I posted this on "Cats Claw" last year following our Awards Day at Narre Warren Junior FC. I thought it relevant to share here, now, given the appointment of Nathan Buckley as an assistant coach. Personally, I am extremely happy about this, and the following story will illustrate why.
Originally posted 17th September, 2024 on "Cats Claw".
Local Footy Story: Celebration, Grief and Nathan Buckley.
My son Joshie played his first ever season of football this year and on Sunday we had the Narre Warren Junior Football Club Presentation Day. Joshie was awarded the U13s "Player of the Finals", mostly for his game in the Preliminary Final where he played on the number 1 small forward in the League and shut him out of the game, but in every game he was in the best players, including the Grand Final, which we lost, sadly, to Cranbourne.
On Sunday I learned the club has a special award, regarded as the highest award at NWJFC, which is open to players from all teams at the club (U9s through to U13s and U14s Girls) called the Justin Dickson Award, which was named in honour of a boy who died in a drowning accident as a 14 year old. He played for NWJFC and his last game was the U14s Grand Final in 2004 which NWJFC won and Justin Dickson was the best on ground with 40 possessions. The game was taped and we watched highlights of it. Justin was a very good footballer. He was passionate about his game, and even as a 14 year old looked like he had it in him to make it to the highest level. It was certainly his dream to play AFL, and his family supported him 100%. His Dad would keep detailed stats of every game he played, which he left on the bar for us to check out. He was also a Collingwood tragic and devoted Nathan Buckley fan, wearing the no 5 jumper for NWJFC. His jumper is now framed along with his 4 B&F awards and his BOG award from the Grand Final.
Justin's Dad was there to explain the award and why it was given out to not necessarily the best footballer, but the person who best demonstrated the combination of fairness, toughness, modesty, care and respect along with playing great footy, like Justin did. In every game for every team the coaches have a 3-2-1 vote for the person they felt best exemplified the spirit of the award. This year one of the U14s girls won the Justin Dickson award.
As you can understand, the Dad was still struggling with the loss and grief while talking about his son, 20 years after the event, and he explained that in the period following his son's death he received support from an unlikely source: Nathan Buckley. Justin's Dad had a connection with Ben Johnson of Collingwood who, upon hearing about Justin's death and the family's struggle with grief, let Nathan Buckley know what had happened. Nathan Buckley reached out to Justin's Dad and for the next 3 years was there for him when he needed someone to talk to. He also came to the club and there was a photo there on Sunday of Nathan Buckley standing in front of Justin's framed jumper and awards with Justin's family. Justin's Dad flat out said there's no words to say how highly he thinks of Nathan Buckley.
I can tell you I got quite emotional, being a Dad and all. I came away from the day appreciative of the role played by local football clubs in our communities, but also with a new respect for Nathan Buckley. One can form a particular view of a person born out of the fierce competitiveness of professional sport, but we can later learn that underneath there's layers to people we never even imagined existed: layers of decency, compassion and kindness. If I ever meet Nathan Buckley I'd take a moment to shake his hand and thank him for how he helped a family in my local community, and also for playing a part in helping to leave a legacy for children to aspire to, thus reinforcing the motto of the NWJFC: "Strong in action; modest in character".
_____
Anyway, hope you like that and hope I wasn't too indulgent in my telling of the story. It was originally intended for a much smaller forum with people I've known online (and some of whom I've met in person) for 3 decades, so there's a lot more of a personal aspect to it than would probably be expected of posts on BigFooty.
Love and respect to all.
Chris
LOA
Originally posted 17th September, 2024 on "Cats Claw".
Local Footy Story: Celebration, Grief and Nathan Buckley.
My son Joshie played his first ever season of football this year and on Sunday we had the Narre Warren Junior Football Club Presentation Day. Joshie was awarded the U13s "Player of the Finals", mostly for his game in the Preliminary Final where he played on the number 1 small forward in the League and shut him out of the game, but in every game he was in the best players, including the Grand Final, which we lost, sadly, to Cranbourne.
On Sunday I learned the club has a special award, regarded as the highest award at NWJFC, which is open to players from all teams at the club (U9s through to U13s and U14s Girls) called the Justin Dickson Award, which was named in honour of a boy who died in a drowning accident as a 14 year old. He played for NWJFC and his last game was the U14s Grand Final in 2004 which NWJFC won and Justin Dickson was the best on ground with 40 possessions. The game was taped and we watched highlights of it. Justin was a very good footballer. He was passionate about his game, and even as a 14 year old looked like he had it in him to make it to the highest level. It was certainly his dream to play AFL, and his family supported him 100%. His Dad would keep detailed stats of every game he played, which he left on the bar for us to check out. He was also a Collingwood tragic and devoted Nathan Buckley fan, wearing the no 5 jumper for NWJFC. His jumper is now framed along with his 4 B&F awards and his BOG award from the Grand Final.
Justin's Dad was there to explain the award and why it was given out to not necessarily the best footballer, but the person who best demonstrated the combination of fairness, toughness, modesty, care and respect along with playing great footy, like Justin did. In every game for every team the coaches have a 3-2-1 vote for the person they felt best exemplified the spirit of the award. This year one of the U14s girls won the Justin Dickson award.
As you can understand, the Dad was still struggling with the loss and grief while talking about his son, 20 years after the event, and he explained that in the period following his son's death he received support from an unlikely source: Nathan Buckley. Justin's Dad had a connection with Ben Johnson of Collingwood who, upon hearing about Justin's death and the family's struggle with grief, let Nathan Buckley know what had happened. Nathan Buckley reached out to Justin's Dad and for the next 3 years was there for him when he needed someone to talk to. He also came to the club and there was a photo there on Sunday of Nathan Buckley standing in front of Justin's framed jumper and awards with Justin's family. Justin's Dad flat out said there's no words to say how highly he thinks of Nathan Buckley.
I can tell you I got quite emotional, being a Dad and all. I came away from the day appreciative of the role played by local football clubs in our communities, but also with a new respect for Nathan Buckley. One can form a particular view of a person born out of the fierce competitiveness of professional sport, but we can later learn that underneath there's layers to people we never even imagined existed: layers of decency, compassion and kindness. If I ever meet Nathan Buckley I'd take a moment to shake his hand and thank him for how he helped a family in my local community, and also for playing a part in helping to leave a legacy for children to aspire to, thus reinforcing the motto of the NWJFC: "Strong in action; modest in character".
_____
Anyway, hope you like that and hope I wasn't too indulgent in my telling of the story. It was originally intended for a much smaller forum with people I've known online (and some of whom I've met in person) for 3 decades, so there's a lot more of a personal aspect to it than would probably be expected of posts on BigFooty.
Love and respect to all.
Chris
LOA
