Heartwarming moment women’s AFL club sing their victory song for their deaf teammate using sign language
- A Brisbane women’s AFL side has gone viral online over special team celebration
- Yeronga South Brisbane Devils players learned sign language for deaf teammate
- Surprised teammate Jamie Howell by performing team victory song in Auslan
A women’s AFL team has won over scores of new fans after their heartwarming gesture for a deaf teammate went viral online.
The Yeronga South Brisbane Devils women’s side decided to surprise profoundly deaf teammate Jamie Howell by learning their team victory song in Auslan.
The ladies engaged the help of an interpreter to learn and rehearse the sign language rendition of their song as a way to better include their teammate.
The big moment was revealed in the dressing sheds after a recent win.
Jamie Howell (right) was stunned but thrilled by her teammates’ inclusive gesture
Yeronga South Brisbane Devils women’s side (pictured) had a special surprise in store for deaf teammate Jamie Howell after a recent win
Footage of the extraordinary team celebration captures Howell’s priceless reaction with a delighted smile on her face.
The song ends with the girls coming together for a massive team hug.
‘Thank you, thank you’ Howell can be seen signing to her teammates.
The special moment has since gone viral on social media with hundreds of views and shares online from far and wide.
‘I absolutely love this! As someone who has ASD, I know how it feels to be supported in a loving family and that’s what this is- love and support for one of your own,’ one woman wrote.
‘Well done for giving the ultimate gift of love and joy, a very special gift for a member of your family. Her joy smiles outwards from her face and it’s lovely to see.’
The heartwarming footage also caught the attention of several former AFL stars.
‘One of the best things I’ve seen,’ former West Coast Eagles and Brisbane Lions star Brent Staker wrote.
Ex-Collingwood and Lions star Craig Starcevich described the moment as ‘brilliant’.
Team captain Mia Walsh, who also works with Howell, came up with the idea to better support their hearing impaired teammate.
The Devils players performed their club victory song in Auslan sign language
The priceless reaction on the face of deaf teammate Jamie Howell (right) says it all
‘It’s a beautiful language and I thought, this is how we can really be that inclusive club,’ Ms Walsh told ABC Radio Brisbane.
‘We all went into the shed and surprised her and it was one of the most amazing moment of football .’
She hopes the gesture will inspire others events and celebrations to become more inclusive for the hearing impaired.
‘It (Auslan) shouldn’t just be for disasters … maybe it’s something that could become a bit more mainstream,’ Ms Walsh said.
The incredible team celebration has gone viral online and touched the hearts of AFL fans