TATT’S A GREAT WAY TO RECORD HISTORY
MATTHEW Conroy’s body paints like a storybook of his life.
From a flock of birds on his left shoulder, to a crown underneath his right ear, each individual tattoo symbolises a person or moment in the 19-year-old’s existence.
“The one on my hand is about Mum, the beer bottle is for Grandad, I’ve got one for my favourite TV show, the date I saw Eminem and this is for my son,” Conroy said, slowly explaining each of the sketches that dot his arms.
“I’ve been going one a week at the moment. I just started (getting tattoos).
“I’m hoping by mid next year I’m covered but we’ll see how we go.”
Conroy was signed by the club in late October after progressing through the
Suns’ North Queensland academy program.
The 198cm giant grew up in Townsville and played rugby league before picking up a Sherrin for the first time at 15 with Hermit Park.
His brother James is an under-20s player for Penrith though the siblings weren’t blessed with the same rugby league prowess.
“I come from a rugby league family and my brother did pretty well with the Penrith Panthers so I did play a bit but injuries took a toll on me getting too tall and skinny for rugby league,” Conroy said.
“Mum forced me into AFL so it was a big change but I’m loving it.”
Conroy joined Connor Budarick as one of the first academy products to be signed by the Suns before the 2019 draft, making the decision to uproot his life worth the risk.
“It’s a very big privilege for them to see you in that light and get signed earlier,” he said.
“Moving from home and leaving all my family and friends was a pretty big sacrifice to pursue professional footy. To be able to play an AFL game would be pretty awesome so that’s the next step.”