:. Retrieved
542:
532:
520:. Retrieved
516:
506:
493:magpie goose
490:
477:
464:
445:
442:
435:
420:
400:
393:
369:
338:
331:
320:
301:
281:Tiwi Bombers
278:
263:
247:Tiwi Islands
244:
218:
217:
145:
140:
40:Tiwi Bombers
18:
1364:1988 births
1326:Sixth round
1317:Beau Wilkes
1306:Fifth round
1158:Third round
1054:Nick Salter
980:First round
800:Wonaeamirri
481:sea turtles
448:Jeff Farmer
438:Brad Miller
403:Jack Grimes
381:Aaron Davey
377:Alwyn Davey
124:Position(s)
1358:Categories
1343:Ryan Davis
1264:Ryley Dunn
1134:Kevin Dyas
1110:Luke Miles
1101:Luke Pratt
1009:Rhys Magin
650:31 October
645:Herald Sun
624:31 October
619:Herald Sun
598:31 October
592:Herald Sun
575:AFL Record
548:31 October
543:Herald Sun
522:31 October
517:Herald Sun
499:References
483:including
468:Mark Neeld
351:AFL career
251:Milikapiti
241:Early life
207:AFL Tables
83:Milikapiti
67:1988-10-02
1220:Alan Obst
1205:Ed Curnow
904:C. Morton
848:J. Morton
423:Fremantle
334:AFL Draft
205:Sources:
194:Nominee,
158:Melbourne
118:Melbourne
912:Dalziell
888:Urquhart
864:Riewoldt
816:Ibbotson
784:McKinley
738:nominees
343:for the
314:for the
308:Adelaide
932:Italics
920:Carlile
918:Rd 22:
910:Rd 21:
902:Rd 20:
894:Rd 19:
886:Rd 18:
878:Rd 17:
872:Reimers
870:Rd 16:
862:Rd 15:
856:Garland
854:Rd 14:
846:Rd 13:
840:Cotchin
838:Rd 12:
832:Kreuzer
830:Rd 11:
822:Rd 10:
808:Tippett
670:The Age
425:at the
414:at the
237:(AFL).
233:in the
162:31 (37)
814:Rd 9:
806:Rd 8:
798:Rd 7:
790:Rd 6:
782:Rd 5:
774:Rd 4:
767:Palmer
764:Rd 3:
756:Rd 2:
748:Rd 1:
896:Grigg
880:Ebert
824:Brown
792:Rioli
750:Houli
375:star
312:SANFL
253:, on
137:Years
109:Draft
1341:62.
1335:61.
1315:59.
1295:57.
1286:55.
1280:54.
1271:52.
1262:50.
1256:49.
1250:48.
1244:47.
1224:45.
1218:44.
1203:40.
1197:39.
1191:38.
1185:37.
1176:35.
1170:34.
1164:33.
1147:32.
1138:30.
1132:29.
1120:26.
1114:25.
1108:24.
1099:22.
1093:21.
1084:19.
1075:17.
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