On a day in which Western Australia restored its pride in State football. The game showed its ability to unite people, not only within the state of Western Australia but within the small community of Nollamara.
Nollamara Primary School has been conducting a 20 week AFL program, with the aim of enhancing the games exposure to the wider community and to promote the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.
As part of Nollamara’s program the Subiaco District afforded the opportunity to the school to take part in a little league game at half time of the WA V SA fixture.
The students came by bus to a ground that was unfamiliar to them all as most had not had the opportunity to go to football game before, let alone a game to determine who the better football state was.
The children were greeted by a damp, windblown Medibank Stadium, yet this could not curb the enthusiasm and excitement of the children.
Once through the gate the children were taken into the changerooms of the WA side in which they donned a football jumper, shorts and socks, many for the first time.
They completed the customary warm-up and photo shoot before being lead on to the vast expands of Medibank Stadium.
What happened next was something so unbelievable that the founding fathers of football could never had foreseen and showed that no matter where you come from one can always share a common experience which is Australian rules football.
The game concluded with all children being cheered off the ground and the football public taking note of how far the game has come.
Once changed and back in their warm clothes, the children enjoyed the hospitality of the Subiaco Football Club sharing in a hotdog, soft drink and reliving their first taste of our great game.
To cap off a day of football firsts the West Australian state side went on to beat SA, this being the first time it has occurred in 15 years.
