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The story was "updated" to soften the language and change the headline, likely at the request of the AFL. Unbelievable.
They’d claim no bias though because they mentioned the Kochie kerfuffle over Sam Pepper Spray. I laughed when Kellie Underarm spoke of ‘grey area’ over the comments made by Kochie. As if Josh Massoud would bite seeing he is a 7 employee.... And then it was done.
It was talked about on Sports Sunday.
Not by anyone with afl accreditation, all from Sydney, none working for newscorp, or abc for that matter.
Never forget the fumbleball policy is. Broom, Sweep, Rug.
Rugby league program getting fans with special needs and intellectual disabilities on field
By Jennifer Browning
Posted about 7 hours ago
Mon 30 Apr 2018, 6:21am
Weekend sport is something many kids and parents take for granted - but for some it has not always been possible.
But thanks to a special rugby league program for fans with special needs and intellectual disabilities, everyone has a chance to play.
"Try Time" is the brainchild of Western Sydney father Darren Deitz.
Mr Deitz co-created the program back in 2013 because his son Lachlan, who has autism, desperately wanted to play rugby league from an early age.
"He just kept asking us, when can I play, when can I play," Mr Deitz said.
"Then it was how old are you, how old are you, so one day I told him it was 13.
"So we didn't hear anything for six-and-a-half years until his 13th birthday when he walked downstairs dressed in his footy gear and said: I'm ready to play.
"We just had to find a way for him to do it.
"Try Time" attracted 17 recruits in its inaugural year. Six seasons on there are more than 150 players involved in New South Wales and Queensland.
"I think we all do, it's a great day out for the families, a networking opportunity, raising kids with special needs can be challenging at times."
The program is run by volunteers and is a labour of love for parents to see the kids playing the sport they love.
Lachlan Deitz, now 19, can not take the smile off his face when dressed in his rugby league gear.
"I have a lot of love for my mother and father, what they did for me and the players is truly wonderful," he said.
Photo: Players from the program greeting the NRL stars as they walk on the ground (ABC News: Jennifer Browning)
The Wentworthville Magpies "Try Time" teams had the chance to run out on Sydney's Olympic Stadium yesterday ahead of the Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers NRL match.
It was a moment Darren Deitz could never have dreamed up a decade ago.
"Today is a special day," he said. "The boys to get to run out ahead of a Parramatta game, on this field, it's a very special moment."
The Eels and Panthers are the first NRL clubs to get behind the concept, and it is hoped one day the program will be available across Australia.
"These kids couldn't hold a football before and now they're playing rugby league, it's just wonderful to see."
