Courage in Lakers youngster’s debut

THERE’S never been a debut quite like it in the BFNL, or possibly any other football league.

And it’s likely there’ll never be another quite like Isaac Torpy’s emotion-charged first senior appearance for Lake Wendouree against North Ballarat last Saturday at C.E. Brown Reserve.

It was a moment to cherish for the Lakers youngster, his family and friends, and the wider football club and community.

But it was the unique circumstances behind the debut that put life into perspective for all, for beyond the field of battle, there is an even bigger struggle to be won.

Torpy’s call-up to the senior side came the week before he is due in Melbourne for an undisclosed major and ‘life changing’ surgery.

It’s likely he may never play football again.

Intent on a last hurrah ahead of surgery, it was Torpy’s wish to play his 150th game alongside his mates in the senior team.

Roused by Torpy’s bravery and courage, coach Rohan Brown had no hesitation in naming him for his senior debut against the Roosters.

“He most likely won’t play football again, so to mark his 150th game and his first senior game at Lakers was special,” the passionate Lakers coach said.

 

“He’s been here at Lake Wendouree since he can remember, or as he said, since he could walk, so we were rapt to do that for Isaac and his family.

“Isaac has a really close friendship group within the club that have all stuck together.

“He thought he’d never ever play senior footy, but he’s actually got a fair bit of talent. And he’s a good basketballer as well.

“To top it off, he played really well; he kicked a goal and did a really good job.

“It was probably one of the bravest things I have seen from a young fellow on the footy field and in general life to be honest.

“This is just a curve ball in life for him; hopefully we can see him back out there in some capacity in future times.”

While Torpy has negotiated a tough 2025 season due to his health battle, Brown said he had previously come under consideration for a senior call-up.

“Especially given our injuries and everything like that,” he said.

“He’s a nice little forward – crafty. He looks laconic at stages, but he has a beautiful set of hands for a young fellow and kicks the ball really well.

“He definitely would have played senior footy if things didn’t happen and would certainly have held his spot.”

 

The brave youngster was unlucky not to have finished with two or possibly even three goals, with a couple of good looks during the second quarter.

A premiership winner as a coach at Beaufort in 2018 and during his playing days at his home club of Donald, Brown has witnessed many emotional scenes in football.

The aftermath of Torpy’s goal was among the most moving he has encountered in decades of football.

“He worked really hard for it; it wasn’t just given to him on a silver platter,” he said.

“It was a pretty special moment for all of his family and friends and us as a club.

“I know we celebrated hard on the bench; there was a couple of his close mates there and we were all pretty emotional.”

There was no disguising the smile on Torpy’s face, and again later on when footballers, netballers and supporters from both clubs formed a guard of honour for his exit from the ground.

Having seen his side beaten on the scoreboard, a gracious Brown commended North Ballarat as ‘all class’ on the field and particularly off the field.

“Clinton (coach Clinton Proctor) and their footy club were really respectful,” he said.

“Isaac is a pretty private person, but once they and the umpires got wind of it, they were happy to do anything they could.

“North did him no favours in one regard, he had to line up on Josh Morris at one stage.

“Pretty interesting having an ex-AFL player lining up on you in your first game.

“But North were outstanding how they carried themselves.

“From our side of things, as I said to everyone in our rooms afterwards, we represented our club and our player well.

“It was awesome to see what Isaac was able to achieve. We have trademarks we live by at Lake Wendouree now and Isaac ticks all of those.

“It’s pretty hard for his mates at the moment, but it was great to see the footy community rally around his 100 or so friends and family there.”