Essendon will be a part of the newest state-wide Australian Rules competition with the Bombers entering a team in the inaugural Victorian Wheelchair Football League in 2018.
The Bombers are one of five AFL teams to field a side in 2018, with Collingwood, Richmond, St Kilda and Hawthorn rounding out the competition.
At the season launch in the Holden Centre on Friday, AFL Victoria Diversity Manager Xavier Moloney said that the establishment of the VWFL is another step towards making Australian Rules inclusive to all.
“VWFL will give people who never had the opportunity to play our great game a chance to play, as well as people who had the opportunity to play taken away to play again,” Moloney said.
Louis Rowe will captain Essendon’s inaugural wheelchair football side in 2018. At the season launch, the 32-year old reflected on his journey to play wheelchair football.
“Last year, I saw pictures on Instagram of last year’s nationals’ competition and I tried out for the Victorian team this year,” Rowe said.
Rowe was confined to a wheelchair after injuring the T12 vertebrae in his spine in a scooter accident in Thailand back in 2007. At the time, he was 22 and playing football for Old Xavier.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back out on the field,” said Rowe, who will represent Victoria in the State of Origin next week.
“There are other wheelchair sports; you can play basketball, rugby or tennis. Personally, I was never really into them.
“I miss the teammates, the camaraderie, that intrinsic feeling of playing footy – and I miss the white line fever.”
Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher attended the launch and threw his support behind both the Bombers and the new league.
“Everyone can play, no matter what. We’ve got AFLW, men’s, the junior academy and you know what? I reckon this game will take off too,” said the 400-game defender.
Wheelchair football has rules adjusted to accommodate players of all abilities. The five-a-side, 10-minute quarter format is played on a basketball court.
Kicking is not allowed, with handballs acting as kicks and underarm throws the equivalent of a handball. The field is divided into three zones with midfielders able to move around all areas of the court, but defenders and forwards restricted to their starting zones and the midfield.
The VWFL competition is open to people of all abilities and ages and both men and women, with the home and away season kicking off in May.
