Students from Porepunkah Primary School's foundation to grade 6 classes recently tried out a day of AFL Wheelchair matches, hosted by coach Chris Henderson and Hayden Farley from Freedom Sports Foundation.

It was thoroughly enjoyed by both staff and students as well as family spectators, who attended to enthusiastically cheer-on the competitors on the court.

As the first AFL Wheelchair event held at the school, players zoomed around the court, passing and shooting with newly acquired skills; with each game full of movement, tactics and energy, just like the traditional version of AFL.

Chris is the founder of Freedom Sports Foundation, a not-for-profit charity which fosters inclusion and empowers people with a disability to engage in sports.

He also coaches the Essendon Wheelchair Football Club, as part of the Victorian Wheelchair Football League.

“AFL Wheelchair is different from other sports," Chris said.

"Learning to control the wheelchair, pass accurately and defend takes great skill.”

Students enthusiastically held Chris’ very large premiership cup, recently won at the VWFL grand final only a few days prior to his school visit.

The children have already requested AFL Wheelchair to return next year, wanting to get better at the sport and try out new tactics.

Whether students were winning or losing, Chris’ energy and the team spirit was infectious with classmates cheering from the sidelines.

AFL Wheelchair is supported on a national level in a partnership between the AFL and Disability Sports Australia.

Since its inception in 2010, the sport is inclusive of all types of ability and offers students a new appreciation for adaptive sports.

The games were played between two teams of five students, plus interchange players, on the school basketball courts, divided into thirds with portable goal posts at either end of the field.

Scoring was identical to traditional AFL: six points for a goal, one point for a behind.

Many strategies in the traditional AFL football game apply to the wheelchair version.

A handball is equivalent to a kick (for example if marked, play stops) and an underarm throw is equivalent to a handball (for example the ball is ‘in play’ and the player who receives an underarm throw can be ‘tackled’).

"Some of our more competitive students enjoyed the rivalry of scoring against their classmates," teacher Kathleen McNab said.

"While many students enjoyed the adaptations of the game.

"As one grade 1 student commented: 'football is more fun in a wheelchair'."