Blown tyres, a missed flight, and a draw: Yuendumu family finally makes it to the footy

After missing out on last year’s Grand Final, one family from Yuendumu finally made it to the footy – and the game they saw was just as memorable. Read on to learn their story.

The Williams family got to watch Collingwood train before their big Anzac Day clash with Essendon.

After heartbreakingly missing out on seeing last year’s biggest game of footy, one Yuendumu family has finally made it to see their favourite team.

Yuendumu police officer Derek Williams and his family are diehard Collingwood supporters — and they had tickets to the 2023 Grand Final.

It would have been the first time the Williams family got to see Collingwood at home.

But then tragedy struck.

On the way to Alice Springs airport, not one, but two of their car’s tyres blew out.

“It was about 70kms out of Alice Springs,” he said.

“We only had one spare but luckily family members came behind and gave us a spare.”

But it was too late – by the time they got tyres changed, there wasn’t enough time to make their flight in Alice Springs, so they missed the Grand Final.

It seemed as if all was lost, but then word got out of the tragedy, and friends stepped in to help.

Santo Cilauro and the Williams family at the Collingwood training session.

Santo Cilauro from Red Dust, an organisation which provides support to Indigenous youth and families, reached out his network and helped get tickets to the Anzac Day day clash.

Being at that game, Mr Williams said it felt surreal, with the match’s atmosphere electrifying.

“The kids had a blast and the atmosphere was really good, sitting the crowd,” he said.

“As a family it was electrifying – being able to witness it first hand, and the draw made it more exciting. No one came out a loser or winner.”

Collingwood also stepped up once they heard the story, inviting Mr Williams and his family to a training session.

The Williams family hanging out with Mason Cox.

They met captain Darcy Moore, tall forward Mason Cox, midfielder Josh Daicos, and last year’s Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill.

And despite all occurred trying to see his favourite team, Mr Williams said he’d do it all over again.

“We would love to go back and see them play in the finals,” he said.

Originally published as Blown tyres, a missed flight, and a draw: Yuendumu family finally makes it to the footy