David Schwarz
Personal information
Full name	David Schwarz
Date of birth	24 July 1972 (1972-07-24) (age 37)
Height/Weight	195cm / 105 kg
Position(s)	Forward
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1991–2002	Melbourne	173 (244)
State team honours
1999	Victoria	1 (?)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2002 season season . 2 State and International statistics correct as of 1999 season.

David "The Ox" Schwarz (born 24 July 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer who retired in 2002.

Contents 1 Football career 2 SEN 3 Channel Seven 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Football career

Recruited from Sunbury, Schwarz made his AFL debut in 1991. As a player for the Melbourne Football Club, he was known as "the Ox" for his beast-like build. He played centre half-forward or full-forward and was touted as one of the games next superstars , taking more marks than Wayne Carey in 1994, kicking 9 goals straight against Sydney^[1] and with some breathtaking finals performances (including "that" blind turn against Carlton). Strong marking, agile and athletic, he was destined for superstardom until he suffered numerous knee injuries, playing only 2 games in 1995 and missing the entire 1996 season.

Schwarz resumed playing in 1997 at a weight of 103 kg, which was 3 kg above the weight he subsequently carried in 2000. He capped his effort by winning the club’s best and fairest in 1999 and passing the 100 game mark – something that was unthinkable a few years earlier when knee injuries left his career in tatters. In typical style he celebrated with 20 of his closest mates and his mother, who had brought him up single handed since the age of eight. His father had been brutally murdered^[2].

Winning the best and fairest was a triumph for Schwarz after he had been mentioned as a possible swap for Richmond’s Wayne Campbell the previous summer. Never afraid to speak his mind and a natural team leader, he was a leading contender for the Melbourne captaincy, but was satisfied with being vice-captain to his good mate David Neitz.

Late in his playing career, he appeared as a panelist on the AFL Footy Show in a memorable show where Sam Newman threw a pie in his face. A visibly angry Schwarz pushed Newman down to the ground.

He retired in the middle of 2002 having played 173 matches and kicking 244 goals.

Mike Sheahan, sports writer for the Herald Sun wrote this of Schwarz in 1999:

If you follow Melbourne, you embrace David Schwarz. Simple as that. He's everything supporters want in their heroes: brave and exuberant, honest yet spectacular. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and, most of all, he can turn a game on its head with a pack mark or a torpedo punt that soars like Darren Bennett's best. He has touched hearts too.

[edit] SEN

In 2005, in his job on radio station SEN 1116, he admitted that during his football career he had a gambling problem and whittled away most of his income. David is well known for his insightful music analysis, and love of heavy metal music. He is also a Sunderland fan.

[edit] Channel Seven

From 2007 onwards David has become a part of the Channel Seven AFL Commentary team along with Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Tim Watson, Leigh Matthews, Nathan Buckley and Rick Olarenshaw.

[edit] External links

• David Schwarz (footballer) profile on the Official AFL Website of the Melbourne Football Club

[edit] References

1. ^ "[http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_match_statistics?mid=164 Sydney defeated by Melbourne Round 24, Sunday, 4th September 1994]". FootyWire. 4 September 1994. http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_match_statistics?mid=164. Retrieved 29 April 2009. 
2. ^ Niall, Jake (25 May 2007). "David Schwarz's biggest battle". Fairfax Digital. http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/oxs-big-leap-forward/2007/05/24/1179601576217.html. Retrieved 29 April 2009.