Hawthorn is one club, many teams, including a wheelchair footy and an AFL Blind team. With lots of time to be spent at home over the coming weeks, we thought it was the perfect time for Hawks fans to learn a little bit more about the players that make up these teams. Hawthorn’s Wheelchair and Blind football teams are made possible by the club’s social inclusion partner, Afford, one of Australia’s longest-serving disability service providers.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do outside of footy?

I am 32 years old and outside of footy, I particularly love art and graphic design.  Currently, I am doing some freelance graphic design work and have also started up my own apparel company, Tassie Strong. In my spare time, I have a few different hobbies that I like to do – this includes painting miniature figurines, collecting AFL and NBA trading cards, as well as playing ‘Dungeons and Dragons’. 

So, you play Wheelchair AFL. What made you pursue AFL and how did you get involved? 

Wheelchair AFL came out of nowhere for me. I was playing country league footy prior to my accident, and after it I never thought I would be able to play football again. One day I heard that a Wheelchair Football practice match was due to take place in my hometown, Hobart. I went along and soon enough I was on my way to the first National Wheelchair (AFL) Championships in Melbourne.

Can you briefly explain how wheelchair AFL is played, and what it means for you to play?

Wheelchair AFL is essentially an adapted form of able-bodied football. We play on a basketball court which is divided into thirds with five players on each team - two defenders, two forwards and one centre. A standard kick equates to a hand pass in Wheelchair AFL therefore we score goals and points by handballing the football through the goalposts. Only the forwards can score, meanwhile the centre player can go anywhere on the court.

It means the world for me to play Wheelchair AFL. I have loved AFL since I was approximately two years old and have always been a life-long Geelong supporter. But to have the opportunity put on an AFL jumper and represent a club like Hawthorn, even now with a disability, is absolutely amazing! 

A wide range of people participate in wheelchair sports, each with various stories and challenges. What was your pathway into wheelchair sport and what are some of the challenges you face daily and in sport?

In 2009 I was involved in a (tandem) skydiving accident.  It was the first time I had ever skydived, and the incident also took place on what was one of Hobart’s windiest days on record. While skydiving, my instructor and I got blown by about a kilometre off-course and descended on Hobart’s Tasman bridge which acted as a ‘windbreak’.  Falling 30 meters out of the sky, I landed on my bottom and my L1 vertebrae dislocated as a result.

The incident and the recovery that followed was a devastating time. Just prior to the accident I had been training to achieve my goal of play in Tasmania’s state-wide football league.

Some people say, ‘things like this happen for a reason’, and I truly believe that. As hard as it was going through the incident, in a way it was the best thing to ever happen to me. It gave me a better appreciation for life, and now I see the world in a new light. Of course, the initial stages of my rehabilitation were difficult to endure, and I still have my ‘bad days’ now. However, with coping mechanisms in place and sport being such a great outlet for my health, it makes all the challenges I’m faced with easier to get through.

Getting involved with wheelchair sports was a natural progression for me. I was sports-mad before my accident and did everything from mountain bike riding to cricket and fun runs. Any opportunity to play sport, I went for it.  Towards the end of my recovery, a staff member at the rehabilitation centre said, ‘here’s a basketball-wheelchair, have a go’. From that point on, I don’t think there has been a single time when I haven’t been involved in wheelchair sports.

Wheelchair AFL looks like a very fast-paced sport. What is it that you love or look forward to the most about it?

I love the speed, physicality, and skill-execution. It’s a challenging sport with several components to think about on-court, so the technicality of it is great too. 

Have you played any other sports?

Over the last ten years I’ve played Wheelchair Basketball and now I also participate in strongman training which is similar to weightlifting and uses unique implements such as atlas stones and large logs. I previously took up rowing and was training for 2016 Rio Paralympics, however unfortunately I just missed out on qualifying.

Do you have any heroes or people you aspire to be like?

I have a number of role models. Although controversial, I love Joel Selwood - his determination and attitude towards footy is really impressive. I also look up to those in my personal life including my mum and dad, and my partner Kirby.

What is your ultimate sporting goal and what is a life goal of yours?

I would love to win the Wheelchair AFL premiership as well as compete in one of the world championships for strongman.

In terms of my life goals, I am truly just grateful to be alive, really alive! So, I try to keep a level-head when it comes to my aspirations. To some extent, I would really like to get back to life ‘prior to my accident’ – for example, returning to full-time work.

If you could give any advice to someone who has gone through something similar to you, what would it be and what advice would you give them about wheelchair sport?

The one thing I didn’t necessarily do after my accident was surround myself with positive people. I’ve only recently done that through the support of my friends, family, and medical professionals. I have also taken up more hobbies which has been an immense help for me, and something I could not endorse more. Lastly, make sure to be in tune with your body and your mind - mental and physical health are both equally as important as the other. 

The wheelchair itself is a great equaliser in sport, so don’t be afraid to give a wheelchair sport a go, especially Wheelchair AFL! You can play it either casually or get involved on a larger level and play in the Wheelchair AFL league!

What did it mean to be drafted to Hawthorn Football Club’s wheelchair team?

From a young age it was always one of my biggest dreams to play for an AFL club, and having suffered my accident, I thought that this dream had gone ‘out the window’.  When I was presented with the opportunity to play for Hawthorn, this reignited sport for me and stoked the fire that I could still play competitive sport, regardless of my ability. It was a fantastic feeling to be drafted, and with the club’s continued support ever since it has just been a dream.

What are you looking forward to the most about this year with the Hawks?

As I am nearing the end of my football career, I look forward to imparting my knowledge on our team’s emerging players. We have had a few younger players join the team this year, so it’s going to be great to see them develop their skills and become more exposed to the sport. Although it’s been an interesting year with everything that has gone on, I am really looking forward to the rest of 2020 with the Hawks!  

All interviews in the Getting to know series are hosted by Hawthorn’s AFL Blind Vice Captain Ned Brewer-Maiga.

Find out more about Hawthorn’s Social Inclusion Partner, Afford, by heading to their website.