Hawthorn Football Club will now have four teams competing in the brown and gold in 2018 after successfully gaining a licence into the inaugural Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL).

The licence is one of five granted by AFL Victoria with Collingwood, St Kilda, Essendon and Richmond also successful. The state-wide league is the first opportunity people with a physical disability will have to play AFL in a regular competition.

The 10 round season will run between May and August, with all Hawthorn matches played at Boroondara Sports Complex.

The fixture will also include a dedicated beyondblue Round which will raise awareness about the increased risk of developing depression for people living with a disability, particularly those that acquire a disability as an adult.

AFL Wheelchair gives participants a sense of purpose and maintains their physical fitness, reducing anxiety and stress.

Hawthorn will leverage its relationship with beyondblue and Love Me Love You to fully support its partnership with Disability Sport and Recreation (DSR) and AFL Victoria.

Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves was excited by the opportunity to play a supportive role in growing AFL Wheelchair.

“Being granted a licence gives Hawthorn further opportunity to promote awareness, positivity and social change for not only the disabled community, but the entire Hawthorn family,” Reeves said.

“We are excited to work with DSR and AFL Victoria to continue to develop Wheelchair football and ensure AFL is everyone’s game.”

Peter Ogunyemi, who has been at the forefront of the sport since its inception, has been named the inaugural captain of Hawthorn’s side.

“To be named the captain of Hawthorn’s first ever team is a humbling and exciting feeling, especially as I grew up as a passionate Hawks supporter,” Ogunyemi said. 

“Hopefully with the announcement of AFL clubs getting behind the sport, it will help grow the game and inspire others to take up wheelchair footy,” he said.

Ogunyemi took up the sport following a career in wheelchair powerlifting, where he represented Nigeria at the Sydney Paralympics, as well as stints overseas playing wheelchair basketball. 

He will soon represent Victoria for the third time at the AFL Wheelchair national championships at Casey Stadium from March 21-23.

The proposed facilities at Hawthorn’s training and administration facility in Dingley will also be able to provide a future home base for Hawthorn’s AFL Wheelchair team with amenities to help run training and games.