David Schwarz

DOB: 24 July, 1979
Debut: Round 1, 1991 against West Coast at Subiaco
Last Game: Round 13, 2002 against Essendon at Docklands

Games: 173
Goals: 243
Career Statistics

From: Sunbury/MHSOB

Number: 44 1991, 5 1992-2002

Honours:
Grand Final team - 2000
Best and Fairest - 1999
150 Heroes selection
Victorian state player - 1999

After graduating through the Under 19's, Schwarz debuted in 1991, and showed star potential early in his career with 3rd place finishes in the Best and Fairest counts of 1992 and 1994.

His first troubles with injury came in 1993 when he played only nine games, but bounced back in 1994 to kick 60 goals, including 9 in the last home and away game of the season against Sydney, and took more marks than Wayne Carey in a season where he stamped himself as a future star of the competition. The AFL Media Guide for 1995 described him as "a genuine AFL star centre half-forward in 1994, playing every game, including a couple of finals 'blinders'.... High-leaping, aggressive and mobile", but a serious knee injury during the 1995 pre-season wrecked his career.

He made his first return just 16 weeks after surgery, in Round 9, 1995 but the knee collapsed under him in the very next game. Returning in the 1996 pre-season he broke down again against Collingwood at Lavington and missed the entire 1996 season.

Crediting his mother as the inspiration for not giving the game away after his third reconstruction, Schwarz returned again in Round 11, 1997 and had two kicks for two goals. Returning at a playing weight of 113kg he would gradually reinvent himself again as a bullocking key forward. His knee would hold up for the next five seasons, and by 1999 he had won the Best and Fairest.

In 1998 he had been mentioned as a potential swap for Richmond's Wayne Campbell, but the deal never went through. Not only did he stay with the Demons and win a best and fairest, but he achieved a 100 games milestone that seemed unthinkable a few years before.

At the end of the 1999 season Schwarz entered into a partnership with teammates Matthew Febey and Paul Hopgood to buy the Blarney Stone Hotel in Bay Street, Port Melbourne. It was renamed The Hurdle.

Early in the 2000 season it was reported that Schwarz risked permanent damage to his left ring finger by delaying an operation to avoid missing eight weeks of football. For somebody who had missed so many games over the years it was understandable that he didn't see a two month break on the sidelines as an attractive option.

In Round 19, 2000 Schwarz made an allegation that former teammate, and now Saint, Sean Charles had called him a racist. Charles apologised after reconciliation talks. The next year Schwarz was alleged to have racially abused Geelong's Justin Murphy during the Round 3, 2001 match by calling him a '
'coconut'.

In the 2001 pre-season it was announced that due to poor form it had been decided that Schwarz would step down as vice-captain. Shane Woewodin was elevated from deputy vice-captain to fill the role.

It would turn out to be a tumultuous season for "the Ox". In June stunt on the Footy Show which involved Sam Newman pushing a pie into Schwarz's face, only for the Ox to push him to the ground was later revealed to have been a set-up. The club put a media ban on Schwarz for the rest of the year after he criticised teammates in a radio interview.

Finishing third in that year's Best and Fairest, there were suggestions that Sydney and Carlton might be interested in trading for him, Schwarz stayed with the Demons but 2002 would turn out to be a tumultuous season for The Ox.

In the first three games of the year he got just 39 touches for one goal and spent more time on the bench than he had been accustomed to. He also managed to get fined for getting into a fight outside a nightclub. The situation was so dire that his former captain Garry Lyon was forced to write an open letter to Schwarz through the Herald-Sun.

Schwarz retired after Round 13, 2002. He had been suspended for a week for striking Bomber Andrew Welsh, his frustration having boiled over for weeks. He had played 84 of the previous 85 games for the club but was finding it increasingly hard to make an impact on games.

Tribunal Record

In retirement

Schwarz served as a form analyst for Channel Seven's horse racing coverage, but unbeknownst to most he was also fighting his own gambling addiction at the same time. In 2005 he revealed that gambling had left him almost broke once his career ended. He admitted to being addicted to horse racing, casino and pokies - losing up $20,000 in one day at the racetrack. At one point Schwarz bought a $300,000 house with three weeks worth of winnings but then had to sell it when he couldn't cover the repayments.

It was also revealed that as an eight-year-old child Schwarz witnessed his father, and another woman, murdered in front of him. The gunman then committed suicide - it was later revealed that the killer was the woman's ex-husband.

In 2009 he admitted that he'd lost $4 million on the punt.

Hosts the Run Home radio program on 1116 SEN and does special comments on Channel 7.

Video

Media
"Demons' new hurdle" - Herald Sun 27/11/1999
"Demons prepare Schwarz showdown" Sportal 28/11/01
"Proud Schwarz ready to fire up" - AFL Record 18/04/2002
"No surprise at Schwarz's timing" - demons.com.au 04/07/2002
AFANA News 2001
"Schwarz comes clean about punting past" - The Age 17/07/2005
"David Schwarz's biggest battle" - The Age 25/05/2007

Links
melbfc.com.au profile - 2001
Wikipedia profile