Damien Cavka was West Coast's fourth-round pick in the 2014 national draft, but made just a handful of WAFL appearances before being forced to quit football due to injury.
West Coast career[]
Cavka played his junior football at Keilor with fellow 2014 draftees Paul Ahern, Corey Ellis and Jayden Laverde,[1] who all were picked up in the first round. On being drafted, he was described as a player with the ability to run all day and the ability to play as a stopping midfielder or a rebounding half-back.
Given the number 19 jumper, Cavka instantly impressed when he broke Chris Masten's club record in the 2km time trial during the pre-season.[2] Unfortunately, he suffered a stress fracture in his foot later in the pre-season, and managed just two WAFL reserves games and one senior game with East Perth before suffering a recurrence of the injury, also requiring ankle surgery that ended his year.
His foot injury unfortunately proved impossible to overcome, with Cavka announcing a premature retirement from the game in January 2016.[3]
Post-AFL career[]
After returning to Victoria Cavka made a playing comeback, signing with his junior club Keilor in the Essendon District Football League for the 2017 season, coaching the Blues' under-17s side in addition to his playing duties.[4]
Stats[]
| AFL | Gm | G | B | K | M | H | D | T | Cl | WAFL | Gm | G | B | K | M | H | D | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | EP | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
News[]
27/11/14: Duggan headlines Victorian draft quartet
7/7/15: Young pair facing lengthy layoffs
25/1/16: Cavka announces shock retirement
Links[]
http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/5983
- ↑ Callum Twomey, afl.com.au (21 November 2014), "Keilor kids all set to dominate the draft": http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-21/keilors-draft-raiders
- ↑ Dale Miller, The West Australian (13 December 2014), "Cavka makes mark at Eagles": https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/cavka-makes-mark-at-eagles-ng-ya-382425
- ↑ Dale Miller & Bridget Lacy, The West Australian (25 January 2016), "Eagles shock as young midfielder is forced to retire": https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/eagles-shock-as-young-midfielder-is-forced-to-retire-ng-ya-336143
- ↑ Tara Murray, Star Weekly (5 March 2018), "Keilor keen to put O'Kearney to work": http://www.starweekly.com.au/sports/keilor-keen-to-put-okearney-to-work/