David Wirrpanda Biography

Eagles premiership player David Wirrpanda has retired from AFL football after 227 matches saying its time for the Eagles to develop their young talent.

"To be honest I thought at the beginning of the year I was more of a chance of playing on, but the way the boys have come on towards the second half of the year really did open my eyes up to a lot of the younger blokes and the direction they're taking their footy," Wirrpanda said.

"The best thing for them is to get game time, it'll just grow their footy. I thought if I keep playing I'd take that opportunity away from them."

David Wirrpanda has withdrawn from the West Coast Eagles team tonight as his partner is in labour and expecting the couple's first child.

"Wirrpanda's partner, Shannon McGuire, went into labour this afternoon and he is at her side anxiously awaiting the arrival of the couple's first child," club spokeswoman Anna Carew-Reid said.

"The imminent arrival of Wirrpanda's child has opened the door for Jamie McNamara to play in tonight's game."

David Wirrpanda says the future looks bright after a host of young stars shone in the club's win over Hawthorn.

Young ruckman Nicholas Naitanui, in particular, was impressive with three crucial goals to sink the Hawks in just his second game.

"As a young bloke you have expectations that are thrown on you that you don't deserve and he's one of those players that has had the whole footy world waiting to see what he can do," Wirrpanda said.

"He showed glimpses of it in his first game and this was only his second, so what he could end up doing is kind of frightening if he develops over the next three or four years as a senior player."

West Coast veteran David Wirrpanda looks ahead to the AFL's Indigenous Round this weekend.

"It's been well highlighted for the last couple of years now the importance of Indigenous Round for recognition of a lot of indigenous players before me," Wirrpanda said.

"When you look at the history of AFL footy, the stance that Michael Long took really did change the face of footy and really did make a massive difference within the football world.

"Players like myself, I never ever witnessed any racial abuse at all. Creating a cultural awareness was very important, not only for indigenous people, but all cultures right through the AFL.

"I haven't had any contact with that racial abuse whatsoever, so it goes to show that we're a clean sport, and we're professional as well."

EAGLES veteran David Wirrpanda says he yet to hear from some former school mates who were in the centre of Victoria's worst bushfires.

David Wirrpanda is listed as one of the top-10 most influential indigenous people in Australia.

Wirrpanda was placed at no.9 in the list in recognition of his work towards advancing indigenous youth in remote areas of Western Australia via the Wirrpanda Foundation.