Former Eagle flies high on and off the field

GARETH MCKNIGHT catches up with former West Coast Eagles star Gerrick Weedon, who after rubbing shoulders with AFL superstars for three years is now kicking goals on and off the pitch in Derby.

Like plenty of football-mad Kimberley youngsters, Gerrick Weedon admits that his dream was to play AFL football. Unlike most, the supremely talented star’s dream came true.

After starring in Perth for Claremont at colts level, the Broome-born and bred star was selected as pick 22 in the 2009 national draft by boyhood idols West Coast Eagles.

Over the course of three whirlwind years, the versatile player was put through the rigours of being a professional sportsman in the State capital and fulfilled his ambition by stepping out for the Eagles on his AFL debut against Essendon Bombers.

Although that outing at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on May 2011 would be his only AFL appearance for the Perth-based outfit, Gerrick still thinks back on the whole experience with fond memories.

“I grew up barracking for West Coast since I was a young boy so it was a bit of an eye-opener on the first day of training,” he said.

“In my eyes these guys were superstars – it brought back a lot of childhood memories when I met the older players at first, especially the likes of Dean Cox, Darren Glass and Daniel Kerr.

“After a while you become closer to them and then they are like family because you see them every day. You go through a lot of things with them.”

Gerrick got his chance to go head-to-head with some of the AFL’s biggest names during NAB Cup fixtures over the years and still remembers his first outing for the Eagles, against Hawthorn, vividly.

“I remember it was a really hot day and I was pretty nervous – but also pumped as well,” he said.

“My family came to the game – it was very exciting hearing the crowd and being part of it all.”

After three years on the Eagles list, the Kimberley man made the decision to move back north with his then-pregnant partner, putting his AFL dream on ice.

He has been living in Derby since 2013 and admits to still thinking about his shot at the big time.

“I still think about it; sometimes I think ‘could I have done better?’” he said.

“But, at the end of the day you make that decision and you just have to move on and live with it.

“At that time I decided to take a break from footy; it has been a new chapter in my life becoming a young father as well.”

Gerrick admits to re-finding his love for the game back in the Kimberley and has been stepping out for the Derby Tigers in the West Kimberley Football League.

Unlike in his days in Perth where he was utilised as a sprightly forward, the gifted player has a calming influence on his side from midfield.

“Down in Perth there is a lot of commitment and stress on your back,” Gerrick said.

“Coming back here and playing local footy with the boys has brought back those memories of just having fun.”

Despite Derby’s form this season being up-and-down, Gerrick has been consistently performing and is currently the leader in the points total to become the competition’s Player of the Year.

A talisman to a host of young stars eager to follow in his footsteps, the former Eagles man admits that he regales his team-mates with stories from his time with West Coast.

However, he is a leader both on pitch and away from the sport.

Gerrick is an Aboriginal education worker at the West Kimberley Regional Prison, where he helps inmates upskill through completion of courses and boosting their studies.

He said his job was another challenge that he finds rewarding in a different way to kicking goals.

Still only 24, Gerrick says he is happy and content being closer to family in the Kimberley – but would potentially consider a move back to Perth to give football in the big time another crack if the opportunity arose.

“It would be something I would think about,” he said.

“I would love to go back into the WAFL system because there are still a lot of older guys playing at that level and there is always room for improvement.

However, for me it’s just a family commitment thing right now.”