Fremantle will go into Saturday’s Starlight Purple Haze Game against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium with an extra team member after Lachie Neale ‘drafted’ 12-year-old Heath McAuliffe to be a Freo Docker for the week.
Neale made a surprise appearance at an assembly at St Mark's Anglican School in Hillarys on Wednesday, announcing that the young Freo fan will be joining the ranks, with Heath also expected to front up for Thursday’s training session at Optus Stadium.
Heath’s dream is to play AFL for the Fremantle Dockers but due to a genetic eye disease (Stargardt’s disease) he will lose the majority of his vision over the next few years.
On Saturday, that dream will become a reality when he runs out with the Freo Dockers side at their historic ‘away’ clash with Gold Coast.
Be a part of the Purple Haze! Get your tickets to round three's 'away' game here
Heath, who plays in the backline for the Whitford Cheetahs, said he felt something was up when he saw his parents, and none of the parents of his classmates, at the back of the assembly.
When Lachie Neale appeared, he knew he was about to experience something extra special.
“It was so surprising,” Heath said.
“Ever since when I was in Auskick and got into the more advanced play, I’d always wanted to play for Freo.
“But last year I found out I was going to lose my eyesight and I thought, how am I going to be able to join Freo?”
Entering his sixth year as a Starlight Ambassador, Neale said he felt there was something especially emotional about Heath’s wish.
“I remembered in my draft year, (when) I thought I wasn’t going to get picked for being too small and too slow,” Neale said.
“Everyone has tough patches throughout their life and Heath’s is obviously amplified.
“I’ve been a part of Starlight for a few years now and every time (we do a wish), it’s pretty special. This year it’s no different to be here with Heath today, it was amazing and I was pretty emotional myself.”
While health professionals focus on treating the illness, Starlight is there to lift the spirits of children, giving them the opportunities to laugh, play and be a child again.
It’s a cause Neale can relate to after his younger sister was born into a battle for her life.
“I had a personal experience with my little sister who was born really premature and is really lucky to be alive,” Neale said.
“I remember the doctors basically told mum she had a less than five per cent chance to survive.
“All of these stories really strike a chord with me and I think this one especially was really emotional. To see his family and Heath be so excited to be a part of it, it was really special.”
While Heath will get to lead Freo out onto Optus Stadium alongside his favourite player, Nat Fyfe, Neale hopes he can get Heath to wear his number.
“Heath’s going to run out with the team and hopefully have the number 27 on his back, even though Fyfey’s his favourite player,” Neale said.
“He’s super stoked and he can’t wait to run out with the boys. It will be really good to involve him in tomorrow’s training and on game day.
“He’ll basically train with us so he gets to be a part of the team, which is really special.”
