QAFL 2021: Labrador player Shaydan Close

As a boy growing up in the northern New South Wales town of Kempsey, Shaydan Close’s sporting idols were not the ones he watched on TV. READ ABOUT HIS JOURNEY >>>

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AS A boy growing up in the northern New South Wales town of Kempsey, Shaydan Close’s sporting idols were not the ones he watched on TV.

While he – and the rest of Australia – marvelled at the silky skills of four-time Hawthorn premiership player Cyril Rioli, it was the footy exploits of his uncles in far-off Alice Springs that inspired Labrador QAFL star Close to pursue his dreams.

Shaydan Close at Labrador and (inset) in action.

“That’s where my mum’s side of the family is from, so we like to get up there as much as possible,” the proud Dunghutti and Pitjantjatjara man said.

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“Obviously everyone has their idols at the top of the tree (like Rioli) but to me, it was the ones I saw week-in, week-out which had more of an impact on my life.”

At 16, the prodigious indigenous talent moved to Sydney and joined the Swans Academy.

Under the guidance of AFL legends Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin, Close had two incredible indigenous mentors to lead him through footy and life at what was a crucial juncture.

“It was pretty unreal – having them as mentors definitely helped me,” Close, 20, said.

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“Not just for footy but also the bloke I was growing into off the field as well.”

In 2019 he played a single game for the Swans’ NEAFL side, before moving home to finish school and re-evaluate his plans for footy.

After time in the Swans’ elite pathways Close knew an AFL career was still his dream, but he needed to rediscover his reasons for playing the game he loved so much.

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“So I thought I would come to the Goldy and sort my life out … and now I’m really loving my footy at Labrador and excited to see where it can take me,” he said.

Close limped off with an ankle injury just before halftime in Labrador’s big win over Wilston Grange at the weekend. Before that he had kicked a goal and flashed the forward-half pressure that has made him an integral part of coach Nick Malceski’s side.

“I feel like I haven’t hit my best form just yet,” Close said.

“I’m going OK but I’m not really satisfied at the moment.”

Last Saturday’s clash marked a special occasion for Close, who was invited by the club to swap didgeridoos with Wilston Grange before the match as part of the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round and National Reconciliation Week.

“The AFL does a great job … not just for myself as an indigenous person but even non-indigenous people love it,” Close said.

“My teammates at all the clubs I’ve played at, when it comes to Indigenous Round they’ll take the time to chat to me (about my culture).

“The boys want to know what they don’t know. which I think is great.”

Second-placed Labrador (6-3) has the bye in this weekend's QAFL fixtures.