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Dean Irving
Photo: aflphotos.com
DOB
1/9/1966
Height
200cm
Weight
102 kg
Junior club
Arrived
Pick 50 in the 1989 national draft
Number
Debut
Round 1 1990 vs Collingwood
(56th Eagles player)
Games
43
Goals
9
B&F Top 10
0
Best Finish
n/a
Last app.
Round 10 1993 vs St Kilda
Departed
Delisted at the end of the 1993 season
Other clubs
South Fremantle (WAFL) 1985-1993
Melbourne (AFL) 1994-1997
Subiaco (WAFL) 1998-1999

Dean “Big Bird” Irving was a giant ruckman from Kalgoorlie who came to West Coast via South Fremantle.

West Coast career[]

Something of a mature-age recruit at the age of 23, Irving made his debut for the Eagles in the opening round of the 1990 season, along with Dean Kemp, Peter Matera and Brad Gwilliam. In all Irving played 16 games in his debut year, including the drawn qualifying final against Collingwood and the replay the following week.

After competing with Phil Scott and the oft-injured Laurie Keene in his rookie season, in 1991 Irving was the side’s number 1 ruck. He played all but one game, kicked 3 goals in a semi-final against the Demons and picked up 10 Brownlow Medal votes.

In 1992, however, Paul Harding arrived home from St Kilda and Irving was confined to the WAFL for the majority of the year, playing just 1 senior game. That was repeated in 1993 and at the end of the season, with the AFL cutting list sizes from 52 to 40 and Irving having played just 2 games in 2 years, he was delisted.

Melbourne career[]

Irving was picked up by Melbourne in the pre-season draft and spent four seasons at the Dees, but was in the reserves more often than not. He played just 23 games in four years before retiring at the end of the 1997 season.

Post-AFL career[]

Returning to WA, Irving spent two seasons at Subiaco. After his playing days finished, he had a stint as West Coast’s ruck coach.

Stats[]

AFL Gm G B K M H D T WAFL Gm G
1990 16 3 2 101 49 60 161 14 SF 7 3
1991 25 6 1 151 74 115 266 21 0
1992 1 0 0 7 2 7 14 0 14 5
1993 1 0 0 6 3 4 10 2 18 13
Tot 43 9 3 265 128 186 451 37
Avg 0.2 6.2 3.0 4.3 10.5 0.9

References[]

http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Dean_Irving.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Irving

http://waflfootyfacts.net/player/stats.php?PlayerID=3156

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