Ranga Ediriwickrama

Ranga Ediriwickrama is a former rookie listed Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was a midfielder who was recruited to the club under the New South Wales scholarship program before being delisted at the end of 2010.

Early life

Ediriwickrama was born in Griffith and moved to the Sydney suburb of Pennant Hills when he was three with his parents, who were born in Sri Lanka. He played soccer until he was twelve, then switched to Australian Rules, winning three premierships with Westbrook JAFC.

Playing career

Ediriwickrama played for the NSW/ACT Rams in 2007 and 2008, and captained the team to fourth place in 2008. He was also called up for two reserves games for the Sydney Swans in 2007, and won a premiership with Pennant Hills in the New South Wales Premier league in 2008.

After "dominating" the Under 16 carnival, Ediriwickrama was selected by Geelong in June 2007 under the New South Wales scholarship program, an initiative to promote Australian Rules in New South Wales. Under this scheme Geelong used their last pick in the 2008 rookie draft to recruit him. Until gaining the scholarship his main interest had been cricket He could have nominated for the senior draft but chose not to, and allow Geelong to draft him,.