In celebration of Fremantle’s fourth annual Purple Hands Foundation Game this Thursday night, 12-year-old Ned Tromp will travel from Broome to Optus Stadium for a night to remember.

Ned will head on-ground to meet his favourite Fremantle players pre-game, take part in the half-time kick-to-kick and join the Fremantle Dockers in the changerooms post-match.

Ned, who was born with Down Syndrome, has proudly participated in Purple Hands Foundation’s Kimberley 9s Carnival for the past two years and is also a part of the WA All Abilities Starkick program - a football initiative designed for children of all abilities to play, belong and thrive.

This experience has been made possible through the fundraising efforts of last year’s SEDA Sport, Business and Leadership program students (a collaboration between SEDA, Fremantle Dockers and Purple Hands Foundation), donating funds to WA All Abilities to bring Ned, his brother Banjo, and their father Kevin to Perth for the occasion.

Before the game, Fremantle players along with Ned will wear a special edition warm-up tee, inspired by the Kimberley 9s Carnival uniforms. 

These unique shirts were designed by Kimberley secondary school students to reflect their connection to community, culture, land and identity. 

The tees are part of the Purple Hands Foundation’s Kimberley Connected program, which aims to create opportunities for young people through cultural expression and sport.

Kimberley Connected is a year-round school-based youth engagement program initiative designed to promote regular school attendance, encourage positive behaviours, and boost classroom participation. 

As part of the program, participating students are selected by their schools to attend the Kimberley 9s Carnival - a two-day AFL round-robin played on the beaches of Broome, celebrating teamwork, culture, and community pride.

Fans will be encouraged to donate $10 via a QR code displayed at the event or by purchasing a light-up wristband. Every contribution helps ensure that programs like the Kimberley Connected and Kimberley 9s continue to grow - so no one is left behind.

The Purple Hands Foundation works to tackle key social challenges including mental and physical health, school attendance, anti-social behaviour, youth crime, restricted access to opportunity, and the preservation of cultural identity.

Fremantle will face Collingwood at Optus Stadium for the annual Purple Hands Foundation Game on Thursday 8 May, with bouncedown at 6.10pm WST.