Gerrick Weedon facts for kids

Gerrick Peter Weedon (born 25 May 1991) is an Australian rules footballer. He 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 grew up in the Kimberley area of Western Australia. He moved to Perth to play football for Claremont. The West Coast Eagles chose him in the 2009 AFL Draft. He was the 22nd player picked overall.

Even though he played for the Eagles, Gerrick spent most of his time with Claremont. He helped Claremont win two WAFL premierships in 2011 and 2012. A premiership is like winning the championship. He left the West Coast Eagles team at the end of the 2012 season.

Gerrick's Early Life and Football Journey

Gerrick Weedon grew up in towns called Broome and Tom Price. These towns are in the northern part of Western Australia. Gerrick is an Indigenous Australian.

He started school at St Mary's College in Broome. In 2006, he joined the first group at the West Kimberley Football Academy. Later, he moved to Perth for high school. He went to Clontarf Aboriginal College. There, he was part of the school's football academy.

Playing for Claremont

Because Gerrick was from the Kimberley region, he was linked to the Claremont Football Club. This is part of the WAFL's "zoning" rules. He played for Claremont's colts team in 2008 and 2009. The colts team is for players under 18 years old.

In 2009, his team won the premiership against Peel Thunder. At the end of 2009, Gerrick was named in the WAFL's Colts Team of the Year. He played 19 games and kicked 26 goals that season.

Gerrick also played one game for Western Australia in 2009. This was at the National Under-18 Championships. He played against Victoria Metro and kicked one goal.

Playing in the AFL

The West Coast Eagles picked Gerrick in the 2009 AFL Draft. He was the 22nd player chosen overall. He missed much of his first pre-season training because of an injury.

In 2010, he played mostly for Claremont's reserves team. He did play four senior games for Claremont that year.

First AFL Game

In 2011, Gerrick played in the pre-season tournament for West Coast. He started the season well with Claremont, kicking 10 goals in five games. He then got to play his first AFL game for West Coast.

He was a "substitute" for the game. This means he started on the bench and came on later. He played in the final quarter. He had three "disposals" (kicks or handballs) and made two tackles.

After his AFL game, he went back to playing for Claremont. He played in all their remaining games that season. He helped Claremont win the 2011 WAFL Grand Final. He had 16 possessions and made five tackles in that big game.

Final Season and Beyond

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.

At the end of the 2012 season, Gerrick was "delisted" by West Coast. This means the club decided not to keep him on their team.

Gerrick's Playing Style

Gerrick usually played as a "forward pocket" or on the "half-forward line." These are positions where players try to kick goals. He is 182 centimeters tall and weighs 83 kilograms.

Before he was drafted in 2009, people described him as a "hard-working forward." They said he was "extremely strong in the air," meaning he was good at catching high balls. He also had good "vision" and could put "defensive pressure" on opponents.

At the 2009 AFL Draft Camp, he did very well in the running vertical jump test. After being drafted, Gerrick said he wanted to be like David Wirrpanda. Wirrpanda was a famous West Coast Eagles player. Gerrick was even given Wirrpanda's old jersey number, 44.

His coach at Claremont, Simon McPhee, said Gerrick was "very strong overhead." He also called him "our top tackler at Claremont."

In 2012, Gerrick played well in a pre-season tournament. Some people thought he might replace injured player Mark LeCras in the forward line. West Coast's coach, John Worsfold, said Gerrick was "physically more prepared" to play at the top level.