Geelong West player Ruby Webb scores heart-warming grand final in All-Abilities grand final win

Ruby Webb can’t walk or talk because of her disability, but a touching act of sportsmanship allowed her to experience a moment she will never forget. Here’s how it happened.

Geelong West All-Abilities player Ruby Webb with sister Maggie (left), father Steve, sister Lucy and mum Clare.

Ruby Webb can’t walk or talk, but that didn’t stop her helping Geelong West side to a premiership win with a heart-warming grand final goal.

Webb, 26, was born with cerebral palsy and has been wheelchair bound for her entire life.

Initially, Webb was initally going to lend a hand with Geelong West in the AFL Barwon All-Abilities competition, which gives people with disabilities the opportunity to play the sport they love.

That was until team co-ordinator Luke Marusso reached out to her parents Clare and Steve about allowing her to come onto the field earlier in the year.

“They were blown away by that thought and we got her on and she got a goal and everyone was so excited, so we kept playing her every single week,” Marusso said.

“For me, that’s what our competition is about. Giving people like her and so many other wonderful young people in our community opportunities that they’ve never had before.

“We live quite privileged, normal life and we can take things for granted and you just don’t know what some kids miss out on sometimes.”

Webb scored a handful of goals across the season, but her goal in the grand final against Bell Park was undoubtedly the most special, encapsulating the sportsmanship that the competition is built on.

Early in the second quarter with the game still up for grabs, Giants player Jay Ennor was running into an open goal.

But Ennor unselfishly handballed it over to Webb who had been wheeled onto the field as Dragons players allowed the touching moment to unfold.

In the end Webb’s goal proved to be crucial as the the Giants secured back-to-back premierships with an eight-point win.

Ruby Webb with her two sisters Lucy (left) and Maggie.

“To see ‘Rubes’ join our side and everyone love her and get her moment is one of the best things I’ve even seen, it was phenomenal,” Marusso said.

“That’s what we’re all about and have sort of spent the whole year doing, team first and looking out for each other. And for (Jay) to have the emotional intelligence to sense the occasion and give ‘Rubes’ the moment is something I’ll never forget.”

Webb’s sister Maggie, who plays for Geelong West’s netball side, soaked up the goal which left diehard Cats fan Ruby grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“(Jay) could have easily kicked that goal himself, but he gave it off to Ruby to have a go,” Maggie said.

“When she got it we were just all cheering really loud, it was good to see.

“She enjoyed it, she was just smiling all day. As soon as she woke up that morning she was just smiling, she was really excited to play. And just couldn’t wipe her smile off her face the whole day.”

The video posted to TikTok and Instagram has been by seen by 40,000, and she is lapping up the fame.

Geelong West player Lucy Webb with the AFL Barwon All-Abilities league premiership cup.

“Definitely show her the video and tell her all the comments – she loves it,” Maggie chuckled.

Moments like this happen on a weekly basis in the four-team All-Abilities competition, which has been running for the past three seasons.

The last time Geelong West played Bell Park, Marusso made it his mission to ensure two young Dragons players were able to kick their first goal.

“We just plonked them forward and I instructed my team that if you are seeing that these two players have the footy and are going in on goal just to let them kick a goal, and they both got goals and there was a big roar from the Bell Park supporters down the other end,” Marusso said.

“Just the joy on those young kids’ faces was amazing. It is a very beautiful competition.

“The four sides do an incredible job and we all want our players to have moments like that they’ll never forget.”

Marusso is looking forward to seeing the growth of the inclusion competition in the future.

“Hopefully more clubs will get a kick into gear and want to buy in and give opportunity and give some incredible opportunity to some incredible people in our community to play footy and just belong,” he said.

Originally published as Geelong West player Ruby Webb scores heart-warming grand final in All-Abilities grand final win