View source for Aaron Sandilands

{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1982}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Aaron Sandilands
| nickname = Sandi
| image = Aaron_Sandilands_and_Lance_Whitnall.jpg
| alt = Aaron_Sandilands towers over Carlton's [[Lance Whitnall]]
| caption = Sandilands with the Fremantle Dockers in 2006
| fullname = Aaron Wade Sandilands
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|12|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = 
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = [[East Fremantle Football Club|East Fremantle]] ([[West Australian Football League|WAFL]])
| draftpick = No. 33, [[2001 AFL draft|2002 rookie draft]]
| height = 211&nbsp;cm<!--auto convert--><ref>[http://m.fremantlefc.com.au/player-profile/aaron-sandilands Official Bio]</ref>
| weight = 119&nbsp;kg<!--auto convert-->
| position = [[Australian rules football positions|Ruckman]]
| years1 = 2000–2005
| club1 = [[East Fremantle Football Club|East Fremantle]]
| games_goals1 = 22 (9)
| years2 = 2003–2019
| club2 = {{AFL Fre}}
| games_goals2 = 271 (98)<!--please remember to update statsend to the last match (round) played-->
| games_goalstotal = 293 (105)
| statsend = 2019
| careerhighlights = * 2× [[Doig Medal]]list: 2009, 2015
* 4× [[All-Australian team]]: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014
* [[Geoff Christian Medal]]: 2009
* 2× [[Ross Glendinning Medal]]: 2009 <small>(rd. 17)</small>, 2010 <small>(rd. 18)</small>
* [[AFL Rising Star]] nominee: 2003
*[[Fremantle Football Club Life Members|Fremantle Life Member]]: 2010
* {{AFL Fre}} 25 since '95 Team
* [[West Australian Football Hall of Fame|Western Australian Football Hall of Fame]]: 2024
}}
'''Aaron Wade Sandilands''' (born 6 December 1982) is a former professional [[Australian rules football]]er who played for the [[Fremantle Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). At {{convert|211|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} tall, and with a peak weight of {{convert|120|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, he is the second heaviest (behind [[Mick Nolan (Australian footballer)|Mick Nolan]]) and equal tallest player to ever play in the AFL.

Originally from [[Mount Barker, Western Australia|Mount Barker]], [[Western Australia]], Sandilands played with the [[East Fremantle Football Club]] in the [[West Australian Football League]] (WAFL), before being [[rookie list]]ed by Fremantle in the [[2001 AFL Draft|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 AFL season|2003 season]]. Due to his height, Sandilands played almost exclusively as a [[Ruckman (Australian rules football)|ruckman]], occasionally resting in the forward line. He was named in the [[All-Australian team]] for three consecutive years between 2008 and 2010, and again in 2014. He is also a dual [[Doig Medal]]list as Fremantle's [[best and fairest]] player, won in 2009 and 2015. Sandilands was inducted into the [[West Australian Football Hall of Fame]] in 2024.

==Early career==
Originally from the small town of [[Mount Barker, Western Australia|Mount Barker]] in the [[Great Southern region of Western Australia]], Sandilands originally played at Under 17s level for the [[Mount Barker Football Club]].  He moved to [[Perth]], joined Willetton Junior Football Club<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/509 |title=Aaron SANDILANDS &#124; WAFL |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150429/http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/509 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was selected by Fremantle in the rookie draft prior to the 2002 season. He spent the entire 2002 year playing for [[East Fremantle Football Club|East Fremantle]] in the [[West Australian Football League|WAFL]], before being elevated to the senior list prior to the 2003 season.

==AFL career==

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<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120930211130/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/4689/default.aspx Sandilands the latest National Rising Star winner]</ref> and playing in Fremantle's first ever finals match. Despite [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] being convincing winners, Sandilands was one of the few to perform well, with 41 hitouts.<ref>Wilson, Ray (6 September 2003) [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/06/1062549034110.html Hird shows his quality]</ref>

As ruckmen are generally considered to peak in their late 20s,<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/13/1063341820030.html The ruck star lifestyle's not for me] (13 September 2003)</ref> Sandilands had 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.<ref>[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/2006s.html 2006 Statistics]</ref> Despite this dominance in hitouts, it did not always result in Fremantle winning the clearances.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22050636-5012705,00.html |title=Disappointment all round |access-date=13 July 2007 |archive-date=7 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307015540/http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22050636-5012705,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2006 Sandilands suffered a broken jaw in the round 6 [[Western Derby]] in a clash with then [[West Coast Eagles]] ruckman [[Mark Seaby]].<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Connolly-wary-of-AFL-derbys-impact/2006/08/23/1156012599242.html Connolly wary of AFL derby's impact]</ref> Following an investigation by the AFL, no charges were laid over the incident.<ref>[http://abc.net.au/news/items/200605/1634136.htm?victoria Cats contest Mooney charge] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306030453/http://abc.net.au/news/items/200605/1634136.htm?victoria |date=6 March 2008 }}</ref>

Sandilands has been named in the [[All-Australian Team]] four times: on the interchange bench in 2008,<ref>[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/cats-dominate-star-line-up/story-e6frf9lo-1111117494310 Cats dominate star line-up]</ref> as the only ruckman in the 2009 team,<ref>Prestipino, David (14 September 2009) [http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/sandilands-a-lonely-allaustralian-20090914-fny1.html?page=-1 Sandilands a lonely All-Australian] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006225010/http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/sandilands-a-lonely-allaustralian-20090914-fny1.html?page=-1 |date=6 October 2012 }}</ref> and as the key ruckman in 2010 and 2014.

In 2010, Sandilands polled a team-high 20 votes in the Brownlow Medal, placing equal sixth overall alongside [[Matthew Boyd (Australian footballer)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/brownlow/brownlow2010.html|title = AFL Tables - 2010 Brownlow Medal}}</ref>

Sandilands 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.<ref>[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-10/surgery-for-aaron-sandilands-after-suffering-broken-ribs-collapsed-lung afl.com.au]</ref>

Sandilands retired at the end of the [[2019 AFL season]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Aaron Sandilands retires from Fremantle Dockers as fans prepare to farewell AFL ruck veteran|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-13/aaron-sandilands-retires-fremantle-dockers-farewell-ruck-veteran/11409516|access-date=8 July 2022|language=en}}</ref>

Following his retirement, Sandilands was appointed as Fremantle's specialist ruck coach for the [[2020 AFL season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zerohanger.com/victorian-club-launches-shock-bid-for-retired-fremantle-ruckman-aaron-sandilands-2021-83665/|title=Victorian club launches shock bid for retired Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands|website=Zero Hanger|last1=Cotton|first1=Ben|date=13 May 2021|accessdate=14 May 2021}}</ref> During the [[2021 AFL season]], there were brief rumours that either [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] or {{AFL GEE}} would attempt to draft Sandilands in the [[2021 AFL draft#2021 mid-season rookie draft|mid-season draft]], but Sandilands stated that he had no interest in becoming a player again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/05/13/cold-water-poured-over-sensational-sandilands-return/|title=Cold Water Poured Over Sensational Sandilands Return|website=SEN|last1=Slevison|first1=Andrew|date=13 May 2021|accessdate=14 May 2021}}</ref>

==Statistics==
:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/A/Aaron_Sandilands.html|title=Aaron Sandilands|publisher=AFL Tables}}</ref>

{{AFL player statistics legend/ruckman}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|style="background:#b7e718; width:1em"|
|Led the league after finals only
|-
|style="background:#DD6E81; width:1em"|
|Led the league after season and finals
|}
{{AFL player statistics start/ruckman}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2003 AFL season|2003]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 19 || 5 || 1 || 61 || 76 || 137 || 56 || 15 || 353 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 3.2 || 4.0 || 7.2 || 2.9 || 0.8 || 18.6
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2004 AFL season|2004]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 20 || 3 || 1 || 74 || 98 || 172 || 61 || 21 || 473 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 3.7 || 4.9 || 8.6 || 3.1 || 1.1 || 23.7
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2005 AFL season|2005]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 18 || 5 || 1 || 81 || 106 || 187 || 74 || 19 || 414 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 4.5 || 5.9 || 10.4 || 4.1 || 1.1 || 23.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2006 AFL season|2006]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 21 || 7 || 6 || 123 || 145 || 268 || 96 || 15 || 516 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 5.9 || 6.9 || 12.8 || 4.6 || 0.7 || bgcolor="b7e718"| '''24.6'''
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2007 AFL season|2007]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 15 || 6 || 4 || 82 || 108 || 190 || 55 || 13 || 404 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 5.5 || 7.2 || 12.7 || 3.7 || 0.9 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''26.9'''
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2008 AFL season|2008]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 22 || 8 || 11 || 122 || 208 || 330 || 77 || 29 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''646''' || 0.4 || 0.5 || 5.5 || 9.5 || 15.0 || 3.5 || 1.3 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''29.4'''
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2009 AFL season|2009]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 20 || 13 || 8 || 143 || 205 || 348 || 80 || 34 || 659 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 7.2 || 10.3 || 17.4 || 4.0 || 1.7 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''33.0'''
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2010 AFL season|2010]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 21 || 13 || 6 || 123 || 220 || 343 || 88 || 34 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''732''' || 0.6 || 0.3 || 5.9 || 10.5 || 16.3 || 4.2 || 1.6 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''34.9'''
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2011 AFL season|2011]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 13 || 6 || 2 || 82 || 143 || 225 || 54 || 24 || 432 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 6.3 || 11.0 || 17.3 || 4.2 || 1.8 || 33.2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2012 AFL season|2012]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 14 || 6 || 0 || 71 || 135 || 206 || 48 || 16 || 528 || 0.4 || 0.0 || 5.1 || 9.6 || 14.7 || 3.4 || 1.1 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''37.7'''
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2013 AFL season|2013]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 10 || 3 || 1 || 18 || 74 || 92 || 22 || 7 || 278 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 1.8 || 7.4 || 9.2 || 2.2 || 0.7 || 27.8
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2014 AFL season|2014]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 23 || 8 || 6 || 75 || 218 || 293 || 85 || 44 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''890''' || 0.3 || 0.3 || 3.3 || 9.5 || 12.7 || 3.7 || 1.9 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''38.7'''
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2015 AFL season|2015]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 23 || 9 || 4 || 51 || 241 || 292 || 79 || 34 || 998 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 2.2 || 10.5 || 12.7 || 3.4 || 1.5 || 43.4
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2016 AFL season|2016]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 5 || 0 || 1 || 9 || 32 || 41 || 10 || 8 || 145 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 1.8 || 6.4 || 8.2 || 2.0 || 1.6 || 29.0
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2017 AFL season|2017]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 10 || 0 || 1 || 27 || 83 || 110 || 22 || 18 || 411 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 2.7 || 8.3 || 11.0 || 2.2 || 1.8 || 41.1
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2018 AFL season|2018]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 11 || 6 || 1 || 39 || 85 || 124 || 26 || 12 || 446 || 0.5 || 0.1 || 3.5 || 7.7 || 11.3 || 2.4 || 1.1 || 40.5
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2019 AFL season|2019]]
|{{AFL Fre}}
| 31 || 6 || 0 || 1 || 20 || 53 || 73 || 13 || 14 || 177 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 3.3 || 8.8 || 12.2 || 2.2 || 2.3 || 29.5
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 271
! 98
! 55
! 1201
! 2230
! 3431
! 946
! 357
! 8502
! 0.4
! 0.2
! 4.4
! 8.2
! 12.7
! 3.5
! 1.3
! 31.4
|}

==Honours and achievements==
{| style="margin-right: 4px; margin-top: 8px; float: right; border: 1px #000000 solid; border-radius: 8px; background: #FFFFFF; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;"
|- style="background:#FFFFFF;"
| colspan=2; style="padding: 3px; margin-bottom: -3px; margin-top: 2px; font-family: Arial; background:#FFFFFF;"| '''[[Brownlow Medal]] votes'''
|-
! width=50%| Season
! width=50%| Votes
|-
| [[2003 Brownlow Medal|2003]]
| 1
|-
| [[2004 Brownlow Medal|2004]]
| 1
|-
| [[2005 Brownlow Medal|2005]]
| 1
|-
| [[2006 Brownlow Medal|2006]]
| 5
|-
| [[2007 Brownlow Medal|2007]]
| 2
|-
| [[2008 Brownlow Medal|2008]]
| 10
|-
| [[2009 Brownlow Medal|2009]]
| 10
|-
| [[2010 Brownlow Medal|2010]]
| 20
|-
| [[2011 Brownlow Medal|2011]]
| 5
|-
| [[2012 Brownlow Medal|2012]]
| 6
|-
| [[2013 Brownlow Medal|2013]]
| 0
|-
| [[2014 Brownlow Medal|2014]]
| 7
|-
| [[2015 Brownlow Medal|2015]]
| 14
|-
| [[2016 Brownlow Medal|2016]]
| 0
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''82'''
<!--|-
| colspan=2| <small>Key:</small>
|- style="background-color:#d9f9e9; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:2em;"
| colspan=2| <small>Green / '''Bold''' = [[List of Brownlow Medal winners|Won]]<br />* = joint winner</small>
|- style="background-color:#FFCCCC; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:2em;"
| colspan=2| <small>Red / ''Italics'' = [[Brownlow Medal#Ineligibility|Ineligible]]</small>-->
|}
'''Team'''
* [[McClelland Trophy]] ([[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]]) 2015
'''Individual'''
*'''[[Doig Medal]] (Fremantle F.C. Best & Fairest Award)''': 2009, 2015
*'''[[All-Australian team|All-Australian]]''': [[All-Australian team#2008|2008]], [[All-Australian team#2009|2009]], [[All-Australian team#2010|2010]], [[All-Australian team#2014|2014]]
*'''[[Geoff Christian Medal]]''': 2009
*'''[[Ross Glendinning Medal]]''': [[2009 AFL season|2009]] ([[2009 AFL season#Round 17|Round 17]]), [[2010 AFL season|2010]] ([[2010 AFL season#Round 18|Round 18]])
*'''[[AFL Rising Star|AFL Rising Star Nominee]]''': [[2003 AFL Rising Star#Nominations|2003]] ([[2003 AFL season#Round 14|Round 14]])

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301011555/https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/player-profile/aaron-sandilands|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/player-profile/aaron-sandilands|title=Player Profile|work=FremantleFC.com.au|archivedate=1 March 2019|url-status=dead}}
*{{AFL Tables}}
*{{AustralianFootball}}
*{{WAFL FootyFacts}}

{{Doig Medal}}
{{Ross Glendinning Medal}}
{{2008 All-Australian team}}
{{2009 All-Australian team}}
{{2010 All-Australian team}}
{{2014 All-Australian team}}
{{2003 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{2002 AFL rookie draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandilands, Aaron}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:East Fremantle Football Club players]]
[[Category:Fremantle Football Club players]]
[[Category:Doig Medal winners]]
[[Category:All-Australians (AFL)]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia]]
[[Category:People from Mount Barker, Western Australia]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]