With almost 300 AFL games to his name, David Mundy is used to significant achievements but the Fremantle Docker recently added a milestone of a different kind in becoming a Murdoch University graduate.
After seven years negotiating the rigours of being an AFL footballer and Marine Science undergraduate, Mundy joined more than 2500 graduands who were welcomed into the Murdoch University alumni family.
Mundy’s passion to pursue a Marine Science degree stemmed from a love of the ocean and a realisation that football doesn’t last forever.
“It’s important to be engaged with something outside of football and the AFL and Fremantle Football Club believe in meaningful off-field engagement benefiting the individual and the athlete,” Mundy said.
“It has been challenging and frustrating at times, but at the end of the day it has been a really rewarding.”
Juggling the demands of being an elite AFL player with the commitments and time pressures of being a husband, father of three children and university student has not been easy.
“Training and travel for WA-based AFL players puts pressure on both your time and energy,” Mundy said. “Playing on different days and travelling interstate every other week, no week is ever the same.
“Early on I hit a few hurdles but I’ve had amazing support from my wife and family and I feel very fortunate to have all that support.
“Being involved in the Elite Athlete Program at Murdoch has also been really beneficial for me.”
The Elite Athlete Program assists athletes competing at a national or international level to achieve their academic goals at Murdoch while meeting the demands of an often-vigorous training and competition regime.
Mundy believes in the motto of training the way you want to play and has adopted the same philosophy to his studies.
“The Fremantle Football Club are passionate about the development and moulding of the person,” Mundy added. “Being the best person you can be has helped me throughout life, particularly with my studies.
“I was always anxious to do well very in exams and in assignments, much to the detriment of my family as it often meant more time in the library.”
The hard work paid off with Mundy the recipient of a Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence and the AFL Players Association Education and Training Award.
After so much time at Murdoch, Mundy feels very much “part of the furniture” and is passionate about progressing his academic pathway whilst still in football. This year he is doing an honours program with Professor Neil Loneragan studying the growth of the greenlip abalone in Augusta and its economic viability.
Mundy was one of 2503 students – 37 of which were PhD students who received Murdoch University degrees across four summer graduations ceremonies.
Picture caption: Murdoch graduate David Mundy with Jason Rickersey, Student Liaison Officer, Special Programs