Damian Cupido

Damian Cupido

Personal information
Birth	11 March 1982 (1982-03-11) (age 29), South Africa
Recruited from	Croydon/Eastern Ranges (TAC Cup)
Height and weight	184 cm / 95 kg
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 11, 21 May 2000, Brisbane Lions v. Sydney Swans, at Sydney Cricket Ground
Team(s)	Brisbane Lions (2000–2002) 13 games, 16 goals Essendon (2003–2005) 40 games, 50 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season
Career highlights
AFL Rising Star nominee 2001

Damian Cupido (born 11 March 1982 in South Africa) is a former Australian League footballer whose 53 game Australian Football League career spanned two clubs in the Australian Football League.

AFL career

In 2003 Cupido had his best year to date. He booted 40 goals for the season in his small/medium forward role and was a very exciting and at times dominant player. Rex Hunt's 3AW radio call once said "Roll up, roll up, to the Hird and Cupido show" when the Essendon stars were on top of the game and demolishing the opposition. Cupido's kicking accuracy, run and foot-skills were sublime during 2003.

In 2004 Cupido had an indifferent year, suffering for most of the year with a knee injury. It was hoped he could bounce back in 2005, but it turned out he could not. At one stage early in the season, Cupido suffered a public blast from coach Kevin Sheedy in the media, and Cupido was not only dropped to the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL, but one level further, to the Bendigo reserves team. Eventually he fought his way back into the Essendon side but he never looked like recapturing his form. At the end of the 2005 season, Cupido was delisted from the Bombers.^[1]

SANFL career

Cupido continued his football career in the SANFL with South Adelaide Football Club in the 2006 season, hoping to get a second chance in the AFL via the 2007 Pre-season draft.^[1] He did not get picked in the draft after his first season and left South Adelaide to play for West Adelaide,^{[citation needed]} where he was the club's leading goal scorer in 2007.^[2] In 2009, Cupido was stood down from West Adelaide to deal with a gambling problem.^[3] He played a total of 72 games in the SANFL; 51 with West Adelaide and 21 with South Adelaide.^[3]

Ovens and Murray Football League

In 2010, Cupido was recruited to North Albury Football Club in the Ovens and Murray Football League.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Niall, Jake (13 December 1005). "Talent-to-burn Cupido's career turns to ashes". The Age (Melbourne). http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/talenttoburn-cupidos-career-near-extinguished/2005/12/12/1134236003732.html. Retrieved 16 May 2009. 
2. ^ "Honour Table". West Adelaide Football Club. http://www.westadelaidefc.com.au/HISTORY/HONOUR_TABLE.aspx. Retrieved 16 May 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Keller, Candice (5 August 2009). "Damian Cupido stood down over gambling addiction". The Advertiser (Adelaide). http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/damian-cupido-stood-down-over-gambling-addiction/story-e6freck3-1225757870781. Retrieved 16 May 2009. 
4. ^ Seewang, Niall (28 January 2010). "Hoppers snare Cupido". The Border Mail (Albury). http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/hoppers-snare-cupido/1736970.aspx. Retrieved 16 May 2009. 

External links

• Bomberland Profile – Damian Cupido
• Damian Cupido's statistics from AFL Tables
• Cupido Faces the Axe (April 2005)

Persondata
Name	Cupido, Damian
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	11 March 1982
Place of birth	South Africa
Date of death
Place of death