MELBOURNE will send a 15-man contingent to the funeral of Austin Wonaeamirri’s father, which will be held on the Tiwi Islands on Monday.
The father of the Demon forward, tragically died in a car accident near Milikapiti on the Tiwi Islands on Sunday, November 14.
The father of the Demon forward, tragically died in a car accident near Milikapiti on the Tiwi Islands on Sunday, November 14.
Chief executive Cameron Schwab, coach Dean Bailey, assistant coach Josh Mahoney and personal development coach Ian Flack will be in attendance, as will Melbourne’s indigenous players Jamie Bennell, Aaron Davey, Neville Jetta and Liam Jurrah.
Brad Green, Brent Moloney, Clint Bartram, Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones and Jake Spencer and Tom McNamara, who is training with the club, will also travel to the Northern Territory to pay their respects.
The traveling party will leave on Saturday and arrive back in Melbourne on Monday night.
Schwab said it was important the club showed respect to Austin and his family.
“It’s a heartfelt loss for Aussie and his family and his community,” Schwab told melbournefc.com.au.
“We appreciate by Aussie playing football for Melbourne and being away from his family and people that means that we need to show respect.
“In a small way, we hope that by spending time in the community, we can show our respect.”
Melbourne assistant coach Josh Mahoney said Austin Wonaeamirri was a highly-popular figure at the club and that it wanted to show its support to him and his family.
“Since we heard of the death of his father two weeks ago, Austin's been away up in the Tiwi Islands. We as a club felt that was very important for him to go up there and spend time with his family and friends and to go through the grieving process," Mahoney said.
"It's a great sign of the unity of the footy club in that every player wanted to put their hand up to go and in the end we had to knock back people."
"It's a great sign of the unity of the footy club in that every player wanted to put their hand up to go and in the end we had to knock back people."
The Melbourne contingent will attend the Tiwi Bombers and St Marys match on Saturday.
It will be the first time they compete for the Wonaeamirri-Gregory Cup. Bailey will present the cup, while the players will be on the ground.
It is a tribute to the late Wonaeamirri and Leon ‘Foxy’ Gregory, who was the first Tiwi Islander to win the Nichols Medal.
Austin also played for Tiwi and St Marys.
Tiwi’s best player will gain the Wonaeamirri Medal.
Melbourne acknowledges the support of respected St Marys coach Brenton Toy, who has played a key role with the club’s indigenous players. It will be his last match as coach of St Marys, as he is set to take over as Northern Territory Institute of Sport coach.
On Monday, Melbourne will pay tribute to Austin's father during a training session at AAMI Park. The players will wear black arm bands and stand for a minute’s silence.
