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Damian Cupido (born March 11, 1982 in South Africa) is an Australian rules footballer.

Beginning his career at the Brisbane Lions in 2000, Cupido was a great success story, and after arriving in Australia from South Africa, made it to the elite level of Australian rules football (the AFL). Cupido's talent was considered to be immense, with the highly skilled young star winning an AFL Rising Star nomination in 2001. After not playing a game in 2002, at what was to be a hint of his inconsistency and lack of application, Cupido was traded by the Brisbane Lions to Essendon in a deal involving Blake Caracella.

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 couldn't. 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. He gained weight and was seen as lazy on the training track. At the end of the 2005 season, Cupido was delisted from the Bombers.

Cupido continued his career in the SANFL with South Adelaide in the season 2006, hoping to get a second chance in the AFL via the 2007 Pre-season draft. He never got a picked up in the draft and left South Adelaide Football club the play with another SANFL team West Adelaide Football Club.

Damian also plays cricket for Brighton Cricket Club in Adelaide.

• Bomberland Profile - Damian Cupido
• Damian Cupido's statistics from AFL Tables

• Cupido Faces the Axe (April 2005)
• Talent to burn Cupido's career turns to ashes (December 2005)

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