‘Magic’: AFL legend’s heartwarming reaction to son’s first goal is ‘everything’

An AFL legend’s beautiful reaction to his son’s first ever goal in the big leagues has melted the hearts of footy fans everywhere.

Gavin Wanganeen's celebration of his son Tex's first AFL goal was everything.

There were heartwarming scenes in the clash between Essendon and Melbourne on Friday night when Bombers rookie Tex Wanganeen kicked the first goal of his AFL career.

The Demons had the better of the first half but Essendon fought back in the third quarter with five goals.

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The first of those goals was kicked by Wanganeen, who crumbed a loose ball in the Essendon’s forward 50 and slotted it through with a deft left-foot snap.

The cameras immediately cut to his dad Gavin — a Brownlow medallist and two-time premiership player — celebrating wildly in the stands.

“As you do for your first goal in AFL football you just turn around and snap on your non-preferred (foot), straight through the middle,” Luke Hodge said in commentary on Channel 7.

“The best part about that was the old man celebrating, sitting over there with friends and family.

Good luck topping this for wholesome moment of the year.

Tex Wanganeen kicks his first goal and his dad Gav goes off! #FootyOhWhatAFeeling | #AFLDeesDonspic.twitter.com/5n24vTkTM8

— AFL (@AFL) April 1, 2022

“(He) got that excited, look at him! He would have seen that hundreds of times in the backyard.”

In scenes that warmed the hearts of footy tragics, Gavin was then seen craning his neck to get a glimpse of a replay of his son’s first goal on the big screen.

AFL fans couldn’t get enough of Gavin’s wholesome reaction to his son kicking his first goal in the big leagues.

Sports writer Alex Fair tweeted: “Gavin’s reaction to Tex’s goal is everything.”

Sports editor Russell Bennett said: “Gavin Wanganeen celebrating Tex’s first goal and then HANGING for the replay … How GOOD is footy, and how GREAT is that father-son rule.”

The clean finish combined with Dad’s reaction.. Wanganeen magic

— Alister Nicholson (@AlisterNicho) April 1, 2022

Great moment! Good on you Tex, good on you Gav! #AFLDeesDons

— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) April 1, 2022

The moment was extra special for the Wanganeens given Tex was made to wait for his proper debut.

He officially debuted in Essendon’s loss to Brisbane last week but was named the medical substitute and didn’t see a minute of game time since he wasn’t required.

Crediting rookies with debuts for games in which they aren’t part of the starting 22 is a quirk in the AFL’s rules that has angered fans and legends of the game.

Essendon threw everything at Melbourne but the premiers were just too good and ran away with a 29-point win.

The Demons are unbeaten after three games but the loss condemned the winless Bombers (0-3) to their worst start to the season since 1967.