A Springwood junior, Wirth was a key position player, originally drafted to the Brisbane Bears.
[1] He didn't play a league game for Brisbane in 1996 and at the end of the year was signed by the Lions, who were formed from a merger between the Bears and Fitzroy.
He spent two years with the Lions and in his second season finally made his debut, against Melbourne at the MCG in round 18.
[2] Wirth scored twice and was one of just two multiple goal scorers for Brisbane, however he was dropped from the starting lineup after a 95-point defeat.
[2] It was the only AFL game he would play, despite also spending a year at Geelong, who had picked him up in the rookie draft.