Aaron Sandilands

Originally from the small town of 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{{Cite web |url=http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/509 |title=Aaron SANDILANDS | 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 }} and was selected by Fremantle in the rookie draft prior to the 2002 season. He spent the entire 2002 year playing for East Fremantle in the WAFL, before being elevated to the senior list prior to the 2003 season.

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[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] and playing in Fremantle's first ever finals match. Despite Essendon being convincing winners, Sandilands was one of the few to perform well, with 41 hitouts.Wilson, Ray (6 September 2003) [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/06/1062549034110.html Hird shows his quality]

As ruckmen are generally considered to peak in their late 20s,[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/13/1063341820030.html The ruck star lifestyle's not for me] (13 September 2003) 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.[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/2006s.html 2006 Statistics] Despite this dominance in hitouts, it did not always result in Fremantle winning the clearances.{{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 }}

In 2006 Sandilands suffered a broken jaw in the round 6 Western Derby in a clash with then West Coast Eagles ruckman Mark Seaby.[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] Following an investigation by the AFL, no charges were laid over the incident.[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 }}

Sandilands has been named in the All-Australian Team four times: on the interchange bench in 2008,[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/cats-dominate-star-line-up/story-e6frf9lo-1111117494310 Cats dominate star line-up] as the only ruckman in the 2009 team,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 }} 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. 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.{{Cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/brownlow/brownlow2010.html|title = AFL Tables - 2010 Brownlow Medal}}

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

Sandilands retired at the end of the 2019 AFL season.{{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}}

Following his retirement, Sandilands was appointed as Fremantle's specialist ruck coach for the 2020 AFL season.{{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}} During the 2021 AFL season, there were brief rumours that either Carlton or {{AFL GEE}} would attempt to draft Sandilands in the mid-season draft, but Sandilands stated that he had no interest in becoming a player again.{{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}}

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

{{AFL player statistics legend/ruckman}}

{{AFL player statistics start/ruckman}}

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

|}

Team

• McClelland Trophy (Fremantle) 2015

Individual

• Doig Medal (Fremantle F.C. Best & Fairest Award): 2009, 2015
• All-Australian: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014
• Geoff Christian Medal: 2009
• Ross Glendinning Medal: 2009 (Round 17), 2010 (Round 18)
• AFL Rising Star Nominee: 2003 (Round 14)

{{reflist}}

{{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