A talented wingman plying his trade with the Shepparton Bears under-14 squad, Lincoln has already achieved more than many Goulburn Valley footballers dream of — including being selected as part of the prestigious Victoria Country set-up.
However, when a letter appeared on his school desk from Wanderers Australia it became clear just how much he was standing out on the field, being chosen as one of a handful of kids across the country to represent the green and gold on the under-13/14 football tour of Fiji.
Beginning in 2014, the Fiji football tour has become an annual tradition (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) and has given boys across the country a chance to experience the game in a way they never otherwise would — while also giving them access to elite coaching.
Lincoln said he was incredibly excited to be involved with the program.
“It is a great achievement, going over there and playing against the Fijians will be really incredible and something I didn’t think I would ever get to do,” he said.
“When I first saw the letter I was very excited and something like this will be great for my game as I hope to keep on getting better and learn from different coaches.”
Playing football in a foreign environment will be sure to throw up some different challenges, as Lincoln explained what he was expecting to see out of the Fijian teams.
“I think they are going to be pretty big given how much rugby they play over there so it is definitely going to be hard going,” he said.
“My family has been to Bali two years ago, so I have been overseas before, but when I started playing footy I did not expect I would travelling to somewhere like Fiji to go and play.”
Lincoln has impressed at a number of different levels, with his skill forcing the Bears to play him as a bottom-ager where he plays against kids two years older than him.
“I was only able to get into rep Victoria Country footy last year because of my age and got selected last year as a bottom-ager but couldn’t play due to COVID and this year I will be playing Country in November, which will be good,” he said.
“In the Bears team I am the only Grade 6 player in the under-14s and now that they have changed it to under-15s next year I will be bottom age again, so I have a lot of experience in playing against bigger bodies.”
A self-proclaimed “football nut”, Lincoln said the past two years had been incredibly frustrating, with the pandemic limiting his ability to get out on the field.
“It has been very annoying but I am just trying to make the best out of it; I have been getting outside a lot and running, going down to the oval to kick the footy with mates and get out with my dad as well,” he said.
The way Lincoln has conducted himself through the lockdowns has impressed his mother, Jackie.
“I am extremely proud, he works hard and hard work gets you places — he is always out there going for runs, going for a kick and just trying to get better, even with these lockdown restrictions,” she said.
“It has been the toughest two years for these boys with no sport, so something like this (the Fiji footy trip) just gives Lincoln a massive boost, which is great.”
As for the future, Lincoln has one major goal in mind.
“I have got a bit of a grand plan, I want to play AFL footy and try and play for Carlton and just want to be a successful football player that gets the best out of myself,” he said.
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