Brendan Stroud: Community mourns wheelchair sports trailblazer

Heartfelt tributes have poured in for trailblazing wheelchair sportsman Brendan Stroud, remembered for his ‘profound legacy’.

Proud Pie Brendan Stroud has died after a struggle with cancer.

AFL Victoria has added to the stream of tributes for leading Victorian wheelchair sportsman Brendan Stroud, who has died at the age of 56 after a battle with cancer.

Stroud had been a Collingwood premiership captain and coach in the Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) side.

He died shortly before the Magpies defeated Essendon in the VWFL grand final last Sunday.

The Maggies dedicated the victory to Stroud, who had played an integral role in the establishment of the VWFL in 2018.

He became a paraplegic in a road accident at the age of 22.

Brendan Stroud with former Essendon champion Duncan Fletcher at the launch of the Victorian Wheelchair Football League.

AFL Victoria highlighted Stroud’s achievements in the wheelchair sporting communities.

“Brendan’s significant sporting accomplishments extended well beyond wheelchair football,” it said.

“He also represented Australia in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis, and coached the women’s national wheelchair basketball team.

“He leaves a profound legacy having made an enormous contribution to the football and wheelchair sport communities.”

Collingwood Football Club said the much-loved premiership hero and husband “epitomised what it means to be a Collingwood person”.

“An inspiring husband, friend and clubman, Brendan’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who he impacted so significantly,” its tribute read.

Disability Sport and Recreation CEO Richard Amon said Stroud touched all who met him and that he was a powerful advocate for disability sport and a pioneer for the sport of wheelchair AFL.

Brendan Stroud on the beat for Wheel Talk at Fountain Gate Secondary College.

He said he worked closely with Disability Sport and Recreation to establish the sport in Victoria and was a key presenter in the organisation’s Wheeltalk program, “providing a positive inclusion message to thousands of school kids every year’’.

“He was my teammate, coach and mentor in many ways. We won a Collingwood Football Club premiership together, played in Vic teams and I will never forget his leadership, support and drive,’’ Amon said.

Natalie Stroud said her husband was at peace when he died.

“He even told me he was ready to go. He told me two days ago that he was content,’’ she said in announcing his death.

“Thank you to everyone who loved him. As you all know, he was encouraged by every single word of love and, as he would say on his videos, he was always uplifted by ‘the likes and hearts and the thumbs up” on social media.’’

She added: “Brendan my love. I’ll be OK, cos you taught me to fight the good fight and to ‘just keep rolling along’.

“OK so I might not be rolling, but I promise I’ll make sure I remember all our ‘wheely good times’. I love you to eternity and beyond.’’

Brendan Stroud campaigning for greater awareness of road safety issues.

In an interview with Leader in 2006 Stroud said basketball had played a big part in helping him recover from the 1986 car accident that left him a paraplegic.

He lined up with the Dandenong Rangers and won Australian selection.

He was also a prominent wheelchair tennis player, competing in the Australian Open a number of times.

Stroud had said of the accident: “I fell asleep at the wheel five minutes from home on a country road.

“The accident brought about an incredible change of life and sport became a very important part of my rehabilitation.

“I discovered basketball and I regained my competitiveness and self-esteem. Basketball became my passion.’’

Football and Collingwood did the same.

A funeral service for Brendan Stroud will be held on Tuesday, December 7 at The Glasshouse, Olympic Boulevard, in Melbourne at 10.30am.

Natalie Stroud said people were welcome to wear something related to Collingwood.

In lieu of flowers mourners are encouraged to donate to the Robert Rose Foundation, a charity close to Brendan Stroud’s heart.