Posted April 4, 2023

Football Club Celebrates Championship with Waterboy Who has Down Syndrome

Since 2015, Sam Moorfoot (29) has been the Geelong Football Club’s waterboy out of Victoria, Australia. Though he isn’t just any waterboy, but what the team refers to as their spiritual leader. Moorfoot, who has Down syndrome, has been with them even longer if you count that he used to work at the Cats Bistro as a volunteer before the GMHBA Stadium was redeveloped and he was offered his new position.On top of that, Moorfoot, who has Down syndrome, is also the first Disability Inclusion Ambassador for the AFL.

Never having witnessed the team win a championship since he joined, Sam was beyond excited to see them do so in September 2022, especially in blow-out fashion. The victory was already sweet, but it’s what took place after the game that he will never forget.

As reported by Upworthy, right after being awarded the medal, Joel Selwood, the team’s captain, headed straight over to the stands to embrace Sam and invited him onto the field. Completely shocked, he was assisted over the fan barriers and offered a star player’s medal before taking the victory lap around the field altogether. “I’m very proud of my boys to win a premiership. Joel said he wanted to get me on the ground. That was the moment of [my] life, what an honor,” were Moorfoot’s words, “There isn’t one player at Geelong that isn’t kind and supportive. They are all my mates.”

The same level of appreciation was shown when Selwood was interviewed about the interaction: “We share a very special friendship, and I consider him like family. He has my back and I have his.” This just goes to show how in this club, when the team wins, everyone wins.

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