Frizell still stunned by dream 12 months

Five years since paying for his own air fare to the UK so he could represent Wales in the Four Nations, life has moved on considerably for Tyson Frizell.

After reporting back for pre-season training with St George Illawarra late last year, the former Australian rugby schoolboys international, was merely hoping for an injury-free season following back surgery.
                 

Fast forward 12 months, and the barnstorming back-rower has not only played for NSW but is on the cusp of winning a third international cap for Australia in Saturday's crucial Four Nations clash against New Zealand.

The unassuming 25-year-old also re-signed with the Dragons until 2020 and admits he's achieved more than he ever could have hoped for.

"Every player has their targets at the start of the season, Origin was probably something I hoped could happen," Frizell told AAP.

"I never in a million years thought I'd be playing for Australia."

It was only a suspension imposed on Wade Graham by the NRL judiciary that opened the door for Frizell to play for NSW in games two and three.

Two all-action displays that yielded tries in each game impressed Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga enough to select him in the PM's XIII to face PNG in September and the Four Nations.

It's all a far cry from his first taste of international action with the Welsh team in 2011 where his side were on the back of a 42-4 loss to England followed up by a 36-0 humbling at the hands of New Zealand at Wembley Stadium.

"He was a very talented footballer. In training he was very professional but off the field he knew how to enjoy himself, he was great fun.

"Some of the boys were reminding me of the game we played against Australia that year.

A childhood dream has come true

The childhood dream became a reality for one young woman last week – a dream that was just that until the AFL Women’s League came into fruition earlier this year.
             

Emily Bates, drafted to the Brisbane Lions at pick no. 2 in the inaugural AFL Women’s Draft, has undergone the same path as her male counterparts, the only difference is that she would never have the opportunity to be drafted.

Following the draft, Bates told The Courier-Mail of her excitement to be recognised as a “semi-professional” athlete and the opportunity she’s been given.

“I never expected to be able to play in an AFL league and wear the Brisbane Lions colours, so when they finally announced it, it was a dream come true,” Bates told The Courier-Mail.

The 21-year-old midfielder has followed her late father, Lloyd – a former coach at Yeronga – around the footy field since she could first walk.

Bates’ playing career began at 11, when the first women’s competition was established and she signed up at the Devils.

Since then Bates has played on the MCG, Etihad Stadium, the Gabba and Metricon Stadium in representative or exhibition match and will be one of many role models for young girls.

“To me it means the young girls who start playing footy now will have role models to look up to and learn from and they will believe they can play it forever, they won’t have to drop it for another sport just to reach the elite level.”

Jade Ransfield, Kate Deegan, Kate McCarthy and Emily Bates outside the Gabba.

And although she may have represented the Western Bulldogs at exhibition level, Bates is now a true Lion.

“I played for them (Bulldogs) the last five exhibition games, they are a bit of a pioneer in women’s football and I have always admired them for that,” Bates told The Courier-Mail.

“So they were my club, but I’m on to bigger and better things at the Lions.”

"Why can't it be us?" Underdogs dare to dream

The Western Bulldogs are embracing their underdog status, but that doesn't mean they don't believe they have a realistic shot at winning this year's AFL premiership.

           

The Bulldogs set up a preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium with a stunning 23-point upset of Hawthorn, ending the Hawks’ bid for a fourth premiership in a row.

That came after their comprehensive elimination final win over West Coast in Perth, which many expected would be too big a hurdle for them given their injury issues.

“We have been underdogs the last two weeks and it’s probably something that sits well with us as a group,” Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli told Channel Seven’s Game Day.

A qualifying final stumble against the Giants put them into a sudden-death semi-final against Adelaide, but their class shone through against the Crows in a comfortable 36-point win.

The Swans now face Geelong in Friday night’s preliminary final off a six-day break with the Cats having earned a weekend off following their qualifying win over the Hawks.

“They’re going to be fresh but it’s a prelim final so anything can happen,” Swans star Josh Kennedy said.

Dream come true for Crows fan Cramey

Lifelong Crows fan Courtney Cramey has described her signing by the Club as a “dream come true.”

On Thursday, Cramey and Northern Territory-based midfielder Angela Foley were announced as pre-signed players for the Crows in the 2017 National Women’s League.

It was only fitting that Cramey – the South Australian state women’s captain since 2011 – was the first South Aussie listed by the Crows, while Foley is the team’s inaugural NT signing.

In 2004, she returned to footy when she learned about the South Australian Women’s Football League and hasn’t stopped playing since. Recently, Cramey notched up the 150-game milestone in the SAWFL where she represents two-time reigning premiers, Morphettvillle Park Football Club.

Cramey, or ‘CJ’, made her first state side in 2009 and was selected to play in the previous four AFL Women's Exhibition Matches. She’s an All Australian, and veteran of three national championships as a player, as well as two as a youth girls coach.

A strong leader on and away from the football field, Cramey hoped the National Women’s League would inspire future generations of players.

The New American Dream

We need to understand that a successful minority-owned business is the exception, not the norm. We need to understand that not all founders are created equal, and minorities — especially women — face more scrutiny as entrepreneurs than others. We need to encourage minorities to start their own businesses while we support their efforts through investment, mentorship and networks. We need to change the actual system.



There are grave imbalances that dictate failure for minority-owned businesses. Finding solutions is a formidable call to action, I know, but it’s one that is critical to the new Americandream.

Every statistic on the subject of entrepreneurship says that I am likely to fail on the secondAmerican dream. This is because as a woman of color, my ability to secure funding is severely hindered by the startup system.

While I was working in finance and IT, I lived in Harlem for a few years and engaged in the community as a volunteer teacher. My time there contrasted with my childhood, during which I was fortunate to always have access to good food. I saw that a household lack of quality food has far-reaching effects, and I wanted to do something to make the situation better formy neighbors. I started with small solutions, like petitioning for a community garden.

When my efforts failed to make any meaningful change, I thought about another approach. I knew I had the potential to head a successful company. So, I took a huge risk and quit my job to start Re-Nuble, which is a startup aiming to disrupt the food system and bring more affordable organic produce to everyone. Thus I started on the second American dream — start your own business.

Inspired by Dreams

I have so much to be grateful for today. One of the ways I can show my gratitude is to use this incredible moment to inspire you to dream the biggest dream you possibly can, and then work for it.


A really big part of our energy and success lies in our ability to dream. There's a great line in the movie Grey Owl starring Pierce Brosnan, where the Ojibwe elders tell Archie Grey Owl, "A man becomes what he dreams. You have dreamed well."

When moms and dads at the ballpark would ask me for advice, I always told them to help their kids dream, and dream big. That's what I did as a kid. I didn't know if I could be a professional ballplayer! But I dreamed about it anyway. I could dream any dream I liked! Back then, I had no idea what a privilege that was. I've learned it's not the same for everyone.

Some of the kids that we rescue from slavery have awesome talents. But those talents have been squandered by the people that were slaving them out. These kids never enjoyed the chance to use their talents or challenge themselves. They didn't dare to dream, not even small dreams.

Jeremy Affeldt is a pitcher for the three times in five years World Champion San Francisco Giants. He recently retired from playing baseball after 14 years.
He is a philanthropist and is the founder of Generation Alive, a non profit that works to move a generation of young people to act, to get involved. They teach and inspire young leaders to serve others who are faced with extreme poverty.

Jeremy is an active leader to end human trafficking and modern day slavery and supports Not For Sale. He is also an advocate to feed the hungry and supports Something 2 Eat.