David Wirrpanda - West Coast Eagles LEGEND (22.07.2026)

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
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**SPEAKER_3** (0:42)
Wirrpanda steps inside Gilby, goes to the banana from 50, Wirrpanda kicks a goal. What skill.

**Mark Duffield** (0:52)
Yes, what skill. I couldn't have said any better. This is Duff and The Doctor thanks to Black Line, BLAK Line, Aboriginal Line business, delivering signage, print, promotional products and creative services with cultural integrity and impact. And our guest played 227 games for West Coast. He made his debut at the age of 16 years and 268 days. Round five against Carleton Princess Park 1996 It was a thriller. The Eagles lost by a single point. He went on to be a 2006 Premiership player. David Wirrpanda joins us. David, welcome.

**David Wirrpanda** (1:28)
Thank you, fellas. It's good to be here.

**Mark Duffield** (1:30)
So, mate, tell us, what's keeping you busy these days?

**David Wirrpanda** (1:35)
Oh, well, there's a number of things. Number one probably takes up all my time is just being a dad.
I've got four kids and they keep me on my toes pretty much 24 hours, and I enjoy that. So that's been something that I've really focused in on in the last few years of my personal life, is just really enjoying fatherhood.

**Mark Duffield** (2:01)
I see son Eli playing a role for Western Australia in the 16th Championship win over at the Gold Coast last week.

**David Wirrpanda** (2:12)
Yes. Eli has had a magnificent little journey with his football. He's a Trinity boy as well, along with my two eldest, my eldest son, and his development in footy. It's always been there for Eli, and he's very passionate about it.
And he's developed really well right through his juniors and to date. And he was very fortunate to be a part of the Western Australian 16 schoolboys. And I'll tell you what, there's a lot of talent coming through the Western Australian system at the moment. It's pretty exciting to watch. But Eli was a part of that championship team, and he's very grateful and it's been really good to watch him develop with his own footy.

**Mark Duffield** (3:02)
Do you see him play much and what sort of spectator are you? We've seen Marcus Ashcroft hide up the back of grandstands when he watches his kids play for Brisbane.
What do you do when you're watching Eli run around?

**David Wirrpanda** (3:14)
Yeah, I'm not so much of a helicopter parent in that aspect, mate.
I know what it's like to have that type of pressure on you as a young person. And just for me as a supporter, I just like being there just as a dad and giving him certain advice when he needs it and when he wants it. And just give him a little bit of guidance from that point of view. But he's still young and the most important phase for him now is just enjoying his mates and developing his footy.

**SPEAKER_6** (3:47)
Wirra, Dr Gorman here. How are you, mate?

**David Wirrpanda** (3:50)
Oh, very good, Gorman. How are you?

**SPEAKER_6** (3:53)
Mate, look, you've never kicked a goal in your life. And that little grab at the start there, that was generated by AI, just so you know. Okay. I'm joking, Wirra, absolutely.

**David Wirrpanda** (4:02)
Mate, if there's any black AI's going around like me, I want World Cup.

**SPEAKER_6** (4:08)
Of course you do. Of course you do. No, it's a great pleasure to have you on the show. Obviously, it's a special week being the Derby week. And we've also got Anthony Graver on the hard man of Freo for so long. And he mentioned he was one of the assistant coaches for that West Australian side. He said he'd seen Eli. Well, he was part of the whole situation with Eli. And he said he's coming on in leaps and bounds. So that must give you a great sense of pride, given everything that you've sacrificed and had to do with regards to your career. And now he's coming through to the so the legacy is playing out. Yeah.