In response to the Hawks Museum’s recent call out regarding the ongoing search for significant club guernseys, the museum was grateful to receive an email from Jeremy O’Halloran a member of the club's wheelchair team.
He was asking if the museum would be interested in receiving his first guernsey that he wore when representing the Hawks in the newly established wheelchair competition.
An immediate yes was the answer. It was a real eye-opener to meet Jeremy and learn more about the wheelchair competition and the personalities within his team.
The Victorian Wheelchair Football League, (VWFL) began in 2018. Sponsored by The Robert Rose Foundation who provide valued support to those with trauma spinal cord injuries and their families. The Hawthorn, together with Collingwood, Richmond, St Kilda, and Essendon were the foundation clubs to have teams in this AFL initiative for accessible sport for all Victorians.
Jeremy was chosen as the 1st draft pick in 2018 and has played every game since and scored the very first goal in the team’s first game.
His enthusiastic commitment and leadership for the team saw him being appointed as vice-captain in 2019. He is very impressed how Hawthorn has included his team into the greater landscape of the club.
When they train at Waverley, the team get to mix a bit with the guys from the AFL, Box Hill and women's teams which is really appreciated.
Jeremy is a massive Dermie fan, and he was delighted when it was announced that he would wear Dermie’s famed number 23.
Inspired by Dermie and with a similar look of determination, Jeremy was featured on the front cover of VWFL Football Record when the team played the Saints in Round 6, 2019.
The wheelchair team also plays for the Silk-Miller cup and receive the same medals for participating as the Hawks and the Saints in the AFL do annually when they play against one another.
In Jeremy’s own words he has been a Hawk all his life so having the opportunity to represent the brown and gold is a real honour.
The very first game he attended was the 1976 Grand Final, watching Peter Knights, Leigh Matthews, Don Scott, Bomber Hendrie, Kel Moore and Dipper. In his words, how could he not follow the brown and gold after that introduction.
He considers himself very lucky to follow a club that has enjoyed more success than any other club in his lifetime and always will be 'Always Hawthorn'.
The museum offers its sincere thanks to Jeremy who has kindly donated his Silk-Miller medallion that he was presented with when the Hawks played the Saints, the Football Record that shows him in action and his treasured number 23 Guernsey.
