NEWLYN BOYS: Luke Prendergast shares lunch with Hawthorn top gun Brad Sewell at Hawthorn Football Club yesterday.
LUKE Prendergast is living the life most young football fans can only dream of — for two days anyway.
The Newlyn youngster is experiencing firsthand what life as an AFL player is all about.
Prendergast, 14, is shadowing Hawthorn premiership player Brad Sewell as part of a development program run by the Hawks.
Of course what makes it all the more exciting for the St Patrick’s College student is that he is being mentored by Sewell, who like him played with Newlyn and attended Smeaton Primary School.
Although Prendergast had never met Sewell before arriving at the Hawthorn Football Club yesterday, he has always taken an interest in his AFL career.
Whether this experience is enough to persuade the Newlyn under-15 player to change his allegiances as a Carlton supporter though, only time will tell. Prendergast is one of 10 youngsters from regional Victoria taking part in the program.
Over the two days they are meeting head coach Alastair Clarkson and CEO Stuart Fox, and attending goalkicking analysis with high performance coach David Rath, boxing and bike sessions with fitness guru Phil Merriman, training and recovery session, stress management session with head of fitness Andrew Russell, medical session with head trainer Arthur Lyon, and a super clinic.
As a bonus Prendergast will also be a guest of the club at Hawthorn’s clash with GWS Giants at the MCG on Sunday.
Prendergast was nominated by Newlyn Football Club for the program, which is open to what Hawthorn describes as “champion human beings”.
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