Belmont Lions: Kings of the Cattery
A once in a lifetime opportunity saw a dream become reality for the Belmont Lions when members of the junior AFL team stepped onto the field at GMHBA Stadium alongside their biggest idols in Round 5.
Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Love the Game ambassador Jeremy Cameron and powerhouses Tom Hawkins and Zach Touhy was a defining moment for the Belmont Footy Club, which was chosen to participate in the Geelong Cats’ guard of honour in their win against North Melbourne.
It was a moment that no-one in the team will forget, according to club assistant Lana L’Herault.
‘It was good for the kids involved to be in the big leagues and see what the AFL is about, to be under the bright lights and on the oval was such a surreal moment,’ she said.
‘The kids were over the moon, especially the ones who were fanatic Geelong supporters. We were thrilled to give the kids this opportunity to run out onto the ground.’
Having committed to the Love the Game program in 2020, Belmont has been keen to make a positive difference in the community by talking to kids about the risks associated with sports betting.
‘We want to have a strong influence and ensure we positively impact kids. We want footy to be truly about the game and not the odds. It's all about going out and having fun,’ Lana said.
As a small club with only four junior teams, Belmont has a family first approach, ensuring the kids have access to a safe environment in which to go out and enjoy themselves.
‘We believe in everyone having a fair go. We're an incredibly small junior side but being able to talk to the kids and families is great. We have created a tight, close-knit community.’
The footy club is encouraging other sporting clubs in the region to sign up to the Love the Game program and stand united against kids’ exposure to sports betting advertising.
For more information visit: https://lovethegame.vic.gov.au/join-love-game/
Original article: https://lovethegame.vic.gov.au/whats-happening/news/belmont-lions-kings-of-the-cattery/
