Footy mad Hugh takes out the top spot in search for SA’s best Auskicker

The rising football star who lives and breathes for the Crows says his Port fan dad won’t be allowed to share in his prize.

Five-year-old Hugh is completely mad about footy and now he has the credentials to prove it.

The little legend has been voted South Australia’s NAB AFL Auskick player and has nabbed himself a family footy pass to the Showdown and the SANFL Grand Final.

When The Advertiser rang his dad, Steven O’Donnell with the exciting news, he said Hugh would be “super pumped” to know he had taken out the competition.

“We will have to tell him on the weekend because school will be a non-event otherwise and his poor teacher having to deal with that excitement,” Mr O’Donnell said.

Auskick kid, Hugh O'Donnell playing footy at Goodwood Oval. Picture: Emma Brasier

We first met Hugh during the search for SA’s top Auskicker.

His parents enrolled him in Auskick earlier this year to assist with his hand-eye coordination skills and help him learn how to tackle safely.

“Hugh was born without vision in his left eye due to a blood vessel complication during birth and has an increased risk of stroke due to a narrowed blood vessel in his brain,” Mr O’Donnell said.

“(He) has had five years of brain MRI and CT scans, doctor visits and overnight hospital stays but he’s the happiest kid.”

Hugh has been named SA’s best Auskicker. Picture: Emma Brasier

“GO CROWS!” Picture: Emma Brasier

The pint-sized player has fallen completely in love with the sport and has to get to school 15 minutes early so he can get a kick in before the bell rings.

“(Auskick) is great for his social skills but the other reason we enrolled him was so that he would grow up playing footy with his friends at the club so him having no vision in his left eye would be normal for them and he would just be accepted,” Mr O’Donnell said.

SA’s Best Auskicker, Hugh O'Donnell. Picture: Emma Brasier

As a passionate Crows supporter, there is no doubt that Hugh will be soaking up the atmosphere at his first ever Showdown in July.

Although, there’s no guarantee that dad will get to share in the prize.

“He said I wasn’t allowed to go if he won (the competition) because I’m a Port supporter,” Mr O’Donnell said.

“There’s not a downside to Auskick for him.”

This competition was brought to you by SANFL.

Who will be named SA’s rising star of NAB AFL Auskick? Picture: Supplied

The search for SA’s best Auskicker is brought to you by SANFL. Picture: Supplied

Meet another nominees: Hugo Telenko

One young South Aussie looking to snap up the title (and the prize) is five-year-old Hugo Telenko.

He is currently enjoying his first season with Auskick and has joined the program at Flinders Park Footy Club.

Hugo Telenko. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Hugo’s favourite part of footy is kicking the ball. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

The young gun is already showing promise and loves nothing more than kicking the footy with his mates.

While his dad, Mitch Telenko admits that his son’s favourite footy team “changes every day” he can’t help but come back to Port Adelaide which all his friends support.

“Crows didn’t even get a look in,” Mr Telenko said.

Hugo said he loves AFL because “you get to kick the ball” and hopes to keep chasing his new-found passion as he grows in his skills.

Find your nearest Auskick centre and register for Term 3 here.