An emotional moment on a suburban football field has captured attention after an 11-year-old boy living with cerebral palsy kicked his first goal with the help of teammates and opposition players.
Karter Evans, a passionate Australian Rules football fan from Victoria, was filmed lining up for goal during a junior match for the Warragul Gulls under-12s side before nudging the ball through as players from both teams gathered around him.
The moment quickly spread online, with many footy fans praising the inclusive actions of the young players.
‘That’s what it’s all about! Hats off to the juniors for making sport an inclusive game for all, as Karter scored his first goal on debut,’ one social media post said.
Karter had long wanted to play football with his friends despite living with cerebral palsy.
The Warragul Football Netball Club welcomed Karter into the team after his mother, Jess, contacted them hoping her son could become involved.
Karter Evans (pictured) is not letting his cerebral palsy get in the way of his passion for Aussie Rules footy
Evans is part of the team and got to live out his dream on the weekend when he kicked a goal
The wholesome and emotional moment has been praised by footy fans around the country
‘I asked for him to be like a team mascot,’ Jess said.
‘I could have sent it years ago but I didn’t send it, because I didn’t want the rejection.
‘The easy option is to say no, but in this case they didn’t.’
Jess said Karter had spent years watching his friends head to training while he stayed behind.
‘We’d see the boys walk from school and they would go off to footy training,’ she said.
‘And every time he’d say like, “I want to play football”.
‘I used to dread Wednesdays because that was the day.’
Karter had previously played wheelchair football but wanted to join his mates in the local footy comp.
Karter’s mother Jess (pictured) reached out to the Warragul Gulls and her son has been part of the club ever since
When he is not on the field, Karter is usually working with coach Tony by providing him with stats on players and the game
‘He has wheelchair football and he’s like ‘I don’t want to play wheelchair football’,’ Jess said.
Karter now trains with Warragul’s under-12 side and has become part of the club environment.
‘This has been a long time coming. Now Karter Evans can call himself a ‘Gull’,’ the report said.
Coach Tony said Karter had become an important part of the team.
‘He’s put on a jumper, he’s one of us,’ he said.
‘He’s my stat man on a game day, so he knows who’s not working hard,’
Club president Lee Sheehan said that on top of getting to play in the match, Karter was also named co-captain.
‘He has a huge smile on his face just being involved in the team in his current capacity,’ he said before the match.
‘But getting him out on the ground is just going to be the ultimate for him I think.’
It was a tear-jerking moment that is capturing the hearts of footy fans across the country.
‘What an absolute truly oar inspiring situation and kudos to the club for accepting Karter for who he is as a person and not looking at his disability as a poor excuse or a label for not including him at there club or in the team,’ one posted.
‘I want to get myself a Karter jumper now!! My new favourite footy player,’ posted another.
‘That is so good in so many ways – the lesson it shows to the team mates at such an impressionable age is so valuable,’ added another follower.
His mother Jess also posted her thanks on social media.
‘For some, it’s just a jumper presentation,’ she posted.
‘For me, it’s something I’ve carried grief about since Karter was born the thought that I might never see him run out & play football.
‘Today, that grief was taken away.
‘Watching my son head up there with his team, getting his first ever football team top… I can’t even begin to explain how proud I am. Proud of him, and honestly, proud of myself too for sending that email and pushing for this moment.
‘And to the Gulls Football Club, thank you for making something I once thought was impossible a reality.’
