Junior footballers Liam Eklom and Dylan Epps, pictured with their Narre Warren team mates, will both play their 50th game this Sunday. Dylan will take to the field with mixed emotions after his father suddenly died almost 12 months ago. 21172 By Callan Date
ONE Berwick family will be bursting with pride this Sunday when Dylan Epps plays his 50th junior football game.
Just getting to the mini-milestone will be a massive achievement for the 10-year-old.
Dylan’s dad, Brendan, died suddenly after suffering a stroke almost 12 months ago.
The Narre Warren Junior Football Club player has done it tough since and was unsure if he wanted to keep playing the game that brought him and his father together so often.
Mr Epps was the team’s runner and was a highly respected member of the junior football community.
The two spent hours together playing a range of different sports, Dylan’s mother, Sarah Epps said.
“He (Mr Epps) loved his sport as well,” she said.
“They both spent hours kicking the footy and Dylan really misses all that. They would never get sick of it,” Mrs Epps said.
“My husband would be really proud of him. He could have just given up and said he wasn’t playing anymore.”
Brendan was a handy footballer himself, winning several best and fairest awards while playing in the Blackburn area, she said.
“He keeps asking me, would dad be proud of me? I say ‘of course he would’.”
Dylan will have a big crowd cheering him on at Sweeney Reserve when the team takes on Beaconsfield in the last home-and-away match of the year.
His mother, grandparents, brother and sister will all watch the big match.
Making the day even more special for the skipper of the under 11 Whites team will be the fact that Liam Eklom will also play his 50th game.
The two are great mates.
Liam’s mother Jodie Eklom supports the team. She is also the coach’s wife and lends a hand to Rob Eklom with the many jobs that come with junior football.
“Dylan is a little boy who touched our hearts last year, not only as our standout player but with his beautiful nature and with his amazing determination on the field,” Ms Eklom said.
“Brendan was the runner for our team every week and became a very close friend to all parents and children involved in our team.
“He was an amazing person, always there to lend a hand, smiling, joking – everyone loved him.”
