This week at Corinda, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting elite athletes from both the AFL and netball worlds. Across two incredible days, our student athletes and staff gained invaluable insights, motivation, and real-world advice from professionals who have excelled in their fields while balancing the demands of sport and life.
AFL: Lessons from the Brisbane Lions
On Tuesday, we were thrilled to welcome Brisbane Lions legends Lincoln McCarthy and Jaspa Fletcher for an intimate Q&A session with our HPE faculty and student athletes. The afternoon was filled with rich insights as Lincoln and Jaspa reflected on their own high school experiences—sharing how they juggled the demands of study, training, and competition. Their stories were not only inspiring but deeply relatable for our students striving to excel in both sport and academics.
For our staff, the players offered valuable advice on understanding the unique pressures faced by student athletes. They spoke about the power of personalised feedback, the importance of building individual relationships, and how mutual respect between coaches and players is the foundation for success. A huge thank you to Lincoln and Jaspa for taking time out of your busy schedules—your honesty, humility, and wisdom made a lasting impression on our community of emerging talent and dedicated educators.
Netball: Learning from the Queensland Firebirds
On Wednesday, we welcomed Lara Dunkley and Emily Moore from the Queensland Firebirds for a Q&A session with our Netball Academy players and staff. Lara and Emily shared practical advice on how to fuel your body for training and highlighted the importance of supporting your teammates both on and off the court.
This session was especially valuable for our growing Netball Academy, which recently sent our biggest squad yet to the SouthSide Super 7's competition—eight teams in total, including our newest addition, the Senior Boys. A special thank you to Ms Andrews and Ms Napper for facilitating this amazing opportunity. And of course, thank you to Lara and Emily for taking time out of your busy schedules to inspire our students!
The insights and encouragement shared by Lincoln, Jaspa, Lara, and Emily this week have made a meaningful impact on our students and staff. These experiences not only fuel the drive to achieve in sport but also reinforce the importance of resilience, balance, and teamwork. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to connect with such outstanding role models and look forward to continuing to support the development of our student athletes.