Aaron Sandilands

Player: 2001-2019 (East Fremantle 2001-05, Fremantle 2003-2019)  

Games: 293 (East Fremantle 22, Fremantle 271)  

Goals: 107 (East Fremantle 9, Fremantle 98)  

Honours: Fremantle Club Champion (Doig Medal) x 2 (2009, 2015); All-Australian x 4 (2008, 09, 10, 14); Glendinning-Allan Medal x 2 (2009,10); Geoff Christian Medal 2009; AFL Rising Star nominee 2003; Fremantle Life Member 2010; Fremantle 25 since ’95 champion team.   

Aaron Sandilands is one of the most decorated players to wear Fremantle colours.  

A giant ruckman, he was the equal tallest and second heaviest player in VFL/AFL history, with his agility and football smarts making him a major asset for the Dockers.  

Sandilands played 293 senior games, 271 of those at the Dockers between 2003-2019, while he notched up 22 matches with East Fremantle.  

Sandilands was a four-time All Australian, a two-time Doig Medallist, a two-time Glendinning Medallist and was also part of the Fremantle 25 since 1995 champion team.  

Sandilands was born in Mt Barker and played for Mt Barker Under 17’s.  

When the family moved to Perth, he joined Willetton Junior Football Club and after being overlooked in the National Draft, was selected by Fremantle in the rookie draft prior to the 2002 season.  

He spent the year playing for East Fremantle in the WAFL, before being elevated to the Fremantle senior list prior to the 2003 season.  

Sandilands had a solid first season with 19 games and he earned a Rising Star nomination.  

In 2006 his ruck craft improved along with his running power, and he finished equal fifth in the Doig Medal.  

In subsequent seasons, Sandilands was a dominant ruck force in the AFL and was named in the All-Australian team four times.  

He won the Doig Medal as Fremantle’s Best and Fairest player in 2009 and 2015 and was runner up in 2008, 2010 and 2014.  

In 2010, Sandilands polled a team-high 20 votes in the Brownlow Medal.   

Unfortunately, several significant injuries plagued Sandilands, and he lost seven or more games to injury in eight of his 18 seasons.  

Despite these setbacks Sandilands displayed remarkable durability, playing beyond the age of 36 before retiring in 2019.  

Following retirement Sandilands has served as Fremantle’s specialist ruck coach.  

With Sandilands entering the WA Football Hall of Fame, former teammate Peter Bell summed up the value of the champion ruckman.  

“The AFL will never see a player like Aaron, he had the ability to make the difficult look easy”.