When it rains it pours and thats what keeps the garden growing.

AFL Football is probably my favourite sport. As a kid, I was totally smitten with every aspect of the game. My dream, like many other kids, was to become an AFL player for my favourite team the West Coast Eagles. Although I never reached the lofty heights, I did have a reputation of being a pretty decent player with much potential. Our eldest son Cumoram is developing into a sports star in his own right. Already he has had much success in Basketball and Football, along with wonderful performances in athletics. This year alone he has made it through several phases of the state schoolboy team selections for both Football and Basketball. A few years ago he also made the state cross country squad.

This past week has been huge on his sporting radar. On Monday night he played in a Grand Final for the under 13s div 1 boys competition in Kalamunda District. He went head to head against his cousin Malachi who played on the favoured team to win, who virtually went through the season undefeated. It was an amazing game and the 2 cousins played so hard, yet very respectfully on each other. Cumorams team surprised many with a gritty win against the odds. Cumoram played exceptionally and was named MVP of the game.

Thursday night was the under 15s div grand final in the same district competition. This time, however, he and Malachi were playing together on the same team. This game was an absolute heart-stopper with the game literally going down to the wire. Malachi was named MVP for the game after making an early adjustment to his attitude and was so important to us in claiming the win. Cumoram played another superb game, this time more mature thanMondayy nights effort. He was able to drop 4 big important 3 pointers that kept us in the game when it looked to be slipping away. He made a huge defensive play inside the last 20 seconds of the game and with scores locked up. His hustle forced a turnover and subsequent jump ball. Copping a knee to the head in the process, he had to come off for the final 10 seconds. With a possible overtime looming, one of the boys from our team was able to get away a last second shot, that bounced in after the siren had sounded giving us the win. It was as good as finish as I have been involved in for a junior basketball game.

Saturday was the scene of a huge midseason football game for Cumoram and his team. Playing against a strong West Perth-Coolbinia side with whom they had their only loss to in the first round of the season and after a flat performance last week that ended in a draw, the team responded well to the early pressure. The tussle became real during the second half as the drizzling annoying rain turned into howling winds, freezing temperatures and pelting rain, almost as if it was hailing.

Cumoram is regularly his sides strongest performer and tough in every contest. Today I witnessed something different. As the 3 quarter time siren sounded and after running through the midfield the entire game, Cumoram came to the bench. His body absolutely frozen as if with hyperthermia. His fingers were badly swollen as a result of putting his body fully on the line for a goal-saving smother. Tears ran from his face, the conditions seemingly beating his willpower to continue playing. His bruised and battered body shelling his broken spirit. He was determined that he was done for the day and I almost begged him to find the will power to go back on as his team needed him. We raced for the canteen where I filled up a cup of hot water and had him dip his fingers into thawing them out. As the siren sounded for the start of the last quarter, the coach looked over to see if Cumoram would still be up for one last 15-minute effort. Many of the other kids had pulled the pin on the match and were sheltering in the changerooms. Still, in agony and with tears still streaming from his face, Cumoram bravely took to the field.

The last quarter was by no means a spectacle of pretty football and Cumoram looked nothing like the aggressive ball-winning player that he normally is. It was his bravery and the effort under the extreme conditions to stay on the ground and compete in order to help his team win the game that will forever be etched in my mind. Against the elements and trailing by 2 points, the team clawed their way back into the lead and then held off the final few minutes for the gutsiest win I have seen them play in. As the final siren sounded I ran onto the field to embrace my boy, still severely suffering from the torrential condidtions. It was a super proud Dad moment.