FOOTBALL

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

SINCE he was eight-years-old, Newborough teenager Noah Bartlett has taken his passions to great heights, routinely performing during the lauded ‘Dreamtime at the ‘G’ festivities with Richmond Football Club.

Although a Tigers supporter himself, Noah began venturing up to Essendon Football Club’s training facilities in Windy Hill, off the back of his aunty Tina, practicing his Indigenous dancing for the big stage.

“It really just started to become a fun thing to do, so I started doing it (more often) and meeting new people,” he said.

“I mostly enjoy the people I meet along the way and just the cultures and dancing obviously.”

Performing in front of more than 80,000 people would give anyone nerves, especially at such a young age, but given Noah’s right alongside some of his favourite players, it makes it all the more easier.

“I get pretty nervous, but all of it you get kind of use to and it’s just fun,” the 13-year-old said.

“The first one when I did it when I was eight, I got to meet the footy team (in the rooms), so that was a good memory.”

Besides the cultural dresses and body paint, Noah also utilises clap sticks during his performance, while others use the famed didgeridoo.

Noah gave his father Peter, who was suffering from bowel cancer, the greatest surprise when he first performed on the MCG.

It was a great sight for his dad, given that the one-eyed Richmond supporter passed along his love for the Tigers to his son.

“That was very, very emotional, and it was for his dad as well because he got to see him before he passed, out there with all the Richmond players,” Noah’s mother Shelley said.

“I’m just so proud of him, and he’s got to show a lot of other Indigenous kids just to keep going and things like that.”

This formed passion was initiated by his aunty Tina, who has regularly performed in events as well, including in front of former US President Barrack Obama.

Noah hopes to one day become an Indigenous dance leader and lead out the next wave of dancers on the MCG. He’s been continually asked back to the fixtured Dreamtime match by Richmond every year since he started.

Noah also performed during Melbourne Storm’s Anzac Day match this year against South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Locally, he’s also has been asked by his school at Lowanna College to perform during their showcases, especially during NAIDOC Week, and also performed in front of former AFL superstar Eddie Betts when he visited the region.