Aaron Sandilands Biography – Aaron Sandilands Wiki
Aaron Sandilands is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). At 211 cm tall, and with a peak weight of 120 kg, he is the second heaviest (after Mick Nolan) and equal tallest player to ever play in the AFL. He came from Mount Barker, Western Australia, and played with the East Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), before being rookie listed by Fremantle in the 2002 Rookie Draft. Upgraded from the rookie list at the end of the 2002 season, he made his senior debut for the club in round one of the 2003 seasons. Due to his height, he played almost exclusively as a ruckman, occasionally resting in the forward line. He was named in the All-Australian team in three consecutive years between 2008 and 2010, and again in 2014. He is also a dual Doig Medallist as Fremantle’s best and fairest player, won in 2009 and 2015.
His career began when he originally played at Under 17s level for the Mount Barker Football Club. He moved to Perth, joined Willetton Junior Football Club, and was selected by Fremantle in the rookie draft prior to the 2002 season. He spent the entire 2002 year playing for East Fremantle in the WAFL, before being elevated to the senior list prior to the 2003 season. Playing in 19 games in his first season, the highlights were being nominated for the AFL Rising Star and earning a Brownlow Medal vote for a dominant display against the reigning premiers, Brisbane Lions in Round 14, and playing in Fremantle’s first-ever finals match. Despite Essendon being convincing winners, Sandilands was one of the few to perform well, with 41 hit outs. As ruckmen are generally considered to peak in their late 20s, he has impressed many to rank 6th or 5th in total hitouts in each of his first three seasons in the AFL, improving to 2nd (with the highest average) in 2006. Despite this dominance in hitouts, it does not always result in Fremantle winning the clearances. In 2006 he suffered a broken jaw in the round 6 Western Derby in a clash with the West Coast Eagles ruckman Mark Seaby. Following an investigation by the AFL, no charges were laid over the incident.
He has been named in the All-Australian Team four times: on the interchange bench in 2008, as the only ruckman in the 2009 team, and as the key ruckman in 2010 and 2014. In 2010, he polled a team-high 20 votes in the Brownlow Medal, placing equal sixth overall alongside Matthew Boyd. This represents one of the highest vote tallies and best finishes by a ruckman in the recent history of the medal, which has been dominated by midfielders. He suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung after being kneed in the back by Nic Naitanui in the Western Derby in round 3, 2016. He did not return to football until round 20, playing two of the final three games of the season. Following his retirement, he was appointed as Fremantle’s specialist ruck coach for the 2020 AFL season. In his career, he has been able to garner honors and achievements such as the 2009 and 2015 Doig Medal (Fremantle F.C. Best & Fairest Award), Geoff Christian Medal: 2009, and AFL Rising Star Nominee: 2003 (Round 14) among others.
Aaron Sandilands Age
He was born on December 6, 1982 in Western Australia, Australia.
Aaron Sandilands Wife
He married his wife, Jenny Hofsink in 2010 and they have two children together.
Aaron Sandilands Children
He has two children, Sloane Ellie, and Billie.
Aaron Sandilands Family/ Parents
He is the son of Gary Sandilands,and Trudi Sandilands. His family hails from Mount Barker, Western Australia.
Aaron Sandilands Height
His formal listed height stands at 6 feet 111 inches (211 cm) tall.
