Sport
19 June, 2023
Partridge gets his chance to represent Victoria in deaf football
Royal Park player Cohan Partridge recently had the opportunity of a lifetime when he was able to represent Victoria in a deaf football match against Southern Cross. The game was played at Waverley Park on Saturday, June 10, with Victoria winning...
Royal Park player Cohan Partridge recently had the opportunity of a lifetime when he was able to represent Victoria in a deaf football match against Southern Cross.
The game was played at Waverley Park on Saturday, June 10, with Victoria winning 9.11 (65) to 2.3 (15).
Partridge was selected as part of a process which saw him, and other prospective deaf football players, travel to Melbourne to earn selection in the game.
“The process to get selected was to train very hard, show my footy skills and effort in drills and of course with my local footy club Royal Park FNC and our amazing coaches,” he said.
Partridge said wearing the Big V will be a moment he’ll cherish.
“It was amazing to represent the Big V and show that being deaf can’t stop you from achieving anything in life, from putting the jersey on and playing the game was surreal with the crowd and the players and the day itself,” he said.
“It was a really good win, our team played how we trained, using our eyes and skill to the test, it was worth the travel and hopefully I’ll play again next year.
“Personally, I felt my performance was pretty good, there are some things I wish I could do better but it was first time playing deaf football so it was very different to what I’m used to.”
Andrew Welshe was the coach of the Deaf Football Victoria team, and Partridge couldn’t be happier to have him lead the way for the team.
“Andrew Welshe was an amazing coach. He was enthusiastic in every quarter, and had plenty of positives for the team and how we trained and played. We would love him to coach again next year,” he said.
Partridge urged anyone willing to support deaf football to come and have a look when given the chance, saying that the quality of football is played at a great standard.
“Deaf football is amazing and people should check it out,” he said.
“It shows that having a hearing loss doesn’t mean anything, we can do the same things, such as playing football, that does require hearing. Being able to showcase how I can play footy was amazing.”
Partridge has stepped up to play eight games for Royal Park’s reserves this season, and the confidence that was gained from his match on the King’s Birthday weekend was evident, as he was named the Tigers’ best player in their loss to Harcourt.