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Family still the kicker for Edwards

They say home is where the heart is and it seems particularly so for Aaron Edwards. In his first stint in the AFL, three seasons at West Coast, his heart wasn’t in it. Back then he admits to having no idea what it took to be an AFL footballer and when he was delisted at the end of 2005 after playing three games he “wasn’t too fazed”.

You see, for Edwards when you pit family and football against each other the game doesn’t get close. On draft day, beyond his initial excitement, his reaction to his impending interstate move was, “Wow, I have to move four hours away…”

Edwards only started playing football in his early-teens, the game was a new found love and it was all about fun. But family has always meant so much more and a need to be close to them, in his Polynesian blood.

Edwards is one of 121 AFL players with a multicultural background (have at least one parent born overseas), all with unique and varied journeys to the AFL. A common thread to their stories is the importance of family, Edwards’ is no different.

His background

He was born in Samoa, his mum a Samoan native and his father from New Zealand. He moved to Australia when he was four. Through his extended family he has strong links to Samoan culture; most notably his tattoos. A design on his back depicts a beach – his place of birth – and on his left forearm there has a Samoan tribal tattoo.

Edwards speaks with joy about his memories from growing up in a large Samoan family – the food, the family gatherings and the singing. His father passed away at the end of 2010 and his mother lives in Samoa, but Edwards is still very close to his extended family including his grandma, aunties, three sisters, nieces and a nephew.

“When I go to my grandmas there would be 30 to 40 people there…that’s really good to have. That’s pretty much how Polynesians are brought up – they all stick together,” he says.

Edwards has returned to Samoa only once, and it was in near tragic circumstances. In 2009 the Samoan Islands were hit by a Tsunami and earthquake, leaving more than 5000 people homeless and at least 189 people dead. Luckily Edwards’ mother, who had recently returned to Samoa to live, was unaffected.

Edwards returned to find what little memories of Samoa he had from his four years there were “pretty banged-up”.

More vivid memories of Samoan culture came representing the senior Samoan football team in the International Cup as a 16-year-old. He couldn’t speak the language but between the discussion on the team bus and the sing-a-longs he learnt a few words.

coming home

It is no surprise that after his delisting from the Eagles he ignored other interstate offers and settled on VFL club Frankston. After all, its ground is in the next street from his Grandma’s house.

“My Grandma is probably a bigger part of my family than anyone else. She was only just around the corner, everything was just easier and it showed in my football.”

Edwards’ love for football has grown as his AFL career has progressed and fostered at the North Melbourne Football Club.

Before arriving at the North Melbourne playing football was all about enjoyment, friendships and fitting in. He could mark the ball well, his kicking was ok and that gave him confidence. He never dreamed of playing AFL.

“I never had the idea of, “Oh I want to play AFL football”. I was doing it for fun.”

He didn’t play for Hampton Park to be selected in the Dandenong Stingrays squad, he didn’t play TAC Cup to get drafted, but when he did, the stakes changed. On the other side of the country, away from the family structure he relied on his whole life, Edwards didn’t cope.

“That was pretty challenging. I spent a few years there, I didn’t make the most of it, I probably didn’t value being on an AFL as much as other kids,” he says.

“But being delisted after a couple of years and coming back home and being closer to family again – I was as happy as they come playing VFL.”

In 2006 Edwards won the Liston Trophy for the best and fairest in the VFL and was the Frosty Miller medallist as the VFL leading goal kicker in the same season. A double never achieved before in the history of the game.

Second chance

The next year he played 19 games for North and he played in a preliminary final on the MCG.

“I definitely took a different attitude, I looked at it as an opportunity, I don’t know if my heart was in the last one and I definitely didn’t know what it took to be an AFL footballer.”

“I thought wow, footy has really changed. I was one game away from a grand final.

“If my attitude didn’t change I definitely wouldn’t be sitting here seven years later.”

Ten years after his name was called in the 2003 Rookie Draft, Edwards has played 87 career games and is now at his third club. Approaching AFL Multicultural Round the 29-year-old has shown his best form for the Tigers and is in the process of cementing his spot with his new club.

Edwards is proud of his journey so far and the personal growth he has achieved. Off the field he is eyeing a career in commercial real estate; in 2012 he completed work experience with Colliers International one day per week.

“I’ve taken baby steps along the way, I’ve done some things wrong, I’ve done some things right, I’ve learnt from them and it’s held me in good stead.”

Home is where the heart is, for Edwards home is where the goals are too.