Young footy star Mitch Gillan wins Anzac medal

MITCH Gillan says he practices footy about four or five days a week — but his mum Sian says it’s more like seven.

Mitchell with his Anzac Day footy medal. Picture: Steve Tanner

MITCH Gillan says he practices footy about four or five days a week — but his mum Sian says it’s more like seven.

“He wakes up and watches highlights, he’s always got a football with him,” she says.

“He just lives and breathes footy.”

Mitch, from Knoxfield, was the recipient of this year’s Anzac Medal playing for the Knox Falcons under-9s.

The medal was for representing values of fairness and teamwork.

The nine-year-old kicked three goals in the match while playing in the midfield.

“I played pretty well that game, at least that’s what my coach said,” he says.

A North Melbourne supporter, Mitch says he hopes to play for them when he's older, or Greater Western Sydney.

Mitchell is obsessed with AFL. Picture: Steve Tanner

“North because pretty much my whole family barracks for them and GWS because they are a really awesome team,” he said.

As well as playing, training, and practising his kicking in the backyard, he plays Supercoach fantasy football and goes to as many AFL games as he can.

Sian said her son had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game.

“He knows all the players regardless of what teams they’re in,” she said.

Mitch has been nominated for a young sporting spirit sports star award.

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