Fans rally behind Majak Daw’s remarkable return to footy
In front of dozens of relatives from all over Melbourne and a huge crowd at Arden St, Majak Daw beamed his smile and pumped his fist as he completed his remarkable return to footy.
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Majak Daw has completed his remarkable return to footy in front of a huge crowd of North Melbourne fans who turned out to Arden St to watch the club’s VFL side.
The 28-year-old star defender’s inspiring comeback to the sport comes after a seven-month break recovering from his fall from the Bolte Bridge.
More than 1000 fans were decked out in blue and white to watch Daw line up in the VFL team in their match against Sandringham this afternoon.
Daw clocked up 20 minutes of game time before being rested as the Kangaroos went on to record a comfortable 57-point win.
Daw’s younger brother Anthony said the family was extremely proud of his comeback journey.
“It’s exciting and we’re happy for him to be back out there playing, we wouldn’t have thought it would come this far,” he said.
Anthony said relatives came from all over Melbourne to be there today.
“Probably about 40 or 50 of us, a lot of cousins, aunties and uncles,” he said.
Daw gave the crowd a big smile and pumped his fist as he ran down the race through a guard of honour from fans at the start of the game.
There was polite applause for the first few of his teammates who led the team out of the changing sheds, followed by a huge cheer for Daw.
Majak back on the footy field 👠pic.twitter.com/D5LtGkK6HP
— Josh Fagan (@faganjosh) July 7, 2019
Daw started in the backline and was involved in several plays early, before briefly being moved to full forward.
He put his tracksuit top and runners on during the second quarter and sat out the rest of the game, after collecting three kicks and one handball.
After the match, North’s VFL coach David Loader said Daw’s return was “super exciting”.
“We were just rapt with having him back. There’s a really nice feel about the club at the minute,” he said.
“It’s a great story in general. It’s a good news story in footy.”
He said the club would assess how Daw pulled up to determine the next step in his comeback.
“Just having him back on the field is a win,” he said.
Lifelong North fan Ken Murphy said the game was one of the more special occasions he had seen in his 70 years supporting the club.
Mr Murphy used to be a mascot running out with the team as a six-year-old during Arden St home games in the 1950s.
He said he was thrilled to see Daw doing well.
“We’ve been following him from the beginning when he was first playing VFL and he’s just a hell of a nice bloke,” he said.
“It’s quite extraordinary from what he’s been through to be playing again.”
Nine-year-old Hamish McLardie wore the No.1 on the back of his guernsey and was clutching a Majak Daw footy card during the game.
He said he was impressed with the way his favourite player was able to came back.
“I’m proud of Majak with his return and I think he did really good,” he said.
“It was good that so many people came and supported him.”
Luke Muscara, 12 and sister Maree Muscara, 21, said they had been to many of the VFL games this season and estimated today’s crowd was at least double the usual attendance.
Luke said Daw was a great example of overcoming adversity.
“I think people find it really inspirational. To see him back out there running was great, he looked really good. He’s got an incredible story and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Maree said it was not only kangaroos supporters but the wider community that rallied behind Daw.
“It’s a feel-good story. You get so many people saying ‘I barrack for another team but I’m happy for Majak’. That’s great. It brings people together.”
Former North Melbourne player Jason McCartney, who made a miracle comeback from the Bali bombing burns that nearly took his life, said Daw’s determination had inspired the wider AFL community.
“That is the thing, the football community is so big. From not only your own supporter base but across the board. It is so uplifting to have so much support,” he said.
North fan Darcy Turcinovich, 10, has made a poster to mark Majak Daw’s remarkable return to footy pic.twitter.com/iX1pzevm16
— Josh Fagan (@faganjosh) July 7, 2019
Daw last week addressed a press conference and said he was raring to go, with his goal to get back into the AFL side.
He admitted there were moments where he battled through a recovery that the club’s fitness bosses admitted had put them in uncharted waters.
Our comeback hero is in the building. We’re all behind you, @majakdaw! pic.twitter.com/caenUHfD4u
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) July 6, 2019
“It’s been challenging at times. Just the type of pain. Different pain, the ability to back up was a challenge. Not being able to do the things I took for granted in the past,” he said.
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“Walking was a big thing. I could only walk for a certain time. It’s been a tough season for our boys and I wanted to be out there to help them one way or another.
“Being in hospital for a month is a long time. Having teammates come in daily, it came to the point where we had to turn people back.”
“I love playing AFL footy and it’s something I wanted to get back to, providing I did the hard work and I am almost there now.”
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