Herons fly to China for Jacob’s big day
THE Heron family have completed a mad dash to Shanghai, China to be in the stands this afternoon to watch Cairns Saints junior Jacob Heron make his AFL debut.
Mum Jillian and brother Oscar were hellbent on being at Jiangwan Stadium to see the 18-year-old speedster run out with his Gold Coast teammates against Port Adelaide for the first time.
The Heron family were informed earlier this week the former St Augustine’s College student was a chance to play his first game at the elite level but Chris Heron, Jacob’s father, yesterday afternoon revealed the lengths they went to be there on the special day.
Chris, a chiropractor by trade, was unable to travel due to work commitments but was pleased to see most of the family together for the occasion.
“Jillian and Oscar arrived in Shanghai on Friday afternoon and Jacob did not know,” Chris said. “It would have been a nice surprise for him.
“They had to organise the visa earlier this week and that is not a straightforward thing, to get one into China.
“They went to Brisbane on Tuesday to organise a visa, not knowing if Jacob would definitely play or not, and he got the official word he would play around 4pm on Thursday.
“From then on it was all systems go.”
Today’s clash, which starts at 1.15pm, will be a significant one for the Heron family but also for the wider community.
The match between the Power and Suns will mark the most AFL Cairns products playing in an AFL game to- gether, with Heron joined by junior teammate Jack Bowes, fellow Cairns Saint and now Power big man Charlie Dixon and experienced defender Jarrod Harbrow.
Heron and Bowes started their junior football together at Saints in the under-13s, have since played in the NEAFL together and will be side-by-side this afternoon after rooming together all week in China.
“Jack and Jacob are really close, the club knows that,” Chris said. “Jacob would need that guidance in Shanghai this week being his first game and Jack would be able to do that.”
Saints president Stephen McIntosh is smiling about the production line of AFL talent at Griffiths Park, with Caleb Graham set to join them at the elite level next season.
“Jacob is a good, well-mannered kid. He deserves everything he gets in life,” McIntosh said. “He is a pretty quiet kid but his football always did the talking for him.”
Suns coach Stuart Dew said Heron was ready for today.
“We brought him over to Perth a while ago to get a little bit of experience around travel so it isn’t such an eye-opener for him,” Dew said.
“We are confident he can bring us some real energy.”