Family ties beckon Wirrpunda to Victoria
12 July 2003 AFL
By MARK STEVENS (Herald Sun)
WEST Coast star David Wirrpunda has given a clear indication he will consider returning to Melbourne at the end of the season.
The exciting 23-year-old, coming out of contract, is still battling homesickness almost eight years after moving to Perth.
"You always assess your options to see if the door's open (to go home)," Wirrpunda revealed in an interview in this weekend's AFL Record.
The admission is sure to have AFL clubs salivating.
Wirrpunda, who could command as much as $400,000 a year on the open market, would be an instant fix for Carlton's shortage of line-breaking runners.
The Eagles also face a torrid battle to keep Chris Judd as speculation mounts he is also eyeing a return to Melbourne.
Negotiations between Wirrpunda and the Eagles have yet to start.
Wirrpunda's manager Jim Tsagalis yesterday said he would meet his client within a fortnight to discuss the future.
"As he comes up for his contract, he and I always sit down and talk about what's changed since last time (he signed)," Tsagalis said.
"I spoke to him very briefly yesterday saying, `We need to catch up and have a chat again'. But he made no noises that he is keen to come home.
"That would come out in the conversation I have with him in the next few weeks."
Restricted to 97 games since making his debut in '96 because of injury, Wirrpunda has managed to play 32 of the Eagles' 37 games in the past two years.
Wirrpunda, from Healesville, said he missed his family.
"I'm 23, I've been here for eight years and I'm in the last year of a contract . . . Mum and the family always want me to come home," Wirrpunda said.
"The worst thing about being over here for so long is that I've missed out on watching my little sister and my nephews and nieces growing up.
"I left when they were in kindergarten and now they're in high school. They're the precious things that I miss the most. It was also very hard when my mum got sick."
Wirrpunda also revealed a fear of flying – a huge part of life as an Eagle. "I hate it. I'm terrified of flying. It's difficult, but I force myself to sleep before we take off," he said.
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Fiora and Krakouer to West Coast for Wirrpunda. I'd love to see it happen. Any thoughts?
12 July 2003 AFL
By MARK STEVENS (Herald Sun)
WEST Coast star David Wirrpunda has given a clear indication he will consider returning to Melbourne at the end of the season.
The exciting 23-year-old, coming out of contract, is still battling homesickness almost eight years after moving to Perth.
"You always assess your options to see if the door's open (to go home)," Wirrpunda revealed in an interview in this weekend's AFL Record.
The admission is sure to have AFL clubs salivating.
Wirrpunda, who could command as much as $400,000 a year on the open market, would be an instant fix for Carlton's shortage of line-breaking runners.
The Eagles also face a torrid battle to keep Chris Judd as speculation mounts he is also eyeing a return to Melbourne.
Negotiations between Wirrpunda and the Eagles have yet to start.
Wirrpunda's manager Jim Tsagalis yesterday said he would meet his client within a fortnight to discuss the future.
"As he comes up for his contract, he and I always sit down and talk about what's changed since last time (he signed)," Tsagalis said.
"I spoke to him very briefly yesterday saying, `We need to catch up and have a chat again'. But he made no noises that he is keen to come home.
"That would come out in the conversation I have with him in the next few weeks."
Restricted to 97 games since making his debut in '96 because of injury, Wirrpunda has managed to play 32 of the Eagles' 37 games in the past two years.
Wirrpunda, from Healesville, said he missed his family.
"I'm 23, I've been here for eight years and I'm in the last year of a contract . . . Mum and the family always want me to come home," Wirrpunda said.
"The worst thing about being over here for so long is that I've missed out on watching my little sister and my nephews and nieces growing up.
"I left when they were in kindergarten and now they're in high school. They're the precious things that I miss the most. It was also very hard when my mum got sick."
Wirrpunda also revealed a fear of flying – a huge part of life as an Eagle. "I hate it. I'm terrified of flying. It's difficult, but I force myself to sleep before we take off," he said.
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Fiora and Krakouer to West Coast for Wirrpunda. I'd love to see it happen. Any thoughts?
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