Walcha’s Morgan Dunn had the opportunity of a lifetime when he took centre stage in front of thousands of people in Coffs Harbour.
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Dunn was part of a combined Northern Rivers and Northern Inland Academy of Sport team which took to the field in a curtainraiser for the Sydney Swans and North Melbourne Kangaroos on Sunday. Named the Northern Stars, the players suited up against a North Coast Academy team and went down 11.3-69 to 4.8-32.
He was named co-captain for the Stars and said, despite the score on the field, the experience of running out in front of Sydney Swans players was something special.
"It was an amazing feeling to run out onto the Coffs Harbour International Stadium with the crowd and the Swans staff and selectors all watching," he said.
Morgan’s father, Neil, said 2000 people were there for the start of the junior match and crowd figures reached 3700 by the final siren.
They also had the opportunity to mix with Swans players and selectors to give them an idea of what it is like to be a professional athlete.
"It was just a great weekend for the boys. The training, the game on Sunday and being so close to the Swans players was a great experience for them all,” he said.
"On the Saturday night at the dinner and jumper presentation that was held at the Coffs Harbour Golf Club, the North Coast Swans Academy selector put on a presentation for all the players.”
“[The presentation] included a full package on responsibility and proper etiquette and behaviour on ground and off ground.
"He also explained what they were looking for in talented players.
“The most important thing they were looking for was the ability to kick the ball properly.”