Beautiful moment Geelong great Gary Ablett Jr’s son runs onto the ground with the team at the grand final as he battles mystery disease
- Gay Ablett Jr’s son Levi, fighting mystery illness, beams as taken onto the MCG
- Triple Premiership winner Joel Selwood carried delighted Levi onto the ground
- Little Levi, 3, has ever spoken a word and has a respiratory condition
An AFL legend’s sick child has been carried out on to the MCG ahead of the AFL Grand Final tip off in a heart-warming moment.
Gary Ablett Jr’s ailing son Levi smiled with delight as he was taken out into the middle of the buzzing cauldron on Saturday afternoon.
Ablett Jr’s veteran former Geelong team-mate and current star midfielder Joel Selwood cradled Levi Ablett onto the MCG as the Cats ran out.
Little Levi Ablett beamed with delight as Joel Selwood took him out onto the famous ground ahead of the biggest match of 2022
Selwood then handed little Levi back to his dad, the retired dual Brownlow medalist
Levi Ablett, 3, suffers from a mystery degenerative illness that severely impacts his respiratory system and he has never spoken a word.
Gary Ablett’s wife Jordan has revealed that doctors say Levi, who is highly prone to viruses and has low muscle tone, may never speak.
Levi is also vulnerable to aspirating, whereby food, drink, or stomach contents can make their way into his lungs.
He receives ongoing treatment at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.
Selwood then handed little Levi back to his dad, the retired dual Brownlow medalist before the big match tipped off.
Geelong are taking on the Sydney Swans in the season decider on Saturday afternoon with Selwood a key player.
The 34-year-old midfielder has won three Premierships in his career.
Geelong Cats captain Joel Selwood ran out with his former teammate Gary Ablett Jr.’s son Levi before the start of Saturday’s AFL Grand Final at the MCG. (Pictured: Gary and Jordan Ablett with son Levi)
Geelong began the match strongly and took a commanding lead over the Swans in the first half.
Ablett Jr played nearly 250 senior games for Geelong in two stints between 2002 and 2020. He also played 110 games for the Gold Coast Suns between 2011 and 2017. He won premierships with the Cats in 2007 and 2009.
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