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 and what do you do outside of footy?

Outside of footy, I play a lot of blind cricket. Last year was my first year playing blind sports and I absolutely loved it. I am now fully involved in blind sport and I am really missing it at the moment. I work full time at Seek in their customer experience team which is essentially like an account manager. I am also studying a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Information Systems. I am really keen on getting into analysis and data science, I have definitely found a new passion in that.

What made you pursue AFL Blind and how did you get involved? 

I was involved in the very first testing session for AFL Blind, about three years ago now. I saw an email for it and really leaped at the chance to play footy again. I played footy throughout my childhood until I was 18, but after that I really started to struggle because of my vision. I find it hard to see at night so I couldn’t really train during the week, which basically resulted in me getting dropped each week. I thought the idea of AFL for visually impaired people was really interesting so I gave it a go and the rest is history.

So, to play AFL Blind you need to have a visual impairment. What is your visual impairment and what are some of the challenges you may face on a daily basis, and in AFL?

My visual impairment is called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) which is commonly known as tunnel vision. Also, like most people with RP I have night blindness. Basically, this means that I have very limited peripheral vision, it is around 15 degrees whereas someone with standard vision would have 180 degrees. In low light, or at night, its next to nothing.

During the day I manage quite well (although I recently accidentally walked into the back of my girlfriend’s car and smashed her taillight). It can be challenging. At night I really need my guide dog to help me get around, especially in crowds. My guide dog also helps with visual and mental fatigue.

Can you explain what it means to you to play the game?

It means that I can play footy again, but on a level playing field, which is really great.

What do you love most about the game?

I love that everyone playing is on the same level. I love that it gives everyone a go. There are people of all ages, backgrounds, and gender playing the game. It really has a great sense of community. To have Hawthorn put the energy and resources it has into it has meant that the game has been able to take a number of steps forward. Hopefully, in the long run, this will mean the development of a national competition.

What did it mean to you when you found out you were drafted to Hawthorn?

Well at the start I thought oh no Hawthorn because I am a Carlton supporter, but I really quickly put that aside because I knew how significant it was for Hawthorn to be the first AFL club to officially have a team in the code. I felt really fortunate that I would be able to be a part of the family at Waverley Park, and I just felt really lucky to be at Hawthorn, to be honest. I know how good a club it is, not just performance-wise but also culturally and socially as well, so I was thanking my lucky stars that I was one of the lucky ones who ended up at the club.

How has your experience at Hawthorn been so far, what are some of the things the club has involved you in?

The overall experience has been really great. The club has involved us in a lot of events and club activities. We participated in mental health sessions with Sport and Life Training (SALT) which was a vital way to preface the season and really brought the team together. We got to meet a lot of the players, got to know a lot of the staff at the club, and meet the President and CEO. I was involved in a few social events and got to shed a light on our code and teach people about our game. Just being involved with an AFL club has just been really great!

Winning a premiership is always a special achievement. What did last year’s premiership-winning season mean to you?

To win the flag was honestly unbelievable. We started off the year missing a couple of our best players, and it felt like it was going to be a long year, but we managed to turn it around and gel as a group. By the time it came to Grand Final day I don’t think you could have written a better script for a Grand Final. I broke my nose in the third quarter and was unable to play out the game so we were a man down and still came away with the win. To win the Grand Final after the season’s hard work, and under all the circumstances was a great reward.

Watch: introducing your AFL Blind Premiers

Do you play any other blind sports?

My first involvement in blind sports was actually footy. It probably came a bit later then I had hoped but getting involved in blind footy then opened the door for me to get involved in blind cricket, which I love. Now that I am within the blind sporting community, I am starting to think of what’s next and I am open to trying new sports but at the moment cricket and footy keep me pretty busy…and injured.

Do you have any heroes or Idols that you want to be like?

I am not massive on heroes, but I used to love Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne for his on-field achievements. I also love Patrick Cripps and Chris Judd, of course. I just love someone who takes a step above the standard and can win games off their own backs. 

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

A massive goal of mine is that I really want to make the Australian team in blind cricket. I am really motivated by that and I would also love to represent Victoria in AFL Blind. I think that would be pretty amazing.

There has been a real focus in the last few years on disability inclusion. What advice would you give to someone who wants to get involved in AFL Blind, if they are visually impaired?

I would say just do it. The sport is played by so many people who are going through the same challenges as you. it is a truly inclusive sport so I would highly encourage anyone to give it a go and get the ball rolling because you will love it.

If someone wanted to get involved, how would they do so?

A really great place to go is the VBFL Facebook page and AFL Victoria’s website.

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.