Gavin Wanganeen facts for kids

Gavin Adrian Wanganeen (born 18 June 1973) is a famous former Australian rules football player. After he stopped playing, he became a talented artist. He played for the Essendon Football Club and Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He also played for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).

Gavin Wanganeen won the Brownlow Medal and is in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. He was the first captain for Port Adelaide when they joined the AFL in 1997. He is also the first Indigenous Australian footballer to win the Brownlow Medal. He was also the first Indigenous player to play 300 senior games in the VFL/AFL.

Since retiring from football, Wanganeen has focused on painting. His art explores his Kokatha heritage. In 2019, he was an ambassador for the Adelaide Fringe festival.

Early Life and Football Start

Gavin Adrian Wanganeen was born on 18 June 1973 in Mount Gambier. His family loved football; his great-grandfather played for the Koonibba Football Club. This club was near Ceduna in South Australia.

His family belongs to the Kokatha people. They moved from Mount Gambier to Port Lincoln for a few years. When Gavin was five, they moved again to Salisbury, a suburb of Adelaide.

Gavin played junior football for Salisbury North. He also went to Salisbury East High School. At just 14, Wanganeen joined the Port Adelaide Under-17s team in the SANFL.

Football Career Highlights

Playing for Port Adelaide (1990)

Gavin Wanganeen made his first senior SANFL game for Port Adelaide in 1990. He was only 16 years old, making him one of the youngest players ever drafted. The 1990 SANFL season was the last year the SANFL was the top football league in South Australia.

He played 24 games and kicked 46 goals. He won the SANFL Rookie of the Year award. He also played a key role in Port Adelaide's 1990 SANFL Grand Final win, kicking two goals.

Time with Essendon (1991–1996)

The Essendon Football Club quickly saw Gavin Wanganeen's talent. Their coach, Kevin Sheedy, really wanted him to join the team. Essendon picked Wanganeen with the 12th pick in the 1989 VFL Draft.

Wanganeen played his first game for Essendon in 1991, in a win against Richmond. In 1993, Essendon, known as the "Baby Bombers," won their 15th AFL premiership. Wanganeen had an amazing year. His brave attacking style from defense was a big part of Essendon's success.

He won his first of five All-Australian awards that year. Then, he won the 1993 Brownlow Medal, which is given to the league's best and fairest player. He was the first Indigenous Australian footballer to win this award. At 20 years old, he was one of the youngest Brownlow winners in a long time. He also helped South Australia win the State of Origin Carnival Championship that year.

Return to Port Adelaide (1997–2006)

Wanganeen went back to Port Adelaide in 1997. He became the club's 59th captain and their first captain in the AFL. He continued to play well, even though injuries sometimes affected his game.

He stopped being captain at the end of the 2000 AFL season. In 2003, he was a favorite to win the Brownlow Medal again, finishing second. In 2004, Wanganeen won his second AFL premiership medal. This was Port Adelaide's first AFL premiership.

Wanganeen played his 300th AFL game in the 2006 AFL season. Soon after, he injured his right knee in an SANFL game. This injury led him to retire from football. He was the first Aboriginal player to play 300 AFL games.

Life After Football

Art Career

After his football career ended, Wanganeen found a new passion: art. He has become a very good visual artist. By 2018, he had two solo art exhibitions. Much of his artwork decorates his home in Adelaide.

His second exhibition, called Through the Stars, was part of the 2018 South Australian Living Artists Festival. In April 2025, Wanganeen partnered with Nordic Design Furniture. His artwork is now displayed in their showroom.

Other Activities

In 2013, Wanganeen became the senior coach for Pulteney Grammar School's football team. He also owned three Anytime Fitness gyms.

He was a volunteer ambassador for the Australian branch of the White Ribbon Campaign. This campaign works to stop violence against women. He also took part in a "Cycling for Culture" event in 2013. This event raised awareness and funds for the Kaurna language, highlighting its importance to Aboriginal well-being.

In February 2019, Wanganeen was one of three ambassadors for the Adelaide Fringe festival. He appeared in a talk show there. In 2021, Wanganeen was a contestant on the TV show Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn. He was part of the Brawn tribe. In May 2023, he competed on the twentieth series of Dancing with the Stars.

Recognition and Legacy

The Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Scholarship (GWIS) was created in 2005. It helps Indigenous students who face challenges to get a university degree.

The Gavin Wanganeen Medal was started in 2006. It is given to the best Port Adelaide Football Club player under 21 years old.

Personal Life

Gavin Wanganeen first married Stephanie Richards. They have a daughter and a son, Tex, who also plays football.

Wanganeen married Pippa Hanson in July 2012. They have four daughters together. Gavin is the first cousin of AFL players Aaron and Alwyn Davey. He is also a third cousin of actress Natasha Wanganeen.

Football Honours and Achievements

Essendon Football Club

Team Awards

• AFL Premiership (Essendon): 1993
• McClelland Trophy (Essendon): 1993
• Pre-Season Cup (Essendon): 1993, 1994

Individual Awards

• Champions of Essendon - No. 19
• Essendon F.C. Team of the Century - Back Pocket

Port Adelaide Football Club

Team Awards

• AFL Premiership (Port Adelaide): 2004
• SANFL Premiership (Port Adelaide): 1990
• McClelland Trophy (Port Adelaide): 2002, 2003, 2004
• Pre-Season Cup (Port Adelaide): 2001, 2002

Individual Awards

• John Cahill Medal (Port Adelaide F.C. Best & Fairest): 2003
• Port Adelaide F.C. Captain: 1997–2000
• Port Adelaide F.C Life Membership Recipient: 2006
• SANFL Rookie of the Year: 1990

Other Individual Awards

• Brownlow Medal: 1993
• All-Australian: 1992, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2003
• Michael Tuck Medal: 1993
• Inside Football - Player of the Year: 2003
• Deadly Awards - Most Outstanding Achievement in AFL: 2004
• Indigenous Team of the Century - Half-Back Flank
• AFL Life Membership Recipient: 2004

See Also

• Gavin Wanganeen Medal