East Fremantle Auskicker’s moment on big stageFriday, September 1, 2017 - 4:12 PM

Footy has become East Fremantle Auskicker Poppy Beekhuizen’s life. 

The East Fremantle Junior Football Club pocket rocket never leaves the family house without a football in her hand, dons her Auskick or Eagles kit every weekend and reads the Selwood Boys books repeatedly each night before bedtime.

Her dreams came true the day she found out she had been selected as the weekly nominee for the 2017 NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year competition for Round 18. 

Beekhuizen’s mum Melissa said her daughter was over the moon when she heard the news while she was at a footy clinic hosted by West Coast Eagles star Sam Mitchell. 

“Poppy couldn’t contain her excitement as soon as she found out she had been selected for the auskicker competition,” she said. 

“It was truly a dream come true for a little girl who absolutely loves her footy.” 

The seven year-old and her family flew to Adelaide Oval for the Round 18 clash between Adelaide Crows and Geelong Cats, where she got the chance to take part in the half-time Auskick grid games and chat with Channel Seven’s Hamish McLachlan.

Beekhuizen said it was an amazing feeling playing in front of such a big crowd. 

“I loved playing on Adelaide Oval because there were lots of people in the crowd and heaps of family and friends were watching at home too,” she said. 

“I felt proud and I loved it because the other team kicked the ball to me all the time!” Her mother said the whole experience was run very well by the AFL, which made it that much more enjoyable.

 “It was really well organised from start to finish by the AFL and Poppy was treated like royalty,” she said. 

“The best part for me was when the crowd cheered her on when she was pulled from the grid games to be interviewed for TV.” 

During the interview, Beekhuizen spoke very highly of her AFL idol Josh Kennedy. She loved the fact that the West Coast Eagles superstar scores lots of goals in games, doesn’t pick a fight and is a fair player. 

Beekhuizen also said she loves AFLW Melbourne player Daisy Pearce because she was the first female to be drafted into the competition and is a great midfielder. 

She will join 21 other lucky NAB AFL Auskicker weekly nominees in Melbourne for an unforgettable AFL Grand Final experience that will also include walking in the parade and playing on the hallowed turf of the MCG at half-time on Grand Final Day.