On Friday 29th February three young footballers took their first steps into AFL football and all three kicked a goal in their first game.

 

www.westernbulldogs.com.au talked to Callan Ward, James Mulligan and Guy O'Keefe about the experience...

Guy O’Keefe: Once I realised I was in the squad for the game against Melbourne, the excitement about making my first appearance for the Western Bulldogs set in. On Thursday night and then on Friday I started to get nervous, but I was looking forward to getting out onto the ground and having a run around with the senior players.

 

I didn’t really know what to do with myself in the build up to the game, particularly when I was getting changed in the rooms beforehand. It went really quick and it almost seems like a blur now.

 

Callan Ward: Every player came up to me before the game to wish me luck which I think helped settle my nerves. On the Thursday night I was ok, but during Friday I was quite nervous in the lead up to the game. I couldn’t wait to get out on the ground and once I did the nerves went and I just concentrated on the game and tried to get my first kick.

 

James Mulligan: The two hour drive to Bendigo gave me a lot of time to think about the game. As soon as I got to the ground it really hit me, and I realised that I was about to play my first game for the Club.

 

It was a great feeling in the rooms before the game; everyone was coming over, senior players, coaching staff, shaking my hand and wishing me luck. There was a lot of support and it helped calm my nerves before we ran out onto the ground.

GO: I played deep in the forward line and moved up around half forward during the game so I was hoping to be able to do my job and kick a goal. When the opportunity came I was lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time. It was a great feeling, something I won’t forget and all of my team mates came over to congratulate me.

CW: My first touch and goal was probably the result of a pretty cheap free kick really! I was pushed in the back around 50 metres out from goal. Then the umpire gave a 50m penalty which took me right up to the goal line. It would have been pretty embarrassing if I had of missed but I managed to kick it straight! I guess it was a cheap first goal, but I’ll take it all the same.

 

JM: Like Callan, I was given a free kick but I didn’t get a 50 metre penalty to make things easier like he did. I went back, took a deep breath and kicked the goal. I wasn’t that nervous about the kick, it just happened. It was great that the three of us all kicked goals in our first game and I’m sure it’s something we will all remember.

 

GO: Melbourne got a very strong start and we did really well to come back to have a strong lead over them before the lights went out! Personally it was pleasing to be part of a winning team. A good win, the lights going out and kicking a goal are all memories I will take from my first game as a Bulldogs player.

 

CW: I had plenty of support in the grandstand, with my mum and sister as well as 20 mates all heading to Bendigo to cheer me on. Kicking a goal was an obvious highlight, but winning the game meant lot because you‘re a part of that winning feeling. That really makes me want to play more games for the Club in the future.

 

JM: It was amazing out there and it makes you want to be playing all of the time, every week. One of my first goals was to play a senior game. I’ve achieved that, it has given me a taste and now I just want to be able to do it again. I will keep working as hard as I can at training and hopefully an opportunity will present itself.