Zac and Maddie Mainwaring proved they were a chip off the old block when they trained with former West Coast players Dwayne Lamb and Adrian Barich at Subiaco Oval on Saturday .
The young Mainwarings and former West Coast stars prepared themselves for the Mainy Tribute Match for Telethon which will see Chris Mainwaring’s eldest Maddie, nine, toss the coin before joining brother Zac, eight, on the field with former football legends and Western Australian celebrities.
The Mainy Tribute Match for Telethon starts at 5.30pm Saturday, October 10 at Subiaco Oval where all the money raised from the match will go towards improving the lives of children and young people throughout Western Australia.
The young Mainwarings are excited to be able to join their father's West Coast teammates and premiership players such as Adrian Barich and Dwayne Lamb for the second annual Mainy Tribute Match which commemorates an extraordinary man.
“I want to play for West Coast one day like dad and wear his number,” said Zac Mainwaring.
“I kicked a goal last year and I have been training hard.
“The crowd was screaming and I thought it was a lot of fun".
This year Maddie will be aiming to impress on the field after running water last year.
“I think I will probably kick a goal,” Maddie said.
“Last year I ran the water bottles, but it was way too cold. This year I’m going to run on the field, flip and coin and have a kick.”
During the game, Chris Mainwaring’s children will be wearing their father’s number three guernsey in which their father famously played 201 games and won two premierships with West Coast.
Former Eagle and fellow team mate of Chris Mainwaring, Dwayne Lamb, said the game is a great way to remember a man who touched the lives of many Western Australians.
“It was a terrible tragedy, but what better way to remember Chris than having a kick with all his friends and family,” said Dwayne Lamb.
Chris Mainwaring’s brother, Brett, will also be joining his nephew and niece for the second year on the field.
Close friend, co-worker and fellow West Coast player Adrian Barich said that losing Chris Mainwaring was something that he has not yet got over.
“I was talking to John Worsfold, Chris Lewis and Peter Matera recently and no one has gotten over it. It is just lingering there,” said Adrian Barich.
“We had a gathering on the anniversary of his death this week in Claremont.
“All the boys got together and had a beer to remember ‘The Rug’ as we used to call him, because of his hairy chest.
“Chris will remain close to the hearts of his friends and family and the tribute match is a great way to remember him and support Telethon.”
The game will see the West Coast OWLS (Older, Wiser, Larger, Slower) take on Connolly’s Commandos at 5.30pm on Saturday, October 10.
Gates open at 4.30pm and tickets can be purchased for $7.70 at the gate or through Ticketmaster. Children under the age of six are free.
Last year’s inaugural tribute match attracted 32,500 spectators and raised $150,000 for Telethon.
