The Fremantle Football Club today launched the 2009 ‘Live the Dream’ program, which is proudly supported by BHP Billiton Iron Ore.
President Rick Hart welcomed the 16 ‘Live the Dream’ participants and their families this afternoon at the launch at Fremantle Oval.
Senior Coach Mark Harvey also addressed those in attendance and detailed how important the innovative program is not just to those lucky enough to have been selected to take part, but also to the club and the selected player mentors who will guide their protégés through the six day course.
Mark encouraged each participant to ask as many questions as they could, commit themselves to the program and be prepared to go outside their comfort zone over the coming six days to help them develop not only as footballers but as individuals.
The ‘Live the Dream’ mentors were then introduced to the participants who they will support throughout their experience with the Fremantle Football Club over the next 6 days as they experience life as an AFL footballer.
The 16 participants in the ‘Live the Dream’ program are:
Lou-ayy Rapie of South Hedland
Bradley Podmore South Hedland
Jarrad Darcy of Geraldton
James Ryan of Wanneroo
Gregory Cross of Spalding
Zane Sailor of South Hedland
Luqman Salby of South Hedland
Jake Caffieri of Morley
Josh Hooper of South Hedland
Michael Porter South Hedland
Brent Jordon of East Doncaster in Victoria
Sam Edwards of Leeming
Ferdi Louw of South Hedland
Benjamin Wagner of South Hedland
William Grant of East Fremantle
Mitchell Warren of Landsdale
Fremantle’s player mentors are Chris Tarrant, Ryan Murphy, Antoni Grover, Michael Johnson, Des Headland, Paul Hasleby, Clayton Hinlkey, David Mundy and Brock O’Brien. Aaron Sandilands will act as the ‘Live the Dream’ Ambassador in 2009.
The ‘Live the Dream’ program is an in-house program for 16 or 17-year-olds running from 14 -19 July. Thanks to the support of the club’s loyal sponsor, BHP Billiton Iron Ore, the cost of this unique experience for the lucky participants are all covered and includes meals, accommodation, apparel for the six days and travel costs to and from Perth for participants travelling from regional and eastern states areas.
Now in its third year the initiative offers participants the unique opportunity to develop skills and behaviours that can deliver long term benefits to themselves and their local communities, while also having the chance to immerse themselves in the culture of the Fremantle Football Club and live the life of an AFL player for six days.
‘Live The Dream’ is designed to develop teamwork and leadership skills, develop problem solving skills under pressure, provide participants with experiences that take them outside of their comfort zone and develop skills that participants can take back to their local community and pass onto their peers.
The ‘Live the Dream’ participants will take part in specialised physical conditioning and injury prevention sessions with Fremantle sports science staff, interactive sessions on nutrition, media training, player welfare and player recruitment, senior team match day involvement and post game recovery session, a training session with Fremantle Football Club coaching staff and leadership and team building sessions with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at Garden Island.
The 16 lucky participants were selected from a large range of nominations by a panel consisting of Fremantle Football Club staff and BHP Billiton Iron Ore staff. Nominations were sought through BHP Billiton Iron Ore, junior football club’s, the City of Fremantle, the Welcome to the AFL programme, or from Eastern States Partner Clubs of the Fremantle Football Club.
You can follow the progress of the lucky participants on FTV throughout the week and fremantlefc.com.au as they all ‘Live the Dream.’
