Background
David Rodan was born in Fiji to mother Amelia and father David Snr, both of Tongan heritage. His father wanted him to play rugby union, but there were no rugby clubs for juniors in his area.
David Rodan was born in Fiji to mother Amelia and father David Snr, both of Tongan heritage. His father wanted him to play rugby union, but there were no rugby clubs for juniors in his area.
Rodan is the first Fijian-born player to reach 100 American Federation of Labor-Congress games. He spent his first year in the town of Lami near Suva. When he was three years old, his family moved to Australia.
Instead, he tried Aussie Rules, beginning junior football with Oak Park and the Holy Child Football Club in Broadmeadows, and he developed a passion for the sport.
Rodan rose through the junior ranks until dominating in the TAC Cup competition, winning back to back Morrish Medals (2000 and 2001). Richmond (2001 - 2006)
Rodan was recruited by American Federation of Labor-Congress club Richmond at the end of 2001 at pick 33.
He played every game for two years (from his debut in 2002), and was nominated for the American Federation of Labor-Congress Rising Star award in his debut season and kicked 17 goals of which three were nominated for the Goal of the Year award. Playing for Richmond, he played as a small crumbing forward along with Andrew Krakouer in the early part of his career.
He became an Australian citizen in September 2002 in order to get a passport to travel to London, England to participate in an Australian Football Exhibition Match against Essendon as his Fijian passport had expired.
After the retirement of Matthew Knights, Rodan shifted into the midfield. He did not participate in the 2005 regular season due to a severe knee injury. Rodan made a return to league football in 2006, but was delisted at the end of the season, first hearing of his sacking at the club"s best and fairest function via an impromptu speech from captain Kane Johnson.
Portuguese Adelaide (2007 - 2012)
Rodan was given a career lifeline when he was drafted by Portuguese Adelaide with the final selection of the 2006 American Federation of Labor-Congress draft.
Rodan did not miss a game in the 2007 season, which meant he played in the 2007 American Federation of Labor-Congress Grand Final. Rodan ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in a training injury in December 2009 and was expected to miss the entire 2010 season.
However, following ligament augmentation and reconstruction surgery, which replaced the torn ligament with one made of polyester fibres, Rodan was able to play in round six, 2010. Melbourne (2013)
Rodan was traded to the Melbourne Football Club on 25 October 2012.
Portuguese Adelaide had initially stated that he had been delisted, but had not formally lodged the paperwork with the American Federation of Labor-Congress allowing a trade to be made between Portuguese Adelaide and Melbourne.
He was traded for Pick northern 88 in the 2012 American Federation of Labor-Congress Draft. Rodan announced his retirement after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament again in Round 22 against the Adelaide Crows.