Five siblings, five footy games a week at five different locations - but these Rams love it
You thought your weekly sport run was a nightmare? How about five kids, five separate footy matches and 10 hours a week running the squad across town.
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Five footy-mad youngsters, a blur of frosty training nights and 10 hours crisscrossing Adelaide for game day every Sunday – welcome to winter in the Elkins household.
But these Rams wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hudson, 16, Cailin, 13, Linkin, 10, Madden, 11, and Fallon, 7, all line up with different Marion Football Club junior teams.
They all train once a week with only Cailin and Madden on the same nights, while most games are played on Sundays, with an occasional Friday night match thrown into the mix.
Mum Laura, who is also a boundary umpire for Hudson’s side, says she, her husband Matthew and mother-in-law Suzanne share the load driving each of the kids to their games.
She said last Sunday was particularly hectic with Fallon playing at West Lakes, Madden at Mitcham, Cailin at Houghton (almost an hour drive from Marion) and Hudson at Flagstaff Hill.
“Regardless of how difficult it may be getting them from destination to destination, if they are outside playing sport and out in the fresh air, we are all for it,” Laura said.
“Sometimes we will have a couple of the games at home which is handy.
“The past few weeks, we’ve had games out at Houghton, Paradise, out at Mawson Lakes, so it is a bit of a trek.
“But we wouldn’t have it another way.
“I grew up in a big family and we are all pretty close.”
A typical Sunday morning in winter for the Elkins family, according to Laura, is all about getting the kids up early, getting them fed, teeth brushed, dressed and out of the house by about 7.45am at the latest.
They then don’t get home until about 5.30pm with the under-16 games usually starting at 3pm.
“They are all pretty exhausted by the end of Sunday, particularly because they are playing one game and then they’ve got to watch their siblings play at least one or two games before they get to come home,” Laura said.
“But they all love it and they all have a great time.”
Madden, who plays for the Rams’ under-13 boys’ team, enjoys growing up in a big family and loves playing football at the same club as his siblings.
“You always have someone to play with, which is good,” Madden, a midfielder, said.
“Sundays are very busy.
“Last week I went and watched Fallon’s game and then we went to my game because Linkin played on Friday night.
“It’s much easier than having us play for different clubs, though.”
Cailin is in her first season of football and features with Marion’s under-14 girls’ side.
She is very thankful for her parents’ support, saying none of the siblings could play without it.
“I was there every weekend with the boys watching them play so I thought I’d get into it,” the Seaview High School student said.
“I’ve learned a lot from Hudson because he’s been playing for ages so I’ve benne there just watching him and picking up all the skills.
“I am so thankful for our parents, it’s amazing how they do it all for us.
“We are all very close.”
LAST WEEK’S FIXTURES FOR THE FAMILY:
■ Friday night 7.30pm Linkin at Kenilworth Football Club
■ Sunday:
- 8.30am Fallon at SMOSH West Lakes
- Madden 11.20am at Mitcham Football Club
- 1:10pm Cailin at Houghton Districts Oval
- 3:00pm Hudson at Flagstaff Football Club
Training Schedule;
■ Tuesday - Hudson 5-6.10pm
■ Wednesday Cailin 5-6pm and Madden 4:30-6pm
■ Thursday- Linkin 4.30-6pm
■ Friday - Fallon 5.30-6.30pm