Sharrod Wellingham facts for kids

Sharrod Wellingham (born 7 July 1988) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He played for two big teams: the Collingwood Football Club and the West Coast Eagles. Both teams are part of the top Australian rules football league, the Australian Football League (AFL).

Sharrod was known for being a fast player who could run well on the wing (a position on the side of the field). He came from Western Australia and was one of several Indigenous footballers on the Collingwood team. He was chosen by Collingwood in the 2006 AFL Rookie draft.

Sharrod Wellingham's Football Journey

Starting His AFL Career

When Sharrod first joined Collingwood, he spent his first year playing for their partner team, Williamstown. This team plays in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Even though he played well, there were rules about how many AFL players could play in certain VFL games.

Later in 2007, Sharrod was moved up to Collingwood's main team list. He was even named as a possible player for a game against Richmond. However, he didn't get to play his first game that year. He stayed on Collingwood's rookie list for 2008. He also changed his jersey number to 21.

Making His Debut and Becoming a Star

Before a big game in 2008, Sharrod was again moved to the senior team. He finally made his AFL debut when another player, Anthony Rocca, couldn't play due to an injury. This was a big moment for him.

After 2008, Sharrod became a very important player for Collingwood. He was known for his speed and great foot skills. He was also good at catching the ball overhead and was tough in contests. These skills made him a valuable part of the team.

Winning a Premiership

One of the biggest highlights of Sharrod's career was playing in the 2010 Grand Final. His team, Collingwood, won the championship that year! This is a huge achievement for any AFL player.

In 2011, Sharrod had an amazing game against Melbourne. He had a career-best 37 possessions (times he got the ball). He really stepped up and helped Collingwood win by a huge 88 points. This showed how important he was to the team, especially when other star players were missing.

Moving to the West Coast Eagles

In 2012, Sharrod was involved in a tough play during a game against Carlton. He received a suspension for this play. Because he had a good record before this, his suspension was reduced.

At the end of the 2012 season, Sharrod moved to a new team, the West Coast Eagles. Collingwood received a high draft pick in return. His first year with the Eagles in 2013 was tough because he got an ankle injury before the season started. His second season in 2014 was also limited by injuries and not playing his best.

Sharrod continued to play for the West Coast Eagles until the end of the 2017 season. After that season, he was delisted, which means he was no longer on the team's list of players. He played a total of 171 games and kicked 73 goals in his AFL career.