Players' mark of respect for Rite of Passage
Natalie Tkaczuk Sikora
June 12, 2008
RICHMOND captain Kane Johnson's earliest football memories were with his dad watching the Tigers claw their way around the MCG.
But it's his mum Jeanette's constant support through good times and bad that he credits with actually getting him on the MCG.
"My mum drove me everywhere as a kid and was the reason I got to play on the G in the first place," Johnson said yesterday.
"To have your mum support you through your whole career means a lot, I wouldn't have got the opportunity to be in this game if mum hadn't been there for me."
But for Jeanette Johnson just being there to back her son's dream to play the game was all the drive she needed.
"As a parent you've got to keep the tradition of footy alive," she said.
The Herald Sun and the MCG are offering 550 children and their parent or guardian the chance to take part in the Rite of Passage. On June 28 the MCG is honouring the tradition of parents and grandparents introducing their kids to Australia's most important sporting stadium to watch Richmond take on Carlton.
The offer includes a free child's entry to the game (with a paying adult), child-sized football, the chance to have a kick-to-kick on the MCG before the game, an MCG show bag full of goodies and the chance to meet AFL players.
To be part of the action, parents and guardians must register their details on the MCG website. Registration is open from 9am until midnight on June 12, 2008.
Net link:
www.mcg.org.auhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23849799-2862,00.html
