Football has always been a sport for all, but it hasn’t been until recent years that it’s become one for many – who were otherwise unable to – to take part in.

For St Kilda Wheelchair Football player Nathan Tanner and St Kilda Blind AFL Player and captain Shannon Jones, participating in the sport they’ve held a lifelong passionate for means far more than just the personal and team achievements earned along the way.

Today on this year’s International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), discover more about two of St Kilda’s trailblazers across its two community leagues, how they’ve seen the inclusion space develop and grow across the wider club, plus how they’re encouraging everyone, regardless of ability, to get involved.

Shannon, when did your football journey first begin?

SJ: My footy journey began when I was about five years old. I've always played footy. My dad was a coach of the local footy team and I grew up around our the footy club… I was a bit of a pest! I played over 250 games for my local club, had tried out for Western Jets.

In 2012, I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, so I thought all my footy career and my sports days were all finished. It wasn't until 2015 that I found Blind AFL and then got back into it.

I was going through a bit of a rough time and my wife got sick of seeing me on the couch having a pity party for myself, so she pushed me to find a blind sport to get involved in. I found Blind AFL and went along to a come-and-try day. I was a bit reluctant to go along with it at first, but I'm so glad I did.

And for you Nathan, football wasn’t the first sport you were involved in, is that right?

NT: It's interesting because I’ve followed footy all my life, but being born with cerebral palsy, there was really no option for footy when I was growing up. My first parasport I got involved in was actually para ice hockey and a guy that I played with, Joe Chivers, he played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Wheelchair Football League, which I actually didn't know about at the time. I started playing hockey with him and then was talking to him about playing footy and just before COVID happened that’s when it all started.

I went along to a come-and-try day and I've loved it ever since. Like I said, I've always loved footy growing up and you know… to be able to play for an AFL team, I can't even say I dreamed of it because it was never an option. Now I play for St Kilda, like how cool is that!

How have you seen the VWFL and VBFL grow since you first started?

NT: To be honest, just the overall quality and the standard of the league, it's grown so much with the quality of players, not only that we've attracted at St Kilda but across other teams as well. I feel we’re being seen as athletes and the way we prepare and the way we train has evolved across the league, because we're athletes, right? We need to have that mindset of athletes.

SJ: Absolutely agree. The Blind League is probably a little bit different to the Wheelchair League where we don't have really as big of a participant pool. In saying that, the quality of the players that have come through has been amazing. Just being part of the club is so special.

How have you seen the club grow in the inclusion space and in making sure everyone can be involved, regardless of abiltity?

SJ: We’ve absolutely fostered that sense of inclusion as a club. Before Hawthorn coming into the competitions, and with their AFLW team, we were the only team in the league that fielded a men's, women’s, wheelchair and blind team, which is something to be pretty proud of. The work the club does in the inclusion space is amazing. Second to none.

NT: And also, to add to that, it's to play for an AFL team. Not a lot of people in Australia can say, 'oh, I played for an AFL team'. To be able to do that, to be able to say that, it's beyond words.

Shannon, the work you do with SaintsPlay too has been huge in getting people involved in our game who may not have otherwise had the opportunity. How much does that mean to you?

SJ: Oh, it’s huge. I'm massive on inclusion. I believe everyone, no matter what your ability, gender or interests are, can play and needs to play sport. Sport is great for getting everyone together, it's good for your mindset, good for your health… everyone deserves to play sport.

I had a little girl the other week at our SaintsPlay program out at Seaford, we've been working on her kicking for two years now and she’s finally consistently getting boot to ball all night. Moments like that are such a highlight.

From a personal sense, what are you most proud of during your time at the Saints?

NT: I've had a lot of standouts and memories. I think winning the Community Wheelchair Football League Premiership last year in 2023 was a standout in terms of an achievement. But I feel the overall the sense of belonging that playing gives you, within the league or within a sport, is worth more than a premiership honour in of itself.

I feel that I can turn up, give my all and help others give their all. I want to push them to do that and help them feel that they’re worth their weight in gold. I find playing wheelchair AFL is a sport for everyone. For example, Piers Wall on our team, my best mate, is able-bodied and he can play in a team alongside me. It gives everyone a sense of equality and a sense of belonging and achievement being involved in wheelchair footy.

For anyone wanting to get involved, what would you tell them?

NT: It'd be the best thing they've ever done, to be honest. I find that it's not about what you can get out of footy, it's what you can give footy. And I find that everyone, no matter their skill level or their experience, they have something to give a football or a sporting club. So my best advice would be just to turn up when I come and try it. Just give it your all, whether you have leadership qualities, talent qualities… whatever you've got, just give it your all and you'll have something to give.

SJ: Just touching on what Nathan said, it's a sense of community. I’d tell everyone and anyone to come down and have a go. You'll be amazed at how good the community is and how inviting everyone is, especially our St Kilda players. We want to see everyone achieve their goals, get involved and have a go.