Don't - sanfl

Giving back
By Rob Bidmeade
NORTH Adelaide forward Djaran
Whyman is giving something
back to the community by being
involved with indigenous youth at
the Port Augusta Gaol.
“It’s nothing too structured but it is
just a good opportunity to give
something back through football,’’
he said.
“We help out with umpiring
their games, run training and answer
questions.
“It’s all pretty laid back.’’
Whyman, 26, said that since he
moved from Echuca to Melbourne
for football, he had worked in some
capacity with people at risk of being
or who were already incarcerated.
He said his hopes for indigenous
youth in the future were for them to
have a good education, a good job,
a healthy lifestyle and a strong
stable family.
“I’m just trying to achieve the
above things. I’m pleased if people,
whether they be black, white or
green, take some sort of inspiration
from me.
“The rest will take care of itself.’’
Whyman, who studies commerce
at Adelaide University and lives
at Prospect, joined the Roosters
last year.
He has played mainly as a forward
since his debut at Prospect Oval
and is considered a real jokester at
the club.
“Whether it’s country or State
League football, having a good time
is my main objective.
“I was influenced to try my luck in
the SANFL by Rhys Archard, the
fattest league medallist in history;
Jimmy Allan, the hairiest medallist
in history; Scott McGlone, the loosest
backman in the league and Daniel
Elstone, the slowest footballer on
two legs.
“They are all friends of mine and
they said the girls hang off league
footballers in Adelaide, which has
been proven incorrect. We are all
still single.’’
He said he hoped North Adelaide
would play to its potential this year
as it battled for a berth in the Finals.
It has been a long journey to the
SANFL for Whyman, who was born
in Echuca in Victoria.
He moved to Melbourne after
being rookie listed in 2001.
Whyman had one year on
Hawthorn’s rookie list and played
three years for North Ballarat before
he spent two years on North
Melbourne’s senior list.
Now 178cm and 77kg, he played
his junior football with the Echuca
Bombers in the Goulburn Valley
Football League.
Apart from his football, study and
work with indigenous youth,
Whyman is interested in collecting
rare stamps which is a change in
tempo for him.
4