The Kilmore Football Netball Club (KFNC) players and community were recently treated to a conversation-style presentation from two former AFL Indigenous players, Chris Johnson and Xavier Clarke, and the long anticipated arrival of their Kilmore Toyota-sponsored guernseys and netball dresses for their NAIDOC round.
The presentation was made possible due to relationships forged nearly 25 years ago, when the Kilmore Reserves won back-to-back premierships. Then player, and now major sponsor and Kilmore Toyota owner Adam Dove, said those relationships had made it possible for high-ranking AFL personalities to come to the Club.
“Our business [Toyota] has been supporting the Club since 1999. My best mates are in that premiership team, and one of them works at the AFL, and that’s the reason I know these two [Chris Johnson and Xavier Clarke],” he said.
President of the KFNC Ben Egan is happy with the direction the Club is taking with the NAIDOC round and within the community.
“My big thing has been to open up the Club to the community. It’s something Adam [Dove] and I have bonded over because we both love the town. We have become a club that the town is proud of,” he said.
KFNC has two Indigenous players listed within the club: Kye Maher, who plays Midfield for the Seniors football team, and Logan Scott, who plays Goal Defence for the Seniors netball team.
Mr Maher said the NAIDOC theme meant a lot as it related to his culture and background.
“I’m really proud to be Indigenous,” he said.
