Sanford Wheeler
Sydney
AFL career
43 games7 goals
- Debut
- R6 1989 v STK6 May 1989
- Most recent
- R13 1994 v FSC19 June 1994
Stats
1994 | SYD | 7 | 7.4 | 4.4 | 11.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 42 |
1993 | SYD | 12 | 9.3 | 4.3 | 13.5 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 48 |
1992 | SYD | 10 | 7.2 | 2.6 | 9.8 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 38 |
1991 | SYD | 1 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 22 |
1990 | SYD | 11 | 9.2 | 2.8 | 12.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 45 |
1989 | SYD | 2 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 27 |
Bio
Born in Lynwood, California, Sanford Wheeler holds a unique place in VFL/AFL history as the league's first African-American player. After moving to western Sydney as a child, he was recruited from St George and emerged as a rare local talent during a chaotic period for the Sydney Swans in the late 1980s. Predominantly playing as a rebounding defender or on the wing, Wheeler relied on his raw athleticism and pace to compete at the top level, though he often battled for consistency in a struggling side. He debuted in 1989 and became a cult hero at the SCG, distinguishing himself with his distinctive dreadlocks and enthusiastic approach. However, he found it difficult to cement a permanent spot in the senior 22 and was eventually delisted at the conclusion of the 1994 season, leaving a legacy defined more by his pioneering background than his statistical output.
Profile
- Born
- 06 Apr 1970
- Died
- 10 Mar 2020 (aged 49y 339d)
- Birthplace
- Lynwood, CA, USA
- Deathplace
- California, United States
- Height
- 186 cm
- Weight
- 90 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionBorn in Lynwood, California, Sanford Wheeler holds a unique place in VFL/AFL history as the league's first African-American player. After moving to western Sydney as a child, he was recruited from St George and emerged as a rare local talent during a chaotic period for the Sydney Swans in the late 1980s. Predominantly playing as a rebounding defender or on the wing, Wheeler relied on his raw athleticism and pace to compete at the top level, though he often battled for consistency in a struggling side. He debuted in 1989 and became a cult hero at the SCG, distinguishing himself with his distinctive dreadlocks and enthusiastic approach. However, he found it difficult to cement a permanent spot in the senior 22 and was eventually delisted at the conclusion of the 1994 season, leaving a legacy defined more by his pioneering background than his statistical output.