THERE’S MORE TO PLAYING

When you join a local club, you become part of a story.

Footy is more than the game – it’s the players that bring it to life. Playing footy isn’t only about goals and scores; it’s about building friendships, challenging yourself, and finding your place in a team. It’s using your energy, your passion, and your dedication to contribute to something bigger, while creating memories and connections that stay long after the final siren.

Josh Kirk – Player & Volunteer, Wagin FC

Josh’s love for footy began as a kid, kicking the ball on his family farm, and it’s stayed with him ever since. Living and working on thousands of acres can be isolating, but football gives him a chance to catch up with mates, share a laugh, and feel part of something bigger. In a small town, the footy club is the heart of the community – a place for connection, tradition, and lifelong friendships that extend far beyond the field.
 

EMMA WALLER – Player & Coach, Lauderdale FC

Emma’s sporting journey began with basketball, but at 30 she gave football a go, and never looked back. Sharing the field with her daughter, she discovered a passion for the game.For Emma, football is about more than goals; it’s the friendships, the mentorship, and the sense of belonging in a supportive club culture that keeps her coming back season after season.

SIMON MACGREGOR – LOWER CLARENCE SUNS

Simon grew up in Torquay, Victoria, where footy and surfing shaped his life. Though he followed a professional career in the surf industry, travelling the world for over a decade, playing footy remained a constant – helping him find community in unexpected places, from Helsinki to home. 

Returning to Australia, Simon and his family settled in Yamba, where AFL was absent. Even though he had hung up the boots, he helped create the Lower Clarence Suns to hand over the legacy to his kids. Now a passionate coach, Simon sees footy as more than a game – it’s a way to connect, give back, and inspire the next generation.

ODELIA THAM – RANDWICK SAINTS

For Odelia, footy started as a way to try something new, but it quickly became so much more. As a senior women's player for the Randwick City Saints, she found not just a team, but a second family. 

Whether it’s organising social events, starting a thriving book club, or simply sharing spontaneous weekends with teammates, footy has given Odelia friendships, confidence, and a space to truly be herself. In a busy world, making new connections can be hard, but footy brings people together – on and off the field.