Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
AFL prospect Wil Malady won a school scholarship with a heartfelt email
Wil Malady is tipped to go in the first round of next month's AFL draft.
The forward from Bairnsdale, in country Victoria, is known for his athleticism and strong aerial play.
Two years ago, after a standout under-16 championships, he decided he wanted to move to Melbourne for school and football.
Because scholarship applications had closed, he emailed boarding schools asking for a chance.
He said the emails were full of spelling mistakes, but staff at three schools saw that they were sincere and written by him.
Caulfield Grammar offered him a scholarship, and boarding there helped him continue his education while playing for Gippsland Power.
This past season, he kicked 18 goals in seven matches for the Power, including five in their grand final win.
His next step is the AFL draft next month, where he is widely expected to be selected among the first 15 picks.
Wil Malady secured a scholarship at Caulfield Grammar after sending heartfelt emails to boarding schools despite missing their application deadlines.
The AFL prospect wrote that he was a country boy from Bairnsdale who wanted to play football and improve his schooling.
Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College also responded, but Malady ultimately attended Caulfield Grammar.
He had earlier been unsure about moving to Melbourne, around 280 kilometres from his family.
Malady is tipped to be selected within the first 15 picks at next month’s AFL draft.
- Who
- Wil Malady, an AFL prospect from Bairnsdale.
- What
- He won a scholarship at Caulfield Grammar after sending sincere emails to boarding schools.
- When
- After his performance at the under-16 championships on the Gold Coast two years before the article was published. The scholarship application deadlines had passed.
- Where
- Caulfield Grammar in Melbourne; Malady is from Bairnsdale.
- Why
- He wanted to play football and improve his schooling.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Malady starred at the AFL under-16 championships on the Gold Coast and returned home as an All-Australian after Victoria Country won the title.
Malady told his parents he wanted to apply to schools, despite the scholarship deadlines having passed.
Melbourne Grammar, Scotch College and Caulfield Grammar responded to Malady’s applications.
Malady attended Caulfield Grammar after Melbourne Grammar did not meet with him and Scotch College withdrew.
- Home town
- Bairnsdale
- School scholarship
- Caulfield Grammar
- Other schools that responded
- Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College
- Distance from family
- About 280 kilometres
- Draft outlook
- Tipped to be selected within the first 15 picks at next month’s AFL draft
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What people are saying
All the applications were closed for scholarships, so I sat down and wrote these rogue emails, with spelling mistakes everywhere. It was horrible.
I just wrote that I was a country boy from Bairnsdale, and I wanted to play footy and better my schooling.
Making the AFL is my dream, so it was all worth it.