DREISE INFLUENCE ON THE NEXT GEN
CALLS FOR MORE INDIGENOUS JUNIORS AHEAD OF SIR DOUG NICHOLLS ROUND
Indigenous round is a big thing for myself and other Indigenous players Phil Dreise
PHIL Dreise will go down as one of the greatest ever Indigenous Aussie rules players on the Darling Downs.
Premierships, club best and fairest honours, and a prestigious Holman Medal, all adorn his trophy cabinet.
He was also named as the only Indigenous player in the AFL Darling Downs team of the half century last year.
With all competitive junior and senior Coolaroo teams to wear a specially designed jersey over the next fortnight to commemorate Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Dreise said he hopes it inspires more Indigenous kids to pick up a Sherrin.
“We wanted to get the juniors involved as well, and we hope that seeing the jersey inspires other Indigenous kids on the Downs to play AFL,” Dreise said.
“It’s been more of a league town, and we want to get behind kids playing any sport, but AFL is growing in Toowoomba year by year.”
The chance to be involved in this round is one of special significance for Dreise, of the Kamilaroi and Euahlayi tribes, with family a central part of its importance.
“Indigenous round is a big thing for myself and other Indigenous players,” he said.
“We get to represent our culture, play in front of our mob, and it acknowledges the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people to Australian football and the community as well.
“It’s a big thing for me. My dad inspired me to play football.
“Even though he played league and union, he was the one buying me boots and kicking the footy with me.
“He was proud of me for making the AFLDD team of the half century. My two sons mean the world to me, and I hope I can be a great father like my dad is.”
The Coolaroo guernsey was designed by Dreise’s uncle Gregg, and is called Bundar Wantima (Kangaroos Rise Up).
It tells the story of the club, with 22 kangaroo tracks representing each player and in the centre a meeting place
The kangaroo is representative of Coolaroo, with the track in the middle for coaching staff, supporters, and players past and future. It wishes all team members can play the best they can.
Coolaroo plays host to Goondiwindi this weekend at Rockville Park, with the best and fairest on the day to receive the Phil Dreise Medal.
AFLDD FIXTURES
MEN: South Burnett vs Uni at Lyle Vidler Oval, South Toowoomba vs Toowoomba at Southern Cross Reserve, Warwick vs Dalby at WCU Oval. Games at 2.30pm, Saturday
WOMEN: South Toowoomba vs Toowoomba at Southern Cross Reserve, South Burnett vs Goondiwindi at Lyle Vidler Oval. Games at 12.45pm, Saturday