On International Day of People with Disability, Collingwood are proud to partner with Robert Rose Foundation to promote awareness and provide support and opportunities for those with spinal cord injuries to enjoy a better life.

IDPwD aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

The Magpies’ wheelchair football team lines up in the Victorian Wheelchair Football League and is competing at the Lightning Cup Carnival, a three-week round robin competition held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

The Carnival aims to engage all players back into Sport and Recreation in a fun, friendly and safe environment, with AFL Victoria developing a thorough COVID Safe Plan to ensure the safety of all players, volunteers and staff. 

Last weekend, the Pies kicked off their campaign with a new-look side taking the court, coach Brian Fitzpatrick was over the moon to be involved for his third season. 

“I was stoked. Not only for the sport side of it, but the social side as well and to come to training and get to know people that way,” Fitzpatrick said.

“The sport it one part of it, mental health is another part of it. As a coach we become a bit of a mentor, so we coach the strategy of the game and are looking at people’s skills and attributes. 

“We challenge people by taking them out of their comfort zone and putting them in different areas of the court that they are not used to be playing in. It’s all good fun.” 

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Highlights: VWFL at Lightning Cup Carnival

Collingwood's VWFL side begun their Lightning Cup Carnival campaign, hear from key players and coaches on the day.

Pies forward, Ben Jankovski was a valuable selection and this years draft and could not be more committed to being involved with the team during the Carnival.

“Being a Collingwood man myself, it was an absolute honour. To be given this chance for Collingwood was never something I thought I would do three years ago after my accident,” Jankovski said. 

“It’s a great honour and I’ve got great people around me supporting me all the way through.” 

Collingwood are proud of the partnership with AFL Victoria, Disability Sport and Rec and of our team who represent the black and white in the Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League. 

The rest of the Carnival will be livestreamed here.

For more information on IDPwD head to: