Looks like Lesmurdie High School will soon need to find themselves a new sports instructor for a few months—Mr Edwards is set to be fully occupied with the AFL season ahead.
On Tuesday, Essendon’s list manager, Matt Rosa, reached out to 24-year-old Tom Edwards with an exciting offer to join the prestigious Melbourne club.
Edward’s phone buzzed in the middle of a classroom session, and he received the life-altering news during recess.
“It was a bit surreal—here I was at school when I found out during the break,” Edwards shared with 9News.
“I was pretty thrilled about it.
“I had a few sports classes to teach that morning, but it was tough to keep my focus. Honestly, I was quite nervous.”
“Once the news broke, it spread like wildfire around the school, and the kids were absolutely buzzing.”
Tom Edwards of the Bombers is congratulated by Isaac Kako during their trial match. Getty
“It was an incredible moment.
“I’m just so thrilled to have this opportunity and can’t wait to get stuck into it.”
The late-blooming talent hails from Albany and teaches physical education and maths.
Growing up, he was a passionate Bombers supporter, admiring Essendon great James Hird, but a career in football never seemed feasible for the tall winger.
He started gaining attention last year while competing in Western Australia’s footy scene, which led to Essendon inviting him to join the squad during this pre-season.
Edwards made a significant impact in a trial match last week, netting four goals in just one half of footy against the Bulldogs.
This performance convinced the Bombers to take a leap of faith, signing him under the supplemental selection period (SSP) deal.
Tom Edwards of the Bombers. Getty
“Tom is an incredibly promising player and we are delighted to have him join us,” Rosa commented.
“His commitment to training and fully engaging with the program has been very clear, along with his distinct skill set. Tom possesses an exciting flair and a commendable work ethic that we eagerly welcome into our squad.
“Given his unique journey compared to many others, it has been thrilling to bring him into the team, as he will bring genuine versatility to our forward line thanks to his size, maturity from senior football, marking talent, goal sense, and exceptional work rate.”
The Bombers kick off their official season on March 8 against the Gold Coast.
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