FOOTBALL is a sport for everyone and it was demonstrated at the AFL National Inclusion Carnival last week.    

Held in Launceston, the carnival provided opportunities for talented players with intellectual disabilities to represent their state or territory.    

Eight teams – Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, NSW/ACT, Vic Country, Vic Metro and Tasmania – took part.    

Star junior midfielder Tarryn Thomas, a member of North Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy program and likely to be drafted by the club in November, was able to watch his brother Jason Trindall play for NSW/ACT.    

Thomas, 18, was born in Sydney but now lives in Tasmania, while 17-year-old Trindall still lives in New South Wales.    

"I don't get to watch him often, but every time I'm around where he plays I try to see him," Thomas told AFL.com.au.    

"He's a ruckman. He's got a big body now – he's taller than me, which I'm not happy with."  

Brothers in arms: Tarryn Thomas and Jason Trindall. 


 

Thomas is in Melbourne with the Allies team, which is playing in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. He wants to finish the season playing with his local side North Launceston.    

"We're in Melbourne for eight days with the Allies and we'll play two games in that time. After, I'm planning on playing local footy, but it depends on what the coaches want me to do."    

Vic Metro won its third successive division one title at the inclusion carnival, defeating South Australia 10.7 (67) to 2.3 (15) in a curtain-raiser to the Hawthorn-Gold Coast match at UTAS Stadium last Saturday.    

The division two Grand Final was a closer affair, with Western Australia holding off Northern Territory 5.3 (33) to 3.1 (19).