Count Me In Round a big hit once again

Count Me In Round is always a highlight of any season at Swan Districts and this year was no different with the club's All Abilities Team in action after the WAFL league game and they had a very special debutant for the occasion.

It has now become a regular event as part of Count Me In Round that when Swan Districts hosts the West Coast Eagles in a WAFL fixture in any given season, that the All Abilities Team will get to play on Steel Blue Oval on the same occasion.

This again took place last month with the All Abilities Team getting to run out straight after the Swan Districts league team continued their winning streak and stayed undefeated all-time against the Eagles in the WAFL.

The All Abilities Team then got out onto Steel Blue Oval to continue the annual event of Count Me In Round which celebrates people with disability and the importance of inclusion.

There was a very special extra addition to the Swan Districts team on the day as well with Nate Anderson making the trip down from Onslow for the day.

Anderson is now aged 15 and has been cancer free since 2023, but the young man has been through a lot to get to this point and it was heartwarming for everyone to see him now thriving.

Nate is a casual staff member in the Swan Districts' Onslow team and he was able to speak at the pre-game luncheon in the President's Suite at Steel Blue Oval, which was an inspiration for all in attendance.

He was able to share his powerful story of resilience and positivity in the face of illness because at the age of four, Nate was diagnosed with High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, during which time he also acquired Scedosporium Prolificans Osteomyelitis in his head and leg, a fungus which deemed him palliative, and resulted in the loss of his lower leg.

He is now aged 15, and free of cancer since 2023, Nate gave his unique perspective on surviving cancer, living with disability, his work with Swans, and what the future looks like for him.

Nate also debuted for Swan Districts All Abilities team who played after the WAFL match at Steel Blue Oval and Ian Westmore, Director of Social Impact, spoke about the importance of so many people getting to hear such an inspirational story.

"Swans have a close connection and take pride in empowering people with disability to live full lives and have access to every opportunity to succeed," Westmore said.

"The club’s All Abilities team and Disability and Inclusion programs have become an important part of Swans, but to have such a powerful young role model in Nate working with us, and alongside young people in Onslow, it really shows what’s possible with resilience and positivity.

"It was great to have Nate and his family in Perth for the day, and we thank Chevron and Telethon for making it possible."