Inside Darryl McDowell-White’s journey to the AFL
One of the Brisbane Lions’ newest additions, who is the son of a club legend, takes us inside his journey to the AFL and how becoming a dad helped him make the switch from basketball.
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From the outside looking in, an AFL rookie who has made a switch from another sport and whose dad was part of a dominant Brisbane Lions dynasty would seem to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.
But not Darryl McDowell-White.
The 26-year-old son of three-time premiership player Darryl White swatted away his basketball career to make the switch to Aussie rules football about 16 months ago.
McDowell-White is now close to realising his dream of playing on the big stage after the Lions picked him up as a Category B Rookie and moving into the senior squad for this season.
The footy boots and oval fields are a long way from the basketball court, where McDowell-White initially pictured his career, having represented Australia at the junior level and spent time at the college level in the United States.
And as he continues to chase his dream, the former Anglican Church Grammar School student says he doesn’t feel the pressure of being the son of an AFL and Lions legend — not to mention an athlete coming from another sport.
The main reason is that he became a father last year when his fiance, Chelsea Anthony, gave birth to son Zaiya.
“Once I became a father I gained the greatest responsibility in life,” McDowell-White said.
“This responsibility now held the most pressure but also the most fulfilment.
“Prior to becoming a father I put a ton of pressure on myself to perform and would internalise my mistakes.
“Since Zaiya came along, all other tasks outside of fatherhood have become stress free — having him to come home to each day puts everything into perspective.
“It’s (being a dad) the best hardest yet most rewarding role I’ve ever had in my life.
“Growing up with many siblings and strong parents has put me in great stead for becoming a dad.
“My fiance Chelsea and I now have the greatest source of motivation to get up every morning.”
DARRYL MCDOWELL-WHITE 🤯
— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) September 3, 2022
The most impossible of goals!
Watch the #VFL: https://t.co/k5BarfBRMypic.twitter.com/BnRyeQ5Grb
McDowell-White, who years ago wanted nothing more than to become a professional basketball player, said becoming a dad had “everything” to do with chasing an AFL career.
“I constantly tell the people closest to me to do what they love and as a father I will be passing on that same message to my son, Zaiya,” he said.
“In saying this I had to follow my own heart and return to the footy field.”
But becoming a father wasn’t the only thing which led to the switch from basketball to football.
“I gave my all to the game of basketball, but once I knocked on the door to become a professional, I was given nothing in return,” he said.
“The game of basketball took me all over the world, but when I came home after Covid to pursue a career I wasn’t given the chance.
“I didn’t put in all that work for nothing.
“I was fortunate that the Brisbane Lions appreciated my abilities as an athlete and gave me the long-awaited opportunity to become a pro athlete after many, many years of blood, sweat and tears.”
McDowell-White vaguely remembers being around when his dad was winning premierships with the Lions.
He said having a father who was one of the greatest Lions ever was a blessing.
“I quite enjoy the fact that I won’t be the first Darryl in a long sleeve guernsey at the Brisbane Lions because it gives me a sense of belonging,’’ he said.
“It’ll give the fans a sense of nostalgia and hopefully it’ll give the club and AFL a larger widespread audience.
“I’m not intimidated by the expectations and comparisons.
“I perceive the pressure as a privilege and will take every opportunity to make my family, friends, club and fans proud.”
On the surface, McDowell-White’s goals in the AFL are to make it into the team and help the Lions build another dynasty just like his dad did.
But underneath, there’s so much more that motivates the rookie.
Those motivations include making people close to him proud, including the memory of one of his best mates Jeremy Pulesea, who died in 2018.
“There are people who have been by my side through thick and thin,’’ he said.
“Throughout all the adversity of surgeries, isolation, rejection, failure, they haven’t had the chance to see me prove them right in any sporting arena just yet.
“So my subjective goal is to make them all proud and show them that they believed in the right person.
“Unfortunately, some of the people I want to make proud are no longer with us – one of them being Jeremy.
“Honouring him is something I endeavour to do everyday, but especially when I step on the field.
“He’s part of the reason I wear No. 50 this year.”
McDowell-White played four VFL games for the Lions last year, including a starring performance against Carlton in an elimination final.
His brother, William, is also playing for the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL grand final series.
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