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West Coast Eagles star Josh Kennedy backs AFL players’ relief fund for Cyclone Seroja victims

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Craig O'DonoghueThe West Australian
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Josh Kennedy is rallying behind communities impacted by Cyclone Seroja.
Camera IconJosh Kennedy is rallying behind communities impacted by Cyclone Seroja. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy has pledged his support to an AFL player Relief Fund for WA towns impacted by Cyclone Seroja.

Kennedy’s home town Northampton was destroyed by the cyclone and he still has family living in the area.

With West Coast trio Jamie Cripps, Liam Ryan and Jack Darling also having family impacted by cyclones along with a host of current and former AFL players from other clubs, Kennedy said there was a strong desire to help.

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“There’s a few of us current AFL players and some past AFL players from Northampton who are looking at setting up a Relief Fund which will hopefully be released by the end of this week,” Kennedy explained.

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“We’ll be able to raise some money and be able to direct funds directly to people in Kalbarri and Northampton who need it the most. We’re just getting that core group together.

“It’s been quite devastating, especially knowing a lot of people up there and what they’re going through.

“Kalbarri and Northampton are pretty resilient towns. The community have come together to help each other out a fair bit.

“Hearing some of the stories about families and kids hiding in bath tubs with mattresses on top of them while their house gets blown down is quite chilling.

“My mum’s two sisters are up there. My aunty is on a farm and they lost a fair bit in terms of machinery sheds. The houses were OK.

“My aunty lives in Northampton in town and she lost a fair bit of her shed and her roof collapsed in. A lot of trees were uprooted out the front of her place.

“There’s a lot of friends and family up there. It looked like a bit of a war zone with some of the photos coming through.”

Harry Taylor, Paul Hasleby, Daniel Chick and Carlton captain Patrick Cripps are among the big names to have grown up in the cyclone-affected region.

Taylor has signed to play for Northampton this season after ending a decorated career at Geelong.

Harry Taylor is back playing in the Great Northern Football League.
Camera IconHarry Taylor is back playing in the Great Northern Football League. Credit: Lisa Favazzo/The Geraldton Guardian

Kennedy said the premiership defender had inspired people to join the club, but it too has been impacted with the goal posts snapping in half during the cyclone.

Kennedy said it was vital the AFL’s stars showed long term support to the region by returning home where possible.

“Hopefully we can. We’ve got to work on times for us to be able to duck up during the week to maybe do something in between games,” he said.

“We have byes coming up and things like that. If not for the season then definitely for the off-season. It’s going to take a long time to rebuild those towns. It’s going to be a good couple of years before anything gets back to normality.”

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