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Sanford Wheeler (previously known as Matthew Wheeler) (6 April 1970 – 10 March 2020[1]) was an Australian rules football player for the Sydney Swans. He is notable as being the first African-American born player in the history of the AFL and one of few players from the United States to play in the Australian Football League.[2]

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Sanford Wheeler
Personal information
Full name	Sanford Matthew Wheeler
Date of birth	(1970-04-06)6 April 1970
Place of birth	Lynwood, California, U.S.
Date of death	10 March 2020(2020-03-10) (aged 49)
Place of death	California, U.S.
Original team(s)	Parramatta (Sydney AFL)
Debut	Round 6, 6 May 1989, Sydney Swans vs. St Kilda, at Moorrabin
Height	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	90 kg (198 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1989–1994	Sydney Swans	43 (7)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1994.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Matthew Wheeler was born in Lynwood, California to an Australian father and African-American mother. He migrated with his family to Sydney, New South Wales at the age of 5. As a teenager, he began to take an interest in Australian football and played his junior football for the Parramatta Australian Football Club.

VFL/AFL Career

Wheeler was recruited by the Sydney Swans as a rookie using their zone allocation at the age of 15.[2] He made his VFL debut to a much depleted Swans team in Round 6 of 1989 against St Kilda. However his first game was not notable and he was dropped for much of the rest of the season. Showing some form in the reserves, Wheeler reappeared in round 20 against Melbourne, with a more satisfactory performance kicking a goal and began to establish himself in the senior side and would make 11 appearances the following season.

The athletic long-haired Wheeler frequently exhibited some dash and flair off the wing and as a rugged rebounding defender off the half back flank. His quick run and hard tackling were trademarks of his game. However his disposal skills let him down and he had a tendency to get caught holding the ball.

Midway through his career, Wheeler changed his first name by deed poll to "Sanford".

Up to 1993, Wheeler had played 36 games and kicked 6 goals during the Swans' darkest era (he was part of a team that won 3 successive wooden spoons in a financially destitute club between 1992 and 1994 that received the lowest level of support in its history). A highlight was being selected in the New South Wales state team for the 1993 State of Origin Championships. After a serious knee injury and being used sparingly by coach Ron Barassi, he was delisted after the 1994 season as part of a shake up of the Swans list.

Post-AFL

Wheeler then returned to the United States and became a wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch Bank of America in Indian Wells.[2]

References

External links

• Sanford Wheeler's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Sanford Wheeler at AustralianFootball.com

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