TWO WEEKS in Antarctica convinced Malcolm Lynch to pursue a second chance in the AFL.
Lynch and AFL indigenous programs coordinator Narelle Long became the first indigenous Australians to set foot on Antarctica in March 2010 when they represented Australia in an international youth summit on the environment.
Before the trip, Lynch was wrestling with what he wanted to do with his life. The North Melbourne rookie had been delisted by the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2009 after playing two games as a small forward in three injury-plagued seasons. He had since commenced an AFL SportsReady apprenticeship working on indigenous programs.
At that stage, Lynch was not sure he wanted to play football again. But in Antarctica he learned about the effects of global warming on the southern-most continent's landscape and wildlife, and shared his life experiences with the summit's other attendees. It gave him the clarity he had been searching for.
"It was definitely a left-field experience going to Antarctica," Lynch told AFL.com.au at Aegis Park.
"It was a big eye-opener just seeing the effect global warming is having and listening to people from other countries and hearing what it means to them. It made me reflect on what I wanted to do when I got back home and where I wanted to be.
"Obviously I'd seen working in the AFL that there was life after football, but in Antarctica I discovered I did had a fire burning inside me. I wanted to at least offer something back to footy and get back to what I enjoyed most - and that's playing."
Making his mind up to pursue a second chance in the AFL was one thing - getting back onto a club list another thing altogether.
But after playing a key part in Port Melbourne's 2011 VFL premiership, Lynch was taken by North Melbourne at pick No. 46 in last December's Rookie Draft.
Read the full article HERE from Nick Bowen
Last Modified on 16/01/2012 14:31