In a move that underscores the boundless spirit of sport, Paralympian Michael Dobbie-Bridges has switched his tennis racket for a football, spearheading the launch of Queensland’s first wheelchair AFL league, the Morningside Panthers.
This transition marks a new chapter for the accomplished athlete, who represented Australia in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and six World Cups in wheelchair tennis.
Despite reaching world rankings of 29 in singles and 27 in doubles, Dobbie-Bridges’ passion for football has led him to captain and coach the Morningside Panthers, a local team. The wheelchair AFL league is based in Brisbane’s southside. He notes that while the sports differ, the wheelchair movement skills are transferrable, making the switch smoother than expected.
Dobbie-Bridges, a Victorian native and ardent football enthusiast, was inspired to introduce wheelchair AFL to Queensland after moving there over seven years ago. Witnessing the thriving wheelchair AFL scene in his home state, he contacted the football league about bringing the sport to the Sunshine State.
Trisha Squires, the head of AFL Queensland, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to inclusivity in sports, stating that adding a wheelchair division was a natural progression. Initial “come-and-try” events piqued significant interest, leading to the league’s establishment in 2023 with four foundation clubs across south-east Queensland.
Since its expansion, the wheelchair division has allowed players to participate in a format similar to the AFL, where two teams of five play on a netball court under the game’s rules. The game’s rules are similar to AFL, but it’s played on a netball court with two teams of five.
Dobbie-Bridges expressed pride in the “phenomenal” growth of wheelchair AFL in Queensland, highlighting the sense of community it has fostered. Paul Mazoletti, the chairman of the Morningside club, echoed this sentiment, stating that welcoming a wheelchair division was a “no-brainer.”
Dobbie-Bridges envisions a future where wheelchair AFL boasts a full-fledged 18-team national competition, mirroring the AFL and AFLW leagues. While acknowledging that this goal is still in progress, he remains optimistic about the sport’s trajectory.
Published Date 26-September-2024
