It’s deep into the AFL season and at DSV the thing we have been the most excited about is how much the participants of the Fiona McBurney Match Day Experience have been getting out of it.
The program aims to connect sport and disability by providing a unique experience for individuals to undertake an official guest AFL trainer role for the AFL umpires on match day.
One of those guest trainers is Sammy. His mum Jenny told us that his siblings and niece recently went along to a match where Sam was a guest and that they were blown away by the whole experience.
And the experience just kept on giving when Jenny, Sammy and their family went to visit friends the next day and watched the match together. “We were so excited to see him running and dancing in the background at the final siren when Magpies won!”
Not only did Sam have the absolute time of his life and is asking to go again already, Jenny told us, “My daughter said Sammy did not stop smiling the whole night. He will remember this for years to come.”
This year the Fiona McBurney Match Day Experience features 22 rounds and 22 participants, which is more than ever before. There are chaperones who support the participants on the day, most of who are retired ALF umpires, so they really know their stuff.
We love being able to support this program and, more than that, we love to hear the stories from participants. Thank you for sharing your story, Sammy and Jenny. And thank you to the AFL Umpires Association for supporting our guest trainers!
You can read more about the Fiona McBurney Match Day Experience on our website.
