AFL Draft prospect Luamon Lual sheds light on the tragic death of his mother and the sacrifices his parents made for him

Luamon Lual’s life changed forever when his mother suddenly died. He reflects on her tragic death and how he managed to overcome the loss to put himself into the draft frame.

Luamon Lual was in Bendigo for a basketball tournament when he got the call that changed his life forever.

His mother Regina had suddenly suffered a stroke and was rushed to hospital in Melbourne, and Lual was whisked down to be with her.

She survived just a few more days. Regina Bol Obony diedon Tuesday 18th February 2020, aged 48, leaving behind her four children and her husband, Thomas, who were all in a world of hurt.

Regina had sacrificed so much for Lual. She and Thomas had fled warntorn South Sudan in the early 2000s in search of a better life in Australia, moving to Melbourne and then to Warrnambool shortly after.

She was a well-known figure in the Warrnambool community and had also been an advocate for change in her homeland, holding a film night in 2016 to raise funds for the cause.

Luamon's mother, Regina and his father, Thomas. Regina tragically died in 2020.

“I was playing basketball down in Bendigo and then all of a sudden during the night, got a phone call and then had to shoot over the Melbourne as fast as possible and rush to hospital,” Lual said.

“Then on the Wednesday she was pronounced dead. It all happened pretty quickly and I guess that’s life and I know she will be looking above a very proud woman.”

Just 15 when he lost his mother, Lual battled early on.

But the support and love from his father, the tight-knit community in Warrnambool – which included his local club South Warrnambool – and his close friends helped him and his siblings get back to school and push through the pain.

The tragedy has given him extra motivation to do whatever he can to make his mother proud and be the best person he can be.

Being drafted appears a fait accompli for the Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect, and it will be a moment that means so much to his family.

Luamon Lual celebrates a goal for Vic Country. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m not only just doing it for the people who are still here,” Lual said.

“For mum especially because she sacrificed heaps for myself and dad as well, they sacrificed so many things. So I think it will make me have stronger expectations of myself to improve and give everything I’ve got out there.

“I think early days it was a bit of a struggle and obviously the passing of someone you love and someone who has grown up with your whole life is significant and difficult, but I guess dad through the harsh experience he had to go to he made it pretty quick for us to start focusing on school and get back to school as soon as possible.

“I think dad’s a big one in supporting us as well as close family and friends and places like the South Warrnambool Football Club … they’ve supported me strongly through the struggles and I have very close mates at school that are always checking in on me and especially when events come up and that they are always checking up on me, so very grateful for them.

“Certainly had some dark times, but with the support of close friends and the close network of friends I have I’m able to get through that passage of darkness and strive to be the best I can.

“Throughout the community of Warrnambool and the social networks that we have down there we were able to continue on with our life and to hopefully be drafted that would be a special day for my family and especially her.”

Thomas Lual, Regina Bol-Obony, their daughter, Juina and son Luamon in 2005. Picture: Shannon Morris

HELP ALONG THE WAY

His father holds a special place in his heart.

Raising Lual and his three siblings alone for the past three years, Thomas has made plenty of sacrifices since making the difficult decision to move away from South Sudan.

Thomas often works night shifts at a nursing aged care facility down in Warrnambool. On some occasions, he would pick Lual up having not slept after work and take him to play across the state.

“He’s so special to me, such a humbling person he is. Often has night shifts and then gets to away games on Sunday,”Lual said.

“Often wouldn’t sleep and then go straight from work, pick me up from home and go to the game. I think over the past couple of years he has really enjoyed watching me play footy and he’s starting to understand it a bit more and loves the sport and he has been very supportive of me.”

Another important figure since his mother’s death has been fellow South Warrnambool product George Stevens, who Lual has shared his draft journey with.

The Stevens family came to the aid of the Luals during their time of need, with Luamon and George spending several weeks living together after her passing.

Since then the pair have gone through the Greater Western Victoria Rebels and Vic Country programs together, and all those lengthy commutes from Warrnambool – two hours each way just for training in Ballarat each week.

“He is unbelievable, we have probably grown as mates, obviously through footy but during that time, as tough of a time as it was, as mates we come together pretty strongly,” Stevens said.

“We basically lived together for three weeks, him and my family became really close throughout that period.

“He is an incredible person so once you get to know him, he’s a bit quiet at first but once you get to know him you realise the care and compassion he has for others and I think that’s the main thing.

“You know he’s got your back and you know he is only a call away or a message away.

“He’ll pretty frequently reach out to you and message you or things like that so he is unbelievable person and got talent on the footy field as well so it mixes pretty well.”

George Stevens ic close friends with Lual. Picture: Getty Images

Lual in action for the Rebels. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos

ACADEMY BID

Lual’s impressive season on-field as a defender while overcoming this adversity speaks volumes about him as a person.

AFL clubs have been thoroughly impressed with how he has handled himself, and his composure with ball in hand, defensive work one-on-one, elite endurance and superb character could see him taken in the second round of the draft.

Having been involved in the Western Bulldogs NGA academy since 2018, Lualwould likely become a Bulldog if he slides beyond pick 40.

Whether he gets there is still up in the air with a very even middle section of the draft, but it appears unlikely that he will make it that far before a rival bid.

While there is an element of nerves about where he might end up, the 182cm defender is happy to play anywhere.

“Obviously the dream is to play AFL footy and if the opportunity comes up no doubt I’ll take it and strive in whatever that environment looks like,” Lual said.

“With the Dogs and what they’ve done for me I’d be very happy to sign with them.

“They started off with my development back in 2018 where I got some exposure in being able to play in the NGA game down at Whitten Oval which was a real eye opener and a real good experience for me.”