Gerrick Weedon facts for kids

Gerrick Peter Weedon was born on May 25, 1991. He is an Australian rules football player who used to play for the Claremont Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He also played one game for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Gerrick came from the Kimberley area in Western Australia. He moved to Perth to play football for Claremont. The West Coast Eagles then chose him in the 2009 AFL Draft. He played his only AFL game in 2011. Most of his time was spent playing in the WAFL. He helped Claremont win championships in 2011 and 2012. He left the West Coast Eagles at the end of the 2012 season.

Gerrick Weedon's Football Journey

Gerrick grew up in towns called Broome and Tom Price in northern Western Australia. He is an Indigenous Australian. His family has strong ties to the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation and the Martu Idja Banyjima Charitable Trust.

Early Days and College Football

Gerrick started school at St Mary's College in Broome. He was part of the first group in the West Kimberley Football Academy in 2006. Later, he moved to Perth for high school. He attended Clontarf Aboriginal College, where he was also in their football program.

Because he was from the Kimberley region, Gerrick was linked to the Claremont Football Club in the WAFL. He played for Claremont's under-18 team, called the "colts," in 2008 and 2009. In 2009, his team won the premiership against Perth.

Achievements in Junior Football

At the end of the 2009 season, Gerrick was named in the WAFL's Colts Team of the Year. He played 19 games that season and kicked 26 goals. He also represented Western Australia in one game. This was at the 2009 National Under-18 Championships.

Joining the AFL: West Coast Eagles

The West Coast Eagles picked Gerrick Weedon in the 2009 AFL Draft. He was the 22nd player chosen overall. He had an injury early on, so he missed some training. In 2010, he mostly played for Claremont's reserves team. He did play four senior games for Claremont that year.

In 2011, Gerrick played in the NAB Cup, which is a pre-season tournament for AFL teams. He started the season playing well for Claremont's senior team, kicking 10 goals in his first five games. He then got his chance to play for the West Coast Eagles.

AFL Debut and Return to WAFL Success

Gerrick made his AFL debut in round seven of the 2011 season. He came on as a substitute player in the last quarter. He had three disposals (touches of the ball) and made two tackles in his limited time. After this game, he returned to the WAFL.

He played in all of Claremont's remaining games for the 2011 season. Claremont won the premiership in the 2011 Grand Final. Gerrick had 16 possessions and made five tackles in that big win. He also played in two Foxtel Cup matches.

In 2012, Gerrick did not play any senior games for West Coast. He played 18 league games for Claremont. He also played in Claremont's premiership-winning team again that year. He was delisted, meaning he was no longer on the team, by West Coast at the end of the 2012 season.

Playing Style and Strengths

Gerrick Weedon usually played as a forward pocket or across the half-forward line. He is 182 centimeters tall and weighs 83 kilograms. Before he was drafted in 2009, people described him as a "hard-working forward." They noted he was "extremely strong in the air," meaning he was good at catching high balls.

He also had good "vision and awareness" when there were many players around him. His coaches also praised his "sound defensive pressure skills." At the 2009 AFL Draft Camp, he performed very well in the running vertical jump test.

After being drafted, Gerrick said he wanted to be like David Wirrpanda. Wirrpanda was a famous player for West Coast. Gerrick was even given the number 44 jersey, which was Wirrpanda's number. His coach at Claremont, Simon McPhee, described Gerrick as "very strong overhead" and "good in one-on-ones." He also called him "our top tackler at Claremont."