Sanford Wheeler

Sanford Matthew Wheeler (6 April 1970 – 10 March 2020) was an Australian rules football player for the Sydney Swans. He is notable for being the first African American-born player in the history of the AFL and one of the few players from the United States to play in the Australian Football League.

Early life Wheeler was born in Lynwood, California, to an Australian father and an African-American mother. Wheeler briefly moved to Melbourne during his primary school years but later returned to Sydney. However, his first game was not notable, and he was dropped for the next couple of months. Showing some form in the reserves, Wheeler reappeared in round 20 against with a more satisfactory performance, kicking a goal. He began to establish himself in the senior side and made 11 appearances the following season in the newly renamed Australian Football League.

During his playing career, Wheeler was distinct for his bulky yet athletic frame and his braided ponytail, exhibiting dash and flair off the wing, and also served as a rugged, rebounding defender off the half-back flank. Wheeler was again selected for the state team the following year, this time in a combined team with the Australian Capital Territory for their match against Victoria at the 1993 State of Origin Championships. At the time, Wheeler was the subject of an impromptu fan club, who took mock credit for his selection.

After football Following his football career, Wheeler returned to the United States and became a wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch Bank of America in Indian Wells.