COACH Dean Bailey says his recent trip to the Tiwi Islands, where he and a Melbourne contingent paid tribute to Austin Wonaeamirri’s father, was a moving encounter.
Wonaeamirri’s father tragically passed away in a car accident on Tiwi last month. Bailey was among the Melbourne representatives who attended Wonaeamirri’s father’s funeral.
“It was an amazing experience to be honest,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“We went up there and we certainly supported Aussie and the whole Tiwi community.
“Football is something that has brought Tiwi, from the northern part of Australia off the coast of Darwin, to the Melbourne footy club through Austin Wonaeamirri.
“He’s one of our players and he’s a player the players love playing with.”
Bailey said the popularity of Wonaeamirri meant the entire club could’ve attended his father’s funeral.
“We could’ve had every player go up. If we’d said to them that we’re filling a plane - we could’ve filled a couple of planes with people. He’s touched everyone, and everyone loves seeing him play,” he said.
“We hope that he’s going to have a really good year next year.
“So to be up there and be supporting him in a really tragic episode in his life and to find out how influential his father was - through the whole Tiwi community and particularly in the football arena, was fantastic.”
Bailey said the Melbourne contingent in Tiwi felt honoured to attend the funeral of Wonaeamirri’s father.
“We joined arms … and Aussie spoke and the players spoke and it was a moving time. We as a group felt really proud to represent those who couldn’t come with us,” he said.
“There was a lot of pride in who we are at the Melbourne footy club, so it was one of those special moments.
“You’ve got one of those iconic pictures of Aussie’s father with Jim Stynes, which was mentioned at the funeral, and how proud he was of his son playing in the AFL and in particular playing for Melbourne.
“It was a fantastic experience and we hope that Aussie can represent his family and his Tiwi brothers as well as he can over the journey.”
Wonaeamirri’s father tragically passed away in a car accident on Tiwi last month. Bailey was among the Melbourne representatives who attended Wonaeamirri’s father’s funeral.
“It was an amazing experience to be honest,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“We went up there and we certainly supported Aussie and the whole Tiwi community.
“Football is something that has brought Tiwi, from the northern part of Australia off the coast of Darwin, to the Melbourne footy club through Austin Wonaeamirri.
“He’s one of our players and he’s a player the players love playing with.”
Bailey said the popularity of Wonaeamirri meant the entire club could’ve attended his father’s funeral.
“We could’ve had every player go up. If we’d said to them that we’re filling a plane - we could’ve filled a couple of planes with people. He’s touched everyone, and everyone loves seeing him play,” he said.
“We hope that he’s going to have a really good year next year.
“So to be up there and be supporting him in a really tragic episode in his life and to find out how influential his father was - through the whole Tiwi community and particularly in the football arena, was fantastic.”
Bailey said the Melbourne contingent in Tiwi felt honoured to attend the funeral of Wonaeamirri’s father.
“We joined arms … and Aussie spoke and the players spoke and it was a moving time. We as a group felt really proud to represent those who couldn’t come with us,” he said.
“There was a lot of pride in who we are at the Melbourne footy club, so it was one of those special moments.
“You’ve got one of those iconic pictures of Aussie’s father with Jim Stynes, which was mentioned at the funeral, and how proud he was of his son playing in the AFL and in particular playing for Melbourne.
“It was a fantastic experience and we hope that Aussie can represent his family and his Tiwi brothers as well as he can over the journey.”
