By Mikayla van Loon
Newly drafted AFLW player Georgia Knight made a special visit to Birmingham Primary School last week to present a signed jumper from her side.
The Collingwood selectee spent the final term of 2024 and the lead up to the December draft working alongside students as a mentor and leader to guide them in both the professional training and wellness aspects of sport.
The school program, led by Holistic Athlete Development (HAD) founder Brad Jenkinson, who is also a parent at the school, was founded on the idea “that sport can be a really great way to break down barriers and commence conversations”.
Having worked with Brad for two years developing as an elite athlete and preparing for the draft, Georgia was an easy pick to inspire and work with students but in turn she said she gained lots too.
“Starting with this program, it’s been a pleasure to work with you all, not only have I been able to help you guys, but you guys helped me as well,” she said at the jumper presentation on Friday 21 February.
“When the draft was coming up, it was pretty stressful, but you kids made me laugh, you made me happy. Who knew the happiest people on earth were you little kids.
“So you were a little bit of an outlet for me, and that was so awesome, and you made me forget about all the stress and the worry that was coming up, but being able to help you kids makes me happy, and that’s why I do it really.”
HAD in Schools aims to tackle social, emotional and performance challenges through sport and being active by bringing in people who have been through it.
“So these people know the disappointments, the ups, the downs, the work ethic required to become an elite athlete, and they can bring some of those learnings to students for whom sport is also a bit of a thing,” assistant principal Steve Harvey said.
Growing up “soccer mad” and wanting to represent Australia as a Matilda, six years in, Georgia switched codes to AFL, playing as a Monbulk junior and a Vic Metro player.
Not ever really thinking that getting drafted was a possibility, Georgia reached out to Brad two years out from the draft.
“Brad is the type of person to give you that bit of extra edge to your game but also your mental performance. I would not be playing for Collingwood without Brad,” she said.
Now she awaits the official start of the season in May but said it can’t come quick enough.
“I just want to get stuck in. I’m there all the time now, and I just love every bit of the club and the girls,” she said.
“It’s so much more than what I expected. I had no idea about the facilities, the people, the coaches, the girls, they’re just unreal.”
The HAD in Schools program will continue this year at Birmingham Primary School, with a view to include some leadership sessions for the school captains.
