Daniel Wells’ daughter Laudate has an Aboriginal flag on one bedroom wall and an Italian flag on the other.

Her heritage is complicated, but the primary schooler knows exactly who she is and where she comes from.

“She feels really proud,” her father and Collingwood midfielder Wells said this week.

“I want her to know both sides of her heritage. It’s important that she recognises and knows who she is.”

As this weekend’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round reflects on the impact of Indigenous footballers on the game, Wells took time to reflect on a 15-season career which recently took an unexpected turn.

243 games at North Melbourne came to an end in October, when Black and White stripes replaced his well-worn royal blue ones.

Through relocations, injuries and numerous other challenges, strong family ties have remained a constant.

The 32-year-old former Kangaroo may not be at Collingwood today if he hadn’t have met Laudate’s mother Mariangela Laudato 14 years ago as she picked up her mother from a North Melbourne function.

Wells had recently made the daunting move from Perth to Melbourne after being drafted by the Kangaroos, but touches of homesickness were quickly overcome.

“I didn’t want to go back to Perth and lose her,” he said.

“She was probably a massive reason and someone who has kept me grounded.”

Perth wasn’t Wells’ first home. He was born in South Australia to a mother hailing from the Wirangu Tribe in Port Lincoln and a father from the Wongatha People in Kalgoorlie, WA.

Being raised in the city didn’t deter Wells from passionately pursuing his heritage.

“Even though I didn’t grow up in it that much, it’s fascinating.

“My Dad has a lot of knowledge in our Indigenous side and our culture and he’s someone who I always try and pick his brain. It’s amazing.”

A childhood of idolising the likes of Peter Matera and Chris Lewis meant Wells’ AFL dream only had one possible destination – the West Coast Eagles. However impressive form for Peel Thunder in the WAFL as a 17-year-old sent him in another direction. Wells was snapped up by North Melbourne with just the second pick in the 2001 National Draft.

The quiet midfielder was destined to leave home. Neither West Coast nor Fremantle had a pick until 13, one the Dockers used to select Bryon Schammer.



A long time before Collingwood. A young Daniel Wells trains for North Melbourne in 2003. Picture: AFL Photos.

Those at Peel knew Wells was on his way to bigger and better things from the moment he debuted as a 16-year-old.

“Even though he was lightly-framed, he had all the hallmarks of being a really good player at the top level,” said former Peel Thunder coach Shane Cable.

“You could just tell. He had the smarts, he had the skill and he had the speed.”

Cable watched just one game of Wells in the colts before selecting him in the seniors. However as a shy player with strong family ties, the prospect of homesickness was always on the agenda.

“It was always one of the concerns. He’d come from a tight family and outside of the metro area of Perth. He wasn’t used to the hustle and bustle of Melbourne,” Cable said.

Wells agrees.

“I really did struggle at the start,” he reflected.

“Being away from family and friends, I found that really tough.

“It took a little while (to settle in). But as soon as I started playing games, I felt accepted within the group and in the team.”

Wells’ strong family ties made the move to Melbourne difficult. What he’s since learnt is he wasn’t the first, and won’t be the last Indigenous footballer to experience the same struggles.

“You’re coming over for a job, but family is so important to Indigenous culture,” Wells said.

“It’s just that support network that gives us security and comfort. It’s everything for us.”

Indigenous educator Leon Egan has a long history of working in the football industry as a consultant and mentor to young Aboriginal footballers and their colleagues at AFL clubs.

He believes Indigenous athletes have deep links to not only their direct families, but wider support networks.

“A lot of our boys have a really, really strong connection to their family and where they come from. When we’re moving them from one side of the country to the other, it does become a massive challenge,” Egan said.

“Yes you’re playing for yourself and your team, but you’re also playing for your mob back home.”

When Egan presented his cultural awareness session to Collingwood’s players and staff last season, he was approached by Nathan Buckley after the session for further advice on how to better connect with and understand the Indigenous talents who come through the doors of the Holden Centre.

At the time Travis Varcoe was the only player with Indigenous heritage. In 2017 he’s joined by not only Wells, but first-year players Kayle Kirby and Mitch McCarthy.



Three of four Indigenous Magpies. Mitch McCarthy, Daniel Wells and Kayle Kirby proudly wear the club's 2017 Indigenous guernsey. Photo: Collingwood Media.

The pair of youngsters have quickly been welcomed into the Wells’ family.

“I’ve kept a close eye on the two boys. I try and get them around for dinner every now and again,” he said.

“Kayle and Mitch are no different to our other young ones who are trying to forge their way into the senior side. There’s a lot of development still to come, and they understand that.”

Once a shy kid from Peel Thunder who would go missing in a change room full of louder boys, Wells is now the talker. He’s the advice-giver. The person to turn to in times of uncertainty.

A father figure.

“He always lifts the mood,” McCarthy said.

“If you’re having a flat day and you see him, he puts a smile on your face. He just knows what to say.

“It’s more of just a personable perspective. He’ll talk to you about anything, it doesn’t have to be about footy. He’s been helping me a lot.”

Wells will always have the support of his family back home in Western Australia and around Australia. He’ll continue to go home after work every day and say goodnight to his daughter before she sleeps under her Aboriginal and Italian flags.

But the 32-year-old has a new family. One he will run onto the MCG with to face Brisbane in Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round. Collingwood is now home.



Welcome to Collingwood. A goal in an ANZAC Day debut was the perfect way to start life at a new club. Picture: AFL Photos.